Kelvin Harrison Jr. on Finding Roles That Matter

Kelvin Harrison Jr. in conversation with Golden Globe Award-winning actress Tracee Ellis Ross

Before becoming a requisite for 2020 Whos-Who lists, before starring alongside Sterling K. Brown, and even before moving to Los Angeles from his hometown of New Orleans, Kelvin Harrison Jr. knew he wanted to be an actor. The 25-year-old vividly remembers sneaking into a middle school acting class to give an impromptu monologue. Acting is his driving force.

Last year found Kelvin in two career-defining roles. In Luce, he plays a high school student who’s adopted and navigating identity and the complexity of existing within white spaces as a high-achieving young Black man. Waves, in a similar vein, finds Kelvin’s character, Tyler, as an athlete exploring the definition of masculinity.

This year, he’s set to star alongside Tracee Ellis Ross in Covers, a story set in Los Angeles and directed by Nisha Ganatra. Kelvin also plays an eager intern in The Photograph alongside Issa Rae and will be in Aaron Sorkin’s The Trial of the Chicago 7. To put it lightly, Kelvin is in demand. So his chat with Tracee was a refreshing departure from the pressure of being on-screen. — Danielle Kwateng-Clark

Tracee Ellis Ross: Hi, Kelvin.

Kelvin Harrison: Sup, Tracee.

TER: So, we should start off by saying I got the honor, the distinct pleasure, and like deep-seated joy to meet Kelvin and now I'm going to call you a friend whether you like it or not.

KH: We are friends.

TER: So Kelvin, what's your zodiac sign?

KH: I'm a Leo. I'm a Cancer rising under the Aquarius moon.

TER: What does it mean to be a man? And is that an antiquated, outdated question?

KH: Interesting. I don't think it's outdated. For me, I don't necessarily think of those heteronormative terms of like I need to be A, B, or C. It's kind of like whatever feels right. I don't know.

TER: Yes, that's a good answer.

KH: I'm just chilling.

TER: When I watched Waves, I think that was when that question dawned on me because that movie really explores a particular kind of masculinity that could be called toxic masculinity. But also through the lens of race, in a very particular way. What was that like for you, playing that role? Because I know watching that, it's so not who you are. So it was really interesting.

KH: Yeah, I think we talked about it. We didn't talk about the specific idea of toxic masculinity, but we did talk a lot about how Trey [Edward Shults] and I became the young men we are now. And we started to kind of get into like what our fathers did and what that role model was. For me, it was my dad, as you know he's from the South and examining his own life. And the fact that his dad wasn't as present as he wanted him to be and he also kind of grew up in a time where it was about the fight and the struggle, when everyone wanted to kind of break you down and beat you down, especially as a Black man. So his definition of that was teaching me to survive the world every day.

TER: And I do think that's where race comes in, especially race in this country.… We are in a different place. With that said, how intentional are you about the roles that you take?

KH: When I first started it was just like whatever roles I got. You know what I mean? Pay off that student loan. But now I get to be pickier, mostly because, okay, well, what do we want to see? And what do we have the opportunity to see now that we are more open to telling stories about young Black kids and not those stereotypical roles that you used to see? How I choose things now is about who's making the project. Like Nisha in Covers kind of deal. A woman of color and she wants to tell the story where there's an inspirational situation going on and a beautiful Black or female lead in it.

TER: Do you have favorite movies and TV shows of all time? Is there a movie you've watched numerous times?

KH: Yes. This is a bizarre choice. There's a movie called Closer. Have you ever seen this movie?

TER: Uh-uh, no.

KH: The Mike Nichols' movie with Julia Roberts, Natalie Portman, Clive Owen. I love that movie. I don't know why. It follows the relationships. I’ve watched it so many times. I watch it before I start any job. I don't know why.

TER: What made you want to start acting?

KH: My dad is a musician. So, my dad is a classically trained saxophonist. My dad's a musician, my mom's a jazz vocalist, and that made me not like it.

TER: Oh my God! And yet you have the most beautiful sounding voice and you play the piano. But your parents are in music, so you were like, I’m moving away from music.

