“Being in love with what I do is the reason I do it every day,” Griffin Gluck tells INLOVE Magazine. At 19 years old, the actor has already worked with a lengthy list of Hollywood’s top stars and has a slew of impressive credits under his belt. It’s no wonder he’s been dubbed as one to watch.
His IMDb reads like a dream for any actor. From “American Vandal” to “Tall Girl” with Ava Michelle and Sabrina Carpenter, Gluck has earned widespread praise for his talent. More blooms this spring, as the actor shines in Netflix’s “Locke & Key” and in the comedy film “Big Time Adolescence,” starring alongside Sydney Sweeney and Pete Davidson.
Sari: Your breakout role came early on, starring alongside Adam
Sandler and Jennifer Aniston. What was that like, working with such
Hollywood icons, right off the bat? What did that experience teach you?
Griffin Gluck: They taught me everything I know about being the
best actor I can be on and off set. Big thanks to [director] Dennis
Dugan for putting my head on straight, too. “Just Go with It” was the
best education I’ve ever had.
Sari: You always had a love for acting. As you began to work more,
what kind of characters called to you? What type of roles do you tend
to gravitate towards?
GG: Dry, funny ones, the ones that don’t try too hard to be real
or funny. I love to push myself into more uncomfortable roles that I
usually wouldn’t see myself doing when a really good script calls for
it. Good writing is what I gravitate towards.
Sari: A lot of the projects you do, end up winning widespread
critical acclaim – “American Vandal,” “Big Time Adolescence.” Describe
for me that feeling, when you know, you are creating something truly
magical.
GG: It’s so overwhelming and amazing. What else would you expect?
Imagine working really, really hard on something and loving it a lot,
and after months of waiting, you finally get to share it with more
people, and they love it, too. It’s an amazing feeling. I don’t think
anyone in “American Vandal” was doing it for the awards; we all just
loved what we were doing. Same goes with “BTA.” But it is a big deal.
It’s validation for a lot of hard work.
Sari: “Tall Girl” is, of course, another favorite that fans just
can’t stop talking about. Tell me a little bit about your experience
with that.
GG: It was an unbelievable experience. We filmed in New Orleans,
and I explored as much of the city as I could. I made some new friends
and learned a lot about myself as an actor.
Sari: Netflix’s “Locke & Key” is super exciting for a lot of
reasons. What can you tell me about your character and the series?
GG: My character was such a fun little surprise in a show filled
with surprises. I play Gabe, the new kid to town. Anything else I tell
you if you haven’t seen the show from this point on is a spoiler. So
stop reading this and go watch it, then come back and finish reading. It
was a lot of fun getting to be a part of such a big secret for so long.
I’m really excited at the idea of continuing this crazier side to my
character and see what he can do.
Sari: What does it feel like creating a show that already has a
huge fan base, being that it’s been highly anticipated by fans for
years?
GG: Nerve-wracking. I just really hope that longtime fans like the show as much as we do.
Sari: How is it different for you playing a character that is
based on a comic book series? And how much fun has it been diving into
the supernatural world?
GG: I actually hadn’t read the comics until we started
production. Longtime fans are going to know that my character isn’t
actually in the comics, so I feel like the new guy in town that I really
hope everyone likes. Diving into the supernatural and the twists and
turns of the show remind me of watching episodes of “Lost.” It’s been so
much fun.
Sari: Spring is shaping up to be a good season for you with “Big
Time Adolescence” and “Dinner in America.” Tell me what’s been the most
exciting part about those two projects, and what are you most excited
for audiences to see with them both?
GG: The most exciting part about both projects was probably going
to Sundance. Sitting in the crowd at the premiere and watching the
finished product for the first time with everyone is the most rewarding
feeling. I’m most excited for people to finally see them and understand
why I love them so much.
Sari: What’s one thing about you that you think would surprise your fans the most?
GG: I have a tattoo on my leg for my character in “BTA.”
Sari: What do you have coming up in the future? And what are your dream roles?
GG: I’ll be busy becoming an adult. Hopefully, we can see what
Gabe is up to if we get a season 2. “Big Time Adolescence” is out on
Hulu starting mid-March, so go stream. I’ve got a few dream roles. I
really want to write something for myself and have a passion project to
call my own. A season 3 of
“American Vandal” would also be a dream. I also just want to continue working with amazing people.
Sari Cohen
Published in INLOVE Magazine spring 2020