Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Charmed’s Nick Hargrove

Nick Hargrove is a breakout star of 2018, gracing our screens as Parker Caine on The CW’s reboot of the cult classic, Charmed. Like his character, his performance is charismatic and confident, brimming with an air of mystery.

Having grown up right outside of Philadelphia, a popular city for the film market, Nick was exposed to the industry at a young age. It was there that he discovered his passion for acting, but it wasn’t until college that he made the decision that the traditional nine-to-five wasn’t for him. So, he packed up his bags and headed west with his dreams in hand.

Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to chat with this talented up-and-comer about Charmed, what’s ahead for his character, and his journey as an actor.

PC: What should audiences know about Parker? What can you tease about his story arc this season?
Nick: That’s a tricky question! I don’t want to say too much and give away any spoilers, but he comes from a well-off family. He’s very charismatic. He’s the head of his fraternity. On the surface, he’s this very outgoing, funny guy, but, underneath there’s a lot more going on. In later episodes, you’ll get to see a little bit more of that and we’ll explore his story further. I think audiences are going to be excited to see where that goes along with his relationship with Maggie.

PC: You and Sarah [who plays Maggie] have this great chemistry that comes off the screen. How did you two build that bond?
Nick: It happened pretty quickly. I had a chemistry read with Sarah before I got the job. She sent me a quick DM after I booked the role and said, “Hey, we should get lunch to catch up and get to know each other.” Once I got to Vancouver, she showed me around, introduced me to her friends, and included me in all of her plans. She took me under her wing and introduced me to everybody there. So, I think spending time outside of work really helped us build that bond.

PC: For readers who may not be familiar with this reboot, how does it differentiate itself?
Nick: This reboot is darker than the original. There are a lot of similarities with the strong female characters, but I definitely think this one is a little bit darker. It also ties in a lot of the current issues, so it’s more updated with what’s going on in today’s world. I feel like it has a good balance of drawing on what made the old Charmed great and bringing in new elements that make it its own great show, too.

PC: There was a huge reaction when they announced this reboot. How mindful were you of that and did it add any nerves signing onto the project?
Nick: I saw a few episodes growing up. I was pretty young when they first started airing, but I do remember seeing it. I have friends and family who were huge fans of the original show, so when I got the job it was important for me that we did a good job and honored the original knowing people that have been so heavily influenced by it.

PC: Charmed just got a full season order. Where would you like to see your character’s storyline go?
Nick: It’s hard to say without spoiling anything, but in the first few episodes his backstory is very mysterious; you don’t really know who he is or where he came from. I think later on I’d like to see more about his family dynamic and how that impacts him, specifically what makes him do the things he does and how he got to where he is.

PC: When you signed on for this project, you were a recurring character. Recently, you were promoted to series regular. Does that change any aspect of your creative process?
Nick: Definitely. Early on, the writers and creators were pretty hush-hush about where my character was going. That had its challenges because I had to come up with some backstory on my own and see where my character was heading episode by episode. Then as I came on as a series regular, they gave me more information and that helped me figure out, okay, he might end up in this place. I think the main thing is that with more information about the general story and what role Parker plays in it, I’m able to prepare more.

PC: What’s been the most surprising part about this experience?
Nick: Everything moves so quickly. I started in September and within five weeks, the first episode I did was already airing. The turnaround was so quick. I’m amazed at how they’re able to put everything together so quickly. It’s a testament to how good everyone on the show is, how streamlined everything is, and how hard everyone’s working.

PC: You started your career off as a model. How did you make that transition into acting?
Nick: When I moved to L.A., the goal was acting. Modeling was a way to make money on the side to support my acting. It’s funny—I actually got model representation around the same time I got acting representation. I’ve been going on auditions for two to three years, doing both at the same time, and been in classes for three years. They went hand-in-hand. I met people along the way in modeling that helped me with acting, and vice versa. They lent themselves to each other pretty well. Modeling makes you more comfortable in front of a camera, which helps with acting as well. At one point, modeling was doing better. Then, acting took a front seat.

PC: When did you discover your passion for acting and realize that you wanted to pursue it as a career?
Nick: I grew up right outside Philadelphia and there’s a decent film market there. There are some big directors that worked out there, like M. Night Shyamalan, so I was auditioning at the age of nine or ten, but then I forgot about it after that. I was a shy kid growing up and it wasn’t until my junior year of college that I realized I didn’t want to take a traditional route. I was studying economics. I had done internships. I had done the nine-to-five. I’ve always been a big TV and film fan, so I told myself after I graduated that I was going to move to L.A. and go after it. After school, I packed up my stuff, jumped into some classes, and here we are!

PC: What are a few goals you’d like to accomplish in your career? Do you have a dream role?
Nick: One of my favorite directors is Christopher Nolan. I’m a big sci-fi fan, so getting to work in any of his movies would be awesome. There are a couple of other sci-fi film directors that I love, like Alex Garland. It would be a huge career milestone to work on any of those projects. In terms of a dream role, I tend to gravitate towards darker roles, something similar to Bryan Cranston’s character in Breaking Bad. Those characters are conflicted and you don’ t know whether they’re good or bad. Getting to play a character like that would be so much fun.

PC: What would you say is the biggest lesson you’ve learned being a part of this industry?
Nick: I think it’s to be present. Things can get pretty chaotic and there are a lot of ups and downs. You never know if anything will ever pan out or how it’ll work out, so you need to be aware and present and do the best you can in any situation you’re put in.

Pop Culturalist Spreed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Nick: I don’t know if it’s even a guilty pleasure but I love The Office.

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Nick: Austin Powers

PC: Favorite book?
Nick: Ready Player One

PC: Favorite play or musical?
Nick: This Is Our Youth by Kenneth Lonergan

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Nick: Gorillaz

PC: Last show you binge-watched?
Nick: I just finished Bodyguard on Netflix and that was incredible. Richard Madden was so good in that.

PC: Hidden talent?
Nick: I can speak German and I can do a back flip.

PC: Since we’re chatting about Charmed, if you could have a superpower, what would it be?
Nick: Teleporting and flying

Make sure to follow Nick on Twitter and Instagram, and check out Charmed every Sunday at 9/8c on The CW.

Photo Credit: Luke Fontana