What’s one thing in your normal diet that you forwent during the shooting of the movie?
I think the thing the thing that I found most challenging was my love for cookies and doughnuts and cake. It was challenging at first. But after a while, in my experience, I found a rhythm of what my life and my dietary journey looked like without it. And once I found that rhythm, I didn’t miss it so much.
Any changes you made for the movie that you’ve just continued with?
I’ve always been somebody who does my utmost to operate with intentionality and specificity. I’m arguably too meticulous in some aspects of my life. But I think that something that I learned during Rebel Ridge is just how to increase that intentionality even more. So I try to operate on a day-to-day basis in a way that is thoughtful, mindful, and connected in all departments: mentally, spiritually, emotionally, physically. That’s a zone I frequented during shooting, and I wanted desperately to hold onto that. So I do my best and try and preserve that today.
Any great Southern food while you were in the region?
I’ve been very fortunate to spend extended periods of time in America and specially in the South, and I’ve always been welcomed and embraced and guided by locals. I really loved the food. I couldn’t indulge as much as I wanted to during the time of filming, but after I did enjoy the seafood and the shellfish in Louisiana. I had my first seafood boil, which was amazing, and I definitely ate way too much.
You seemed excellent in the action role, and early reviews mark you as a man to watch in the genre. Any interest working further within it?
I would love explore the action space while I am able to engage physically in the roles in the way I am today. I have so much fun doing it; it’s so rewarding. There wasn’t a day during Rebel Ridge that I didn’t have a cut or a bruise, but I loved it. I absolutely loved it. And I want to utilize this opportunity going forward.
Beyond your own role, the other standout was Don Johnson.
I love Don. Love Don.
The two of you couldn’t be more different, as far as age, height, build. It’s quite remarkable how he balances his menace with your own despite being a fraction of your size. What was your experience working with him, and what did you learn from him?
I learned a tremendous amount from Don. One of the things Jeremy does is protect the moment between cut and action. That allows his actors to be able to engage with one another outside of the context of their characters in an additional way. So Don and I would discuss what we wanted to achieve in the scene, how we wanted to achieve it, why it was important to achieve it. What the most conducive route to achieving it was. We would laugh, we would joke, we would talk about things outside of the work. We would talk about life. [Johnson] was so generous to me not only in imparting knowledge in regards to his artistry and his journey, but also in regards to life. As a young man, I soaked it up, and I absorbed it. He’s a dear friend of mine and I’m very grateful to have had the opportunity and the privilege to collaborate with him.
GQ: Of the action movies you’ve seen, which would you point to as roles or stories that explore the boundaries of the action genre?
I’m a huge fan of the action genre and as I’ve highlighted before, I would absolutely love to continue to be a part of that world and community. Two of my favorite films that I feel explore elements of action in a dynamic way are The Equalizer and Inception. I love how Inception highlights action but pairs it with a psychological component. The Equalizer does this as well, and it gives the viewer an insight to the motivation behind action.
Rapid fire last question: Your favorite action move. Three, two, one.
Ah—Safe House!
