Like many actors, Burl Moseley made the transition from acting on stage in New York City to acting on screen in LA. His journey has taken him from comedy sketch groups and off-Broadway plays to roles on successful TV shows (like Grey’s Anatomy and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend) and, now, a feature film.
In Happiest Season, one of the most anticipated holiday rom-com films this year, Moseley plays Eric, the son-in-law in a family that doesn’t know one of their daughters who has come home for Christmas brought her girlfriend-not just her friend-along, too.
We chatted with Moseley about Happiest Season, his career, and what’s coming up next.
PC: How did you discover your passion for acting?
Burl: It’s funny. I think it’s always been there since maybe grade school. My class performed a school play and I really enjoyed it! I still remember most of the songs, actually.
PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Burl: I have a wonderful network of very supportive friends. We’ve cheered each other on throughout our careers through both highs and lows. The people that you surround yourself with are so important in life. I’m very fortunate to know them.
PC: You’ve had a lot of success throughout your career. When you look back, is there a particular moment that stands out?
Burl: Definitely! I was in the original cast of the play One Night In Miami, portraying Sam Cooke. We won multiple awards and ran for months. It has since been made into a film, and I feel very proud to have gotten in on the ground floor.
PC: Tell us about Happiest Season, your character, and what drew you to this project.
Burl: I play Eric in the film, which is about visiting family for the holidays and the secrets that exist in that dynamic. I was drawn to it because of how honestly our central relationship between Mackenzie [Davis] and Kristen [Stewart] is portrayed. It’s very rare to encounter a mainstream lesbian rom-com, and I just thought it sounded fantastic!
PC: What should audiences know about Eric? How similar/different are you to him?
Burl: He’s a bit of a perfectionist and a little uptight! I’m more of a go-with-the-flow kind of guy. It was fun and challenging to be in that headspace during filming.
PC: You have a background in sketch comedy. How beneficial was it to have that experience when working on Happiest Season?
Burl: Quite! We got to improvise a lot during some of our scenes, which often led to hilarious results! We’ll see what actually made the final cut, but that freedom to explore really kept everyone on their toes.
PC: What do you hope audiences take away?
Burl: I hope that they see a reflection of themselves and their own lives in the world that we’ve presented. It’s a very universal story that deserves to be seen everywhere.
PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Burl: Not a guilty pleasure at all, but loving The Mandalorian right now.
PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Burl: Again, not guilty about it, but I can watch Avengers: Infinity War literally any time!
PC: Favorite book?
Burl: The Hidden Messages in Water by Masaru Emoto.
PC: Favorite play or musical?
Burl: Hamilton is extraordinary, but Rent may be my favorite.
PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Burl: K/DA.
PC: Who would play you in the story of your life?
Burl: Alex Hibbert.
To keep up with Burl, follow him on Twitter and Instagram. Catch Happiest Season on Hulu.
Photo Credit: Matthew Kennedy
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