So how do you embrace the nerves and lock in?
My mom always said this—it’s so cheesy, but I think nerves fuel the creative energy. So it’s like, if I’m nervous, something good will come of this.
What was the most fun thing to conquer filming this season of Adults?
This season felt very challenging for me because the funny parts just feel like play, but there were a lot of emotional things this season. And I was tasked with a big emotional arc, and I think it’s so amazing that the creators, Ben Kronigold and Rebecca Shaw, gave a Black man the emotional arc. That is so rare. There are very few television shows that have that. It was tough to tap into my emotional side.
Why?
I like to make jokes! I laugh through the pain. I don’t like to sit in the pain. It’s boring. I’d rather have a Sarti Spritz.
Incredible integration right there. How do you lock in when it’s time to get dramatic, then?
I listen to a lot of Lizzie McAlpine, a lot of Sade and some Lauryn Hill, and then I can get there.
You had that arc, but there’s also a big Anton-centric episode where Raven-Symoné is your sister.
That was the craziest thing that’s ever happened to me. I think Raven-Symoné was the first person I saw on screen where I was like, “Oh my God, I see myself in her.”
On That’s So Raven?
Yeah, she was a Black queer woman leading a show on Disney Channel. I was like, Okay, that’s me. I need to do that. And then I auditioned a bunch and never got it and Disney would not have me. But now I’m on a Hulu show, which is Disney. Full circle.
Did you see some of the critiques of that episode?
No, what are they saying?
That a Black guy would never be that outwardly brash and disrespectful to their mom.
You know what? I think what’s so great about this show is some people really relate to certain parts of it, but don’t relate to others. I hope if they relate to one character on the show, we’re doing well. So if they don’t relate to me and my mom’s dynamic, that’s totally fine. Hopefully they relate to Samir and Issa’s dynamic. You know what I mean?
Is that approach something you’re applying more as you take on more roles?
I’m trying to. I can’t read into everything because if I did, I would be on Twitter 24/7. And let me tell you something, I’m already on there 23/7, so I don’t need that extra hour, babe. I got to sleep.
Was there a scene that you were especially proud of especially given how new this all is to you still?
There’s a scene with Jack in the finale that’s a silent scene. There’s no speaking. It was a lot of eye work. God, I was going cross-eyed. And it was really challenging for me because I kept wanting to laugh or fill the space and I couldn’t. The director was like, “No, this is a silent moment, Owen. You have to actually appreciate this.” And that was tough, but I’m proud of how it turned out.
