Exclusive Interview: Gregory Zarian on Living Fearlessly, Loving Freely, and Holding Space in ‘Venice: The Series’

In a world where we’re constantly bombarded by headlines filled with division, tragedy, and heartbreak, it can be easy to lose sight of our shared humanity. But then a show like Venice: The Series comes along and reminds us that we’re more alike than we are different—that love is love, and that connection, empathy, and understanding still matter. It’s a series that creates a space for people to feel seen, to feel heard, and to feel hope.

Now streaming its seventh season on Vimeo.com, the two-time Daytime Emmy Award–winning series continues to champion representation through authentic, emotionally grounded storytelling. Gregory Zarian returns as Nate, who works alongside Ani (Jessica Leccia) at Le Monde Magazine and develops a meaningful bond with Jamie (Harrison Killian-White), Gina’s (Crystal Chappell) best friend. Nate is working through his fears and ready to take a chance on love, marriage, and fatherhood—while Jamie, recently divorced and raising a child, is on his own journey. Their connection is heartwarming and full of possibility.

Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to catch up with Gregory to talk about the emotional journey of playing Nate, the joy of collaboration on set, and how his personal experiences—as a twin, an anti-bullying advocate, and someone who leads with empathy—influence the stories he helps bring to life. Gregory also shares the importance of living fearlessly, the value of showing up for others, and how small acts of kindness and service can have a profound impact—on screen and in everyday life.

PC: Now more than ever, we need shows like Venice: The Series—stories that offer authenticity, representation, and connection. As someone who’s helped bring this story to life, what does it mean to you to be part of a project that feels so necessary in this moment?
Gregory: It’s funny. I found a shell in Maui a couple of years ago that’s shaped like a heart. And as we all know, a heart means love. On Venice, we want to scream it from the rooftops and also say it in the most loving whispers: “Love who you love!”

There’s been so much conversation about who you love or who you should love, but you know what? Who I love is who I love. Who you love, or who anybody loves—that’s what matters.

What I really appreciate about Crystal is that she took a love story from a soap opera on CBS and continued it because the international fans wanted to see what happened next. That was back in 2009, and now it’s 2025, and people are still talking about Venice—because it’s a love story. That’s what it means to me.

My twin brother Lawrence and I say to our nephews all the time, “You can be who you want to be. You can do whatever you want to do. And you can love whoever you want to love.” That’s it. Anything else is someone else’s conversation. Sometimes, people talk when they should just be quiet and listen.

PC: That’s such a timely message. The continued fan engagement is a testament to everything you and the team are bringing to the show. One of the reasons Venice: The Series has resonated so deeply is because these characters and their journeys feel so true to life. For Nate, this season has been about finding his voice and learning to advocate for himself. Was there a particular scene or moment that stood out to you in that transformation? And did you find any personal connection to what he was going through?
Gregory: That’s a great question. Something similar happened back in Season 6. Lawrence and I were both bullied—together and individually—so that storyline has always felt very real to me. Even today, bullying is still so prevalent. Continuing that conversation means a lot.

There’s a simple moment in the kitchen with Harrison White’s Jamie and Jessica Leccia’s Ani, where Nate says, “I’m not nervous.” We all have moments when we feel nervous, but for Nate—and for me—that line was huge. Because he wasn’t nervous. He just needed to be heard and to get his point across. He says, “I’m going to listen to you. Please listen to me.” I truly believe that if more people took the time to listen, the world would look very different.

Nate’s also an identical twin, and I’m an identical twin. There’s always this fascination with twins—how alike they are. And while Lawrence and I are very similar, we’re also so different. Getting to play those differences between Nick and Nate has been really special. As a twin playing a twin, it was fascinating to explore the layers and make a clear stand for who Nate is. He’s the younger twin—I’m the younger twin too. And people often assume the younger twin just follows the older one. But it’s not always about following. Sometimes, we just take a little longer. We pause and think, “Okay, maybe that could work for me.” Lawrence went one way, and I went another. And what’s beautiful is that we get to share and reflect on those journeys as we go.

