Pop-Culturalist.com

Alex MacNicoll and Spence Moore II bring a profound subtlety to their roles in Brilliant Minds, captivating audiences with performances that are as precise as they are heartfelt. Tasked with portraying characters who confront life-altering challenges, they approach each scene with a fine-tuned emotional intelligence, giving life to the complexities of inner strength, resilience, and growth. Like a neurologist mapping the brain, they carefully chart each subtle shift and revelation, adding layers to the show’s compelling narrative.

Inspired by the extraordinary life and work of world-famous author and physician Oliver Sacks, Brilliant Minds follows a revolutionary, larger-than-life neurologist and his team of interns as they explore the last great frontier—the human mind—while grappling with their own relationships and mental health.

Pop Culturalist had the pleasure of speaking with Alex and Spence about their characters’ journeys in Brilliant Minds, the authenticity and emotional depth they bring to each role, and the powerful connection that fuels their performances.

PC: Alex, I’ll start with you. After Van is diagnosed with mirror-touch, Oliver shares coping mechanisms to help him continue working effectively, one of which is finding an emotional anchor. There’s a touching moment in Episode 6 when Van tells Ericka how he leaned on her. Who have been the anchors in your life and career? Did you channel them into your dynamic between Van and Ericka?
Alex: That’s a great question. The anchors in my life have been my parents, close family members, and best friends. Having that kind of support is priceless and invaluable. If you have it, it’s a wonderful gift. Not everyone does, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have those people in my life. We’re a herd species; we need community and connection. It’s so important.

PC: Great answer. Spence, what’s so interesting about your character is how he went from being celebrated on the field to taking on this often thankless profession. But he’s learning how his past can impact his present and future. With each new episode, we’re seeing his walls come down. Which patient has had the biggest impact on Jacob’s journey? And as an actor, how did you find where this character sits within you and bring audiences along on the nuanced journey he takes this season?
Spence: You ask some incredible questions, if I do say so myself. In Episode 5, Jacob is working with a patient named Steve. It’s close between him and Nedra Marie Taylor, who guest stars as Coach Williams in Episode 2, but Steve takes the cake. He forces Jacob to look within himself and confront questions he’s wrestled with for years, things that might even be behind his lingering headaches or tremors. Steve definitely has the biggest impact on Jacob’s journey.

As for getting into Jacob Nash’s headspace, he felt very close to home for me. Throughout the season, I’ve only grown more inspired by him and his resilience—the way he pivoted in life and seized every opportunity to get to where he is now, as a neurologist under Dr. Wolf. Right now, he’s one of my biggest heroes.

PC: That’s such a great lesson for audiences about pivoting during moments of adversity. Alex, I imagine this role is a dream for you as an actor—your character feels so deeply, but I also imagine it’s challenging with how drastically his emotions can shift. You bring such a groundedness to him, which is compelling to watch. With this condition being so rare, what does your prep work look like? How do you balance research with staying present and feeding off your scene partners to bring that authenticity to the screen?
Alex: Thank you, that’s very kind of you to say. I’m so glad you’re enjoying it. Like you mentioned, it’s a rare condition, and there aren’t many resources, but there are a few. Thankfully, our creators and creative team connected with a doctor who specializes in it, so I got to do a lot of research through him.

Beyond that, it’s about being present, open, and vulnerable. Empathy, in a strange way, is like a muscle—the more you tap into it, the more it grows, and the easier it becomes to step into someone else’s experience. But I won’t lie; reaching those emotional places can be challenging at times. You just show up every day and give it everything you have. Fortunately, we have an incredible cast and crew. When you listen and stay present, it’s all there. Our guest stars are phenomenal, and the cast truly is a dream team.

PC: That chosen family really shines through on screen. Spence, Jacob brings a lot of levity to the series with his quippy one-liners. How much of what we see in the final product is scripted versus improvised? Since you’re so experienced in the comedy space, how does that comfort level allow you to take agency over his arc and take more risks in your performance?
Spence: Our team is full of all-stars. They’re truly the crème de la crème. A lot of what you see is from our amazing writers—a vast majority, actually. But they let me have my fun too, giving me room to improvise at times. So, while much of it is scripted, we breathe life into it. And as Alex mentioned, working with such talented creatives every day brings out something new in you and pushes you to be your best.

Having that comedic background, like with A.P. Bio, was incredibly fun, especially working under NBC with folks like Glenn Howerton and Patton Oswalt. I learned so much from them daily. Bringing my own quirks into Jacob’s character gives me a bit of creative license to experiment. Every director is fantastic—they create a space that’s open, allowing me to try new things.

PC: I can’t say enough great things about both of your performances. There’s this shared thread between your characters in how they may have initially seen their past or diagnosis as weaknesses, but ultimately these become their greatest strengths. Looking ahead to the second half of Season 1, what can each of you tease about what’s in store for your characters and how they’ll tap into their inner strength?
Spence: Heartbreak.

Alex: Yeah, there might be some love triangle…

Spence: …type of stuff. [laughs]
Alex: Not just with our characters, either. There are a lot of shifting dynamics happening. Some relationships are forming, some are ending, and some are evolving. That’s a big part of it.

But, as you said, they’re now using what once seemed like challenges or hindrances as tools for empowerment. There are some great moments and episodes where they’re able to turn those experiences into strengths, helping not only their patients but also themselves as they mend parts of their pasts—whether family relationships or other aspects.

Spence: In the second half of the season, you’ll see the Padawans become Jedi. That’s the journey they’re on, and it lands beautifully.

PC: That’s a great teaser. Oliver is also known for his unconventional methods. For each of you, what’s the most unusual or unexpected thing you’ve done to prepare for a role?
Alex: Hmm. An unorthodox way to prepare…This one’s kind of funny, but I once played a guy who was a dirt biker. It’s not unusual for actors to dive into method stuff, but I went out and actually bought a dirt bike. I didn’t have a license, and I ended up riding it around and crashing it. In hindsight, it was pretty reckless—I could’ve broken my leg and then wouldn’t have been able to do the movie. And honestly, it didn’t even connect to the character’s emotional core; it was just a surface detail. So, maybe it was a bit unorthodox, but I guess a lot of actors do stuff like that.

Spence: [laughs] Yeah, each role comes with its own unique prep since you’re diving into something a little foreign every time. But if I had to pick one experience, I’d say it was when I filmed We Are Who We Are in 2019. We lived in Italy for a month before shooting, to really immerse ourselves in the environment. Being in a new place with a different language, learning Italian customs, trying to speak the language—it was like stepping into another world. For a kid who’d never been overseas, handling all that was intense. But you adapt, and you rise to the occasion. It was an incredible experience.

PC: Alex, dirt biking just seems so fitting for your personality.
Spence: [laughs]

PC: I have one last question for both of you. This show thrives on the camaraderie among the interns. The theme of chosen family runs deep. How have you two built that bond offscreen so it resonates onscreen?
Spence: This guy right here—he holds a special place in my heart. I can’t say enough great things about him. He’s the kind of person you lean on during tough times and someone who lifts you up, making you feel like you’re twenty-five feet tall. He’s the best. That connection isn’t hard or forced with this crew; it’s easy and real. And I think that’ll come across onscreen because it genuinely exists.

Alex: Yeah, we all met when we arrived, and it just clicked. We’re all unique in our own ways, but there’s a real sense of love and teamwork. It really feels like we’re a team with a shared bond. Spence is one of the kindest people out there. There’s a reason he’s been on twenty different shows—not only because of his talent, but because he elevates the set and the atmosphere. Knock on wood for a Season 2, because this is a cast with no bad seeds. It’s a pleasure—a real dream team. And I think that positivity translates onscreen. Everyone’s happy to be there, everyone shows up ready and willing, and we genuinely enjoy working and hanging out together.

Make sure to follow Alex (Instagram) and Spence (Instagram). Brilliant Minds airs every Monday at 10/9c on NBC. Watch it the next day on Peacock.

Photo Credit: Brendan Meadows/NBC