What parts of you did you bring to the table to make Jay your own?
Like any character, you want to figure out who they are within their world, so I sat down with the show’s writer, Christian Torpe. We went through just about every detail of this character’s life, including past relationships between other characters that exist in the show. The biggest advantage I had was knowing people in the real world that were similar to the character. I could relate a part of myself to this, and that helped create that transition from something on a script to actually playing someone that could exist in the real world.
You have been part of many reincarnations of Stephen King’s great work. What’s that been like for you?
Honestly, it’s a thrill and honor to just be a part of adapting a story by one of the planet’s best-selling authors. Sometimes I would forget that it was a Stephen King adaptation, but then I’d see someone walking around set with a dismembered arm, and I’d say, “Oh yeah, this is Stephen King.” It’s awesome knowing that the story of The Mist already has a huge fan base.
Do you have a favorite Stephen King book, show, or movie of all time?
Shawshank Redemption, hands down.
With so many TV shows popping up almost literally everywhere, why should our readers watch The Mist?
I feel like it’s a great blend of the Stephen King legacy and a completely original story. The premise really focuses on how people are manipulated and changed by fear. Especially with what’s happening in the world today, there’s a strong message in this for everyone.
I feel like it’s a great blend of the Stephen King legacy and a completely original story. The premise really focuses on how people are manipulated and changed by fear.
I read that you want to pursue roles that challenge you or take on roles you wouldn’t think you’d be able to do. What kind of role would that be for you?
I think the only way to grow as an actor is to be versatile and do the roles that are continually pushing your boundaries. I’ve always wanted to play a villain that everyone loves to hate, like Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins), The Joker (Heath Ledger), and Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio).
How do you think this role will benefit you in the long run in future roles?
I try to stick to the idea of never playing the same character twice. Now having worked on the show, I think it’ll become easier to take on similar roles like Jay. There’s a lot of attributes in Jay that can be interchangeable with characters that I take on in the future for sure.
What would you tell your younger self now that you wish you knew back then?
I’ve always known where I wanted to be, but I never knew what the “right choices” were to get there. I just made decisions based purely on instinct, and so far, they’ve just happened to be the right ones. I had a lot of doubts when I was younger about getting a job in the industry, so I would say, “Trust your instincts, ignore the cynicism, and do whatever it takes to put yourself forward. It really is just a matter of time.”
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Caught Up in ‘The Mist’ with Luke Cosgrove: Photographer: Jason Willheim, Stylist: Brittany Hart, Groomer: Blondie