PC: There’s also so much vulnerability that you tap into with Nate and his past. As an actor, how do you create the space to explore that kind of emotional depth?
Gregory: You have to dive in. As an actor, when you’re saying the words, I truly believe in tasting and feeling them. And if I haven’t personally gone through something before, I live in the magical world of “what if?” You put yourself in that mindset—where did you come from? What do you want? Where are you going?

In my own family, being the youngest of three, I really had to learn to stand up for myself. I’m very much like my mother. Lawrence is like both my mom and dad. My oldest brother is very much like our father. The three of us are all extremely different. Personally, I didn’t have a voice for a long time. What I appreciate so deeply about Crystal—who knows my story, where I come from—is that she’s taken those conversations and woven them into Venice. It makes everything feel that much more authentic. Because we’re all fighting to be heard, to be seen, and to work through everything we’ve been through.

Take the L.A. fires, for instance—they’ve been horrific. I’m from Los Angeles. I didn’t lose my home, and I consider myself very lucky. But still, a piece of my heart broke. This is my home. So while I didn’t lose anything tangible, I truly believe every Angeleno lost something. The loss might not be as visible or as extreme as someone who lost everything they owned, but I still felt it deeply. Emotionally, I’ve been rebuilding alongside my community.

I’ve actually never said this out loud, but how interesting is it that Nate’s stepping into his own personal journey within his community and not being afraid to be gay. If you’re going to bully me, I’m going to stand up to you and I’m going to say, “Stop!” I don’t want to get into a fistfight, so I’m going to walk away.

The beauty of Venice: The Series, this platform, and people like you who’ve invited me back into your world is—if someone is dealing with their sexuality, bullying, or all the things that human beings deal with—there are places you can go if you’re questioning things. Transgender is a huge conversation right now. Less than 1% in this country is transgender, maybe even globally. There are places you can go, like Free2Luv, the Trevor Project. You can Google, “I need help. I’m struggling with…” It’s the same thing with addiction, which I’m very vocal about—having been sober for almost twenty years. As much as you’re alone, there is a world out there where someone wants to take your hand and say, “I’m here with you.” That’s the beauty of Venice. Crystal touches on all of that and really lets us bring our personal histories to the stories that we’re telling.

PC: And audience members can see themselves reflected on screen in this really safe space. I’ve always appreciated how you bring such an empathetic quality to the characters you’ve played, but also how you’ve used your platform to advocate for others. It’s incredible to see. I love the dynamic that’s forming between Nate and Jamie, and how they really hold space for one another. Who have been the people in your own life who’ve done that for you, and did you find yourself channeling any of those relationships into their bond? And what was it like collaborating with Harrison to bring that connection to life?
Gregory: We’re all very lucky to be loved by the people who love us. I’m a fan of Harrison’s. We first met over Zoom and just started chitchatting. First of all, to be a professional actor—he’s been on Broadway! Come on! You feel every emotion and expression from him.

I think acting is like tennis. Working with him feels like playing a match. You never know where the ball is going to go, and then you get to return one of his serves. It’s beautiful. And to hear him tell his story as a Black man, and to get to share my story and who I am—that’s how we built this beautiful friendship.

I love that we’re both vulnerable. I love that Crystal said, “Let’s bring in these two characters,” even before we knew where it was all going. There’s vulnerability in that. That moment of, “I see you.” And we do see each other.

We all have people who show up for us. I’ve said it more than once, especially during the fires, during the pandemic, and in my life as someone in recovery—sobriety is about being of service. In recovery, the mindset is, “How can I be there for you? What do you need?” And it’s not even always about saying, “Tell me what you need.” It’s just about showing up.

What I love about Venice: The Series is that we all show up—not just as actors, but as people. We’re of service to each other as human beings. And from there, we become human storytellers, sharing something beautiful and authentic that just feels real.

People are afraid to talk about what they’re feeling. But why should we be afraid to speak up? You’ll never know unless you ask, and I’ll never know unless I share. We get this one go-around, this one life—so why not be emotionally fearless? Why not be emotionally open and say to someone, “How are you today?” Some of the most meaningful moments I’ve had come from asking that simple question. And then hearing these beautiful, unexpected stories from someone I’ve never even met.