KH: First of all, I didn't love it as much as they did and I was like, I'm never going to be as good as they are. So this whole idea of trying to keep up with the reputation that he kind of had in New Orleans was like impossible. Everyone just knew me as Kelvin Jr., Kelvin's kid, whose family is really talented musicians. [But] I just want to do my own thing. I couldn't express myself through music. I wasn't writing, singing, and adding anything to it. I snuck into an acting class in middle school and I had this monologue about how my fly was unzipped and I surprised my dad at like an arts gala.

TER: Can you tell your story about how you all of a sudden moved to L.A. to make the leap?

KH: I went to school for marketing. I had a semester left and then I got a manager and dropped out. And then I told my dad. We were all at Audubon Park, and the twins, my sisters, were riding bikes. And I was like, I'm leaving. I had already bought the ticket. And I already called my dad's half-sister [in L.A.]. He was like, No you're not. And I was like, I already bought it. I'm leaving tomorrow. And he was like, What? And I was like, That's what's happening. And then he called his sister. It became a whole thing. And I moved out, went there for the summer.

TER: And that to me is indicative of one of those things about you. You are clearly driven and you march to your own drum. There's a way that you follow your own path that is unique in how courageous it is for a 25-year-old. Do you feel you're different from your friends around you? I mean, you're a bit of a solo man.

KH: Yeah. I'm a solo man.

TER: You don’t like to “stroll with a posse” … “Stroll with a posse” is not an expression.

KH: It's not. It can be. It is now.

TER: What brings you joy right now?

KH: Healthy friendships. I think that was like something I didn't always have, especially when I first moved here to L.A.

TER: When do you feel the most safe and what does safe mean to you?

KH: Strangely enough, I feel the most safe at work. But at the same time I feel the most uncomfortable. I feel like when I'm at work and I'm doing a scene where even though I feel really uncomfortable, like Am I doing this right? I'm all in my head about it, but I feel like that's the only time where you can kind of do anything. Freedom.

TER: I love it.

KH: And no one can judge you for it. They can only judge what they think the character's supposed to be.

TER: What makes you feel courageous?

KH: Saying no. That's been interesting. Yesterday, I passed on a project. Like I felt good about it. When you know how much you're worth, and if you start to act like that, then all the things that you deserve, I think, come back to you.

TER: Okay, I have some other fun questions. What do you admire in a woman?

KH: Independence. I think that's the sexiest thing ever. When you can kind of be like, I'm doing me. And... I don't know, it's just... It's the coolest thing to be like, you don't need me. But you like me, and I get to be there just to support, and I get that reciprocated.

TER: What would you never do?

KH: I would never swim with sharks. I would never eat a cockroach. I watched Fear Factor growing up.

TER: What is your favorite food?

KH: Red beans and rice with smoked sausage.

TER: Swimming pool or ocean.

KH: Can't swim.

TER: I'm taking you swimming. You can be on my back and I'll walk you in the pool. And then we'll do breathing exercises.

KH: Okay, cool!

TER: You're going to make me rice and beans and I'm taking you swimming.

KH: Yes, okay, definitely.

TER: Swimming is going to be our thing. So, we have an agenda: I have to watch Closer. I need to eat rice and beans. I need to teach you how to swim. We've got a lot to handle. But I think to wrap this up, I'll say I'm excited to see where your choices lead you. And I feel like I've said this to you before, but there's a way that you think about your life that I think is just going to lead to a really fruitful experience for you. And I'm excited to see where it goes, both career and more than that for you as a person.

KH: Thank you, Tracee.

Meet the rest of Teen Vogue's Young Hollywood Class of 2020.

Stylist: Chris Horan (@chrishoran20)

Makeup Artist: Lottie using TYNT Beauty (@lotstar)

Hair Stylist: Lauren Palmer Smith using Shu Uemura (@laurenpalmersmith)

Manicurists: Jacqueline Yekikan (@nails_by_jacqueline), Merrick Fisher (@merricures)

Set: Justin Fry (@jebuz)

Let us slide into your DMs. Sign up for the Teen Vogue daily email.

Want more from Teen Vogue? Check this out: Meet Teen Vogue's Young Hollywood Class of 2019

Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue