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“This is my first real press tour.” Not suitable for work says star Nicolas DuVernay on a Zoom call from New York.
The 27-year-old actor, who appeared as a supporting cast member in the third season of the series White lotusis experiencing several firsts as he promotes his first series regular role in Mindy Kaling’s new comedy Not suitable for work. The Hulu series, which premiered last week, centers around a group of 20-somethings who live across the hall from each other.
DuVernay plays Kyle Washington, a medical student and aspiring actor. DuVernay stars alongside Avantika Vandanapu, Ella Hunt, Will Angus, and Jack Martin, with Jay Ellis rounding out the main cast. “We actually like each other,” DuVernay says. “It’s a close-knit group.”
Below, the actor digs into custody Not suitable for workreflects how White lotus It changed his course and sparked his next project: an adaptation of Ali Hazlewood’s romantic novel, Love hypothesis.
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What stood out to you about him? Not suitable for work?
I read the pilot. I thought it was hilarious and refreshing. I feel like a lot of comedies being released these days are so geared toward Gen Z that it’s like scrolling on Instagram. They are simply pop culture references. There’s no point in watching TV when you can on TikTok if you’re going to get the same thing.
What makes this one different?
It has that vintage…not to make a comparison, but from the jump, it’s always had a little bit of it friends Vibration. This is a giant to compare to, but that’s how I initially felt being a part of it. It has a more modern look to it. It’s work-obsessed kids trying to make their way in New York. They do a really good job of integrating the world and making it relatable because a lot of people don’t know how to navigate their 20s, especially when everything in this society is so expensive. You have to work and you have to have friends that you can hang out with on the weekends or when you’re out to get through your work week, and that’s what that balance looks like.
How was the process?
I did Zoom with [the team] For my reading. Then I read Chemistry with Avantika [Vandanapu]which was amazing. I loved working with her. It’s great. From there I booked it. I was working on a movie, Love hypothesisWith Lili Reinhardt. Jack [Martin] In fact he had the role[in[inNot suitable for work]He came to visit [Lili on set]I met Jack the day I got him but before I got him. So I said to him, ‘Man, maybe we’ll work together.’ Then a few hours later, I got the call. It was great. I feel like I’ve been through a lot of these crazy stories, where I feel like [they’re] I’m just out of the short stories, and I don’t really believe them. A big part of your life as an actor is proving that you’re worth something, and then when someone sees you so clearly and clearly that they’ll rewrite something for you, that’s incredible.
What do you think you learned from this experience? This coming-of-age story feels like a rite of passage for the actor.
This was my first regular role on the series, and my first opportunity to lead. Obviously it’s an ensemble, but it was a very clear story throughout and you knew that story from the jump and into production. I expected the workload to be a lot. It was certainly a lot; Saving and shooting speed. We did it in two and a half months. It’s nine episodes, but the first episode is an hour long, so it’s basically 10 episodes, set around New York, some on a soundstage. It was a crash course. Obviously it’s something I’ve been preparing for my whole life.
White lotus I’ve changed things for you. Do you think it was about vision?
One hundred percent. I was picked up by UTA before the offer even came out. They represent a lot of people who gave me good feedback when they heard I was working with a smaller agency. Instantly, this elevates you to a different level than even what you receive from the tapes.
I can imagine.
Then it becomes just a matter of being a warm, kind and helpful person. This is where art resides. It’s not about setting the best bar – when two people want to do something great together and agree on that before anything else is associated with it. I think having more creative opportunities knock on my door without having to stake my self-worth and preference is collaborative.
Can you tell me a little about Love hypothesis? How was that experience?
That was fun. Everyone really enjoyed it. Laila is amazing and very good. Rachel Marsh is exceptional. Tom Bateman is great. Jabuki…the cast was so much fun. It was my first time in Canada. We did a lot of hanging out. It was directed by Claire Scanlon, who is a veteran of the romantic comedy world, so there was a confidence that we knew she was going to hit the mark, and that really changes it when you can trust your director.
completely.
Sometimes you’re at jobs and you say, I know you want this, but sometimes I feel like it should be this. rom-com, there’s a side to it. She’s done it many times before, so you have confidence that she won’t lead you in the wrong direction. It was great. It was partly the connective tissue of inappropriateness. All of these jobs are kind of relatable to me, because to be honest, I went straight from Montreal to New York. Doing it back to back, it’s like one block of time. [They’re] Both are equally special. I definitely saw it Love hypothesisAnd I really enjoy it. I really enjoy it. I love classic rom-coms. I haven’t been a huge fan of the slew of new rom-coms…
We’ve been in a bit of a slump, but I think we’re out of it.
we. It’s always good to have a good book to build on. It features a classic trope that I think people will eat up. Some good drama. It’s really funny. I think it is very easy to watch for the viewers.
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Not Fit for Work airs weekly on Hulu, with new episodes downloaded every Tuesday.