PC: That’s beautifully said. To your point about the tennis analogy, it really does feel like the cast elevates one another’s performances throughout the series. You mentioned this already, but one of the benefits of living with a character over an extended period of time is that the creative team gets to know their ensemble more deeply—and can tailor storylines based on the actors portraying them. Having been part of this series for several seasons, playing not one but two characters, has anything surprised you about this journey so far?
Gregory: It all surprises me. As actors, we get to tell a story. And every time we receive a new script or even just a new page, the story shifts. So I always ask myself—what can I bring to it now?

When Crystal first asked me to come back this season, I had no idea that Nate and Jamie would become allies. But we’ve all had those moments in life when you meet someone and think, “Oh my God. I’ve got you.” And that’s exactly what I love about what she did with Nate and Jamie—they meet, and they get each other. There’s no past to complicate things. You’re a Black man telling your story. You’re married. Boom. I’m labeling it here because they come from such different places, and yet, they’re so similar. That’s where the fascination lies—“Tell me what this is for you. Let me understand.” It’s about uncovering and discovering, and there’s so much beauty in that.

As an actor, I get to do that every time. When I’m working with Jessica or Harrison, there are moments where I never see things coming—something I do or they do—and I’ll think, “How did that just happen?” But that’s the joy of acting. You never know where it’s going to take you.

I remember I was working on a series with Christian Slater called The Forgotten. I had a big guest star role, and at the very end of one scene, totally spontaneously, I walked over and adjusted his scarf. I was playing a fashion designer—it just felt right in the moment. And the director and the entire crew applauded. It’s not me saying, “Look how great Gregory is,” but it’s about those moments of spontaneity. I mean, you’re standing there, touching Christian Slater—a Golden Globe winner, Academy Award nominee—but as an actor, you step into the fearlessness of doing something spontaneous that moves the story forward. That’s what it’s all about.

PC: That’s a great lesson for audiences too—to live life fearlessly.
Gregory: Yeah, although as an actor, I’m not saying go around touching everybody! [laughs] If you’re going to shake someone, you need permission. I just adjusted his scarf.

People are so afraid—especially after COVID, we all kind of fell into these boxes. We’re afraid of everything: Am I going to get sick? Is this going to happen? Who do I believe? Do I wear a mask? There was so much fear and pandemonium. And I think we’re still climbing out of that box. But I believe in showing up for people. Being kind. Taking baby steps.

Hold the door open for someone. Say hello to your food server: “Hey, how are you?” Acknowledge the busboy—an unsung hero—and ask, “Are you good? Are you well? Are you having a great day?” When I go to the gym, my trainer jokes that I basically greet everyone who works there. I’m always saying, “How are you today? Have a great workout. Nice to see you.” It’s just about giving a little kindness. You never know where someone is in their day, and that small moment could make a big difference.

And like you said before we started, Venice is such a great binge-worthy quick fix—you wish the episodes were longer. If we, as human beings, can bring those little fixes to people we don’t know, with random acts of kindness, imagine what kind of world that would be.

If we—on Venice: The Series, created by Crystal Chappell and this incredible team of storytellers from Guiding Light to Days of Our Lives—can help take you out of whatever’s happening in your world, even just for a bit, and share something different with you, then please, dive into the amazing world of Venice… and remember, love who you love.

PC: You also mentioned earlier in the interview that your creative process involves imagining the “what ifs” and fully stepping into your character’s shoes. If we’re lucky enough to get another season, is there an aspect of Nate or Nick’s journey that you’d be excited to explore more deeply?
Gregory: I want Nate to fall in love. I want him to feel more grounded.

We, as human beings, often want someone else to make us feel okay. I’m married—and when we met, I was okay. I just happen to be a lot more okay in my marriage with my partner. We all want someone to fill us up. But we also need to learn how to fill ourselves up—so that we can share who we are, both independently and together, and become stronger humans because of it.

To keep up with Gregory, follow him on X and Instagram. Stream Venice: The Series on Vimeo today.

Photo Credit: Paul Smith