Exclusive Interview: Alexander Hodge on Vulnerability, Representation, and His Character’s Journey of Self-Discovery in ‘Grosse Pointe Garden Society’

Alexander Hodge has long been a trailblazer, planting seeds of change with every role he takes on. From Insecure to Wellmania to Joy Ride, he’s consistently brought depth and authenticity to characters that feel fully lived-in—people navigating love, identity, uncertainty, and everything in between. His performances resonate because they’re grounded in truth, allowing audiences—especially those from underrepresented communities—to see themselves reflected on screen in ways they rarely have before.

That same care and nuance are on full display in his latest project, Grosse Pointe Garden Society. The series centers on four members of a suburban garden club whose seemingly pristine lives are entangled by scandal, mischief, and a shared secret—a murder no one dares to mention. Alexander plays Doug, a husband and aspiring artist whose world is quietly coming undone. Unlike those around him, Doug isn’t chasing appearances—he’s just trying to figure out what he wants and whether he still has time to pursue it. As secrets begin to surface, so does the quiet turmoil he’s long kept buried.

Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to sit down with Alexander Hodge to chat about his role in Grosse Pointe Garden Society, Doug’s journey of self-discovery, and how he tapped into the quiet vulnerability that makes the character so relatable. He opened up about joining the ensemble, building a layered relationship on screen, and being part of a shift in storytelling—where representation shows up in unexpected ways and characters are allowed to simply exist in all of their flaws.

PC: Doug is surrounded by people telling him who he should be and what path to follow—but he’s still trying to figure that out for himself, which makes his journey incredibly relatable. As an actor, how did you tap into that vulnerability—the internal push and pull between chasing his dreams and facing life’s harsh realities?
Alexander: Thank you for seeing Doug! You really get him. He’s torn because everyone else’s voices are drowning out his own. In Grosse Pointe, there’s this whimsical, aspirational energy—everyone’s dreaming big, wishing for more, and seemingly succeeding. But Doug represents the sobering flip side of that: the fear that your dreams might not come true.

He’s the only one in his world confronting that reality. He’s taking stock of everything—his marriage, his job, the idea of having kids—and realizing that being an artist might not be enough to support that life. Those are hard things to face. And he doesn’t have much support. His parents and his wife have their own expectations, but he’s just now starting to ask: What do I want? He’s also beginning to look at the people who’ve shaped him, questioning their influence and where he stands amidst it all.

PC: What’s resonating so deeply with audiences is that every character feels three-dimensional—they’re flawed, but innately human. What would you say is Doug’s greatest strength and his biggest weakness? And by the end of the season, does he change for the better or the worse?
Alexander: Doug’s greatest strength is that he’s a very present person. He’s not preoccupied, which—again—is very uncommon in Grosse Pointe. Unfortunately, his greatest weakness is that his presence turns into stagnancy. He’s not the most active person. He’s trying, but he doesn’t really know what to do. There are so many things he could do, but because of that, he doesn’t do any of them.

The Doug we meet at the beginning is someone who’s quietly unsure. The Doug we see at the end is someone who’s a lot more resolved. He grows a bit of a spine throughout the season. Maybe he’s no more certain, but he’s a bit more emboldened.

PC: You’ve broken so many barriers for our community, and we’re witnessing the next evolution of representation in media—where diverse characters exist authentically without their race or ethnicity being the sole focus of their story. I know you’ve said that growing up, you never saw Asian men in romantic, emotionally engaging roles, and Doug’s relationship with Alice is so layered and complex. Have you had time to reflect on the contributions you’ve made and what they might mean for future generations?
Alexander: I’m grateful and humbled to hear you say that. I don’t look back wistfully, wishing I had more of this or that. Everything I’ve experienced has led me to who I am—and who I’m still becoming. This relationship I’m portraying on screen now feels like the next progression.

I’ve been really lucky to play roles that have broken down barriers and challenged stereotypes around how we’re seen on screen and how we show up in people’s lives. The next logical step, like you said, is continuing to play more nuanced, layered characters where things aren’t always rosy.

The characters I’ve played before have been really appealing in terms of the story—they were “good guys.” Doug’s not always that. He’s not always the most likable or popular person in the relationship. And that’s real life. To get to play someone who’s struggling, someone who isn’t perfect, and to do that at the network level, that doesn’t go unnoticed by me.

I love the challenge of finding what’s real in a character like Doug and figuring out how to navigate those conflicts in a way that feels grounded. The tension in Doug and Alice’s marriage is very honest, and I think a lot of people will see themselves in it. Working with the writers, AnnaSophia [Robb], and our directors to explore that dynamic has been a gift.

And working with Ron [Yuan], who plays my father—he’s been acting since before I was born. I stand on the shoulders of him and so many others who’ve paved the way. To be able to share the screen and a story with him is something I’ll always remember.

PC: I love the flower pun you threw in there. The work you’re doing is incredibly impactful. Speaking of the complexities between Doug and Alice—because the series unfolds across two different timelines, we get to see how their relationship evolves. Can you talk a bit about working with AnnaSophia to explore that dynamic and the journey it undergoes?
Alexander: It’s funny—we get new scripts every couple of weeks, so we’re playing in two different timelines that eventually converge. One moment we’re shooting scenes where Doug and Alice are really happy and everything’s great, and then we’re jumping to moments where things are objectively terrible. We’re trying to figure it out—what went wrong—and also asking how they got there. It’s almost like a premonition. We spend the next few episodes working our way toward that moment. It’s been such a joy because the story takes so many sharp turns and has so many emotional highs and lows.

I work with AnnaSophia and Nancy Travis for most of the season. These two have been doing it forever, and I get to learn from them every time I show up on set. It’s so much fun. It’s a gift to work with people who are so grounded, confident in their work, and total professionals. I feel like I take something away from them every day we’re on set. We laugh a lot—it really feels like a family.

And now that I’m thinking about it, that goes for our crew, too. Every time I show up to work, it feels like we’ve all been doing this together for years. That kind of atmosphere isn’t common, and I’m so grateful for it. I hope we get to keep doing it for many more seasons.

To keep up with Alexander, follow him on Instagram. Grosse Pointe Garden Society airs every Sunday at 10/9c on NBC and will shift to Fridays at 8PM starting April 4th.

Photo Credit: Sally Montana/NBC