Contributor: Adam Tanswell

Nico Tortorella is an actor, author, poet and activist. Since 2015, the Illinois-born entertainer has garnered attention on the small screen in the hit TV comedy Younger – but they have also notched up acclaimed roles in the Scream slasher film franchise and the Fox television thriller The Following. More recently, Tortorella took a leading role in the AMC zombie spinoff series The Walking Dead: World Beyond.

As an activist and author, the 32-year-old creative has helped change the dialogue around gender identity with their 2019 memoir Space Between. Tortorella uses they/them pronouns and explains: “We are all multidimensional dynamic creatures and as much as I understand the spectrum, the less I believe in the binary of gender, the more liberated I myself am becoming.”

We spoke to Tortorella to find out more about their experience in the industry, as well as their thoughts on diversity and inclusion in Hollywood.

What’s it like to come face-to-face with a zombie for the very first time on the set of a horror show like The Walking Dead: World Beyond?

My first experience was very unexpected. I got into the front seat of a transport car to drive me to set when I heard someone cackling in the back of the vehicle. I turned around and there were seven ‘walkers’ [zombie characters] seated in the back of the car in full zombie makeup. There was an audible gasp and a yell from a few of us that hadn’t seen them before. It was thrilling. It’s one thing to see them on screen for the first time, but it’s very strange when you hear them talk with normal human voices. There’s this weird dichotomy between the way they look and the way they sound. It’s also really funny to see them doing very human things, like talking on their cell phones or wearing reading glasses with a script in hand.

What makes The Walking Dead: World Beyond stand apart from other apocalyptic dramas?

The Walking Dead: World Beyond is a fresh perspective on the much-loved franchise. It’s 10 years after the apocalypse and the story centers around a younger generation, so there’s a much younger cast. This is a show about hope and identity. It’s a show about this younger generation who are learning to properly live in the new world. As for my character, I play an all-around good dude named Felix. He’s a by-the-book guy who is extremely loyal and protective. He’s been a lot of fun to play.

There have been a number of LGBTQ+ characters in The Walking Dead franchise. How important was it for you that Felix be openly gay in the story?

I’ve been wanting to play a queer superhero for a long time now. I am still waiting on the call from Marvel, but this was the next best option. I am thrilled to be part of this universe. When I had my first call with executive producers Matt Negrete and Scott M. Gimple, the only thing I knew about the character was the fact that he was gay. I asked a lot of my questions about why his story was important right now, especially given the current political and social climate – and they laid out this character’s identity and politics in a way that was super appealing. They explained how the only binary that exists in The Walking Dead universe is dead and alive; everything else goes away. That really struck a chord with me. I couldn’t be more excited to bring this queer hero to life on screen.

The Walking Dead franchise is often praised for its diversity and representation, but it has stumbled in the past when it killed off some of these key characters. What are your thoughts on this?

Amazing characters die in a lot of different television shows, which is the unfortunate nature of television. I played a queer character in a show about a serial killer, The Following. He was killed off in the first season and there was definitely a huge outcry when he died as well, but I think The Walking Dead has been ahead of the curve in terms of representation and inclusivity. Without a doubt, I think they’ve done an incredible job of bringing these stories to life in an authentic way – and this show follows in those footsteps. We have a large cast, which is primarily led by two women of color. That’s incredible.

Felix is a father figure to the teenage characters in the show. As an actor, do the younger cast members come to you for industry advice?

That’s a great question because I’m used to being one of the younger folks on set. This is the first time I get to be one of the older folks with a cast that is primarily of the younger generation. It’s been really refreshing to be that person. Everything great that I’ve learned about being an actor hasn’t come from training or school, it has come from working with established, wise, respected actors. Sure, there are conversations that are deliberate about handling yourself on set, both on-camera and off-camera, but it’s more about the lessons in the little things that aren’t necessarily expected. The most important advice I share with the younger cast is not to take any of this too seriously, yourself included. Ultimately, we’re here playing make-believe. We’re creating entertainment for people and that should be fun for everyone – but you need to make sure that everyone you are working with has a good time with you. I think that was definitely the biggest lesson that I brought to the table with this cast.

Looking back at your younger years in the industry, who gave you the best advice?

The person who taught me the most about the industry was James Purefoy in The Following. What he brought to his character and the way he treated me and the other players on that team – both on and off camera – was incredible. James Purefoy is iconic. He taught me about the little things; the nuances in character and what you should do with your face while you’re acting. He’s so properly and expertly trained. I absolutely love him.

Who are your biggest role models in the industry?

Jim Carrey is probably at the top of my list. I had a really beautiful dream about him the other night. I think the way he’s able to speak out about the world is fascinating. He’s had this incredible longevity in his career, but he’s also been able to take a step back and examine the human condition in a way that I can really relate to and respect. My favorite actors in terms of the craft are people like Joaquin Phoenix, Heath Ledger, and Shia LaBeouf. They are able to completely lose themselves in character. I also look up to the trans actors that have been able to bring real visibility to characters and narratives, like Laverne Cox and Asia Kate Dillon. On the other side of the camera, there’s Janet Mock and the whole Pose crew, which includes actors like Indya Moore and Mj Rodriguez. It’s beautiful to see the landscape change in the right direction.

How quickly is Hollywood changing and adapting in terms of diversity and inclusion?

I’d love it to happen quicker. Personally, I’d love to create a show with a queer-led cast that does for non-binary and gender-variant folk what The L Word did for lesbians, what Queer as Folk was able to do for gay men, and what Pose is doing for the girls. I think there are other sections of the community that deserve a real seat at the table. Moving forward, my main goal with my career is to bring those stories to life and to open the door for a more marginalized voice. When I think about my friends, I have never seen anyone like them on television. I want to see people that we haven’t seen anywhere, in any media. I want to bring my friends to TV.

You are an icon and a role model who is very open and honest. Do you think your candidness has affected your career in any way?

Certainly. I’m sure there are people behind the curtain somewhere having conversations that exclude me, but I don’t really care. I mean, if anyone doesn’t want to work with me because of what I’m talking about or the issues that I’m raising awareness towards then I don’t really want to work with them either. I think the world is a different place than it was five years ago, a year ago, six months ago and a month ago – and there’s too much at stake to not speak to and for what matters. You’re either on the team or you’re not. It’s as simple as that.