Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Nathaniel J. Potvin

Nathaniel Potvin is one of Hollywood’s brightest young stars. Not only is he incredibly talented, with credits including Disney’s Mech-X4, Facebook Watch’s Five Points, Netflix’s Alexa & Katie, and American Vandal, but he’s also an actor with a great head on his shoulders. He’s using his platform to create opportunities for underprivileged kids and speaking up for gun control. Pop Culturalist had the pleasure of speaking with Nathaniel about his unforgettable year.

PC: You started your career off as a dancer. How did you make the transition into acting?
Nathaniel: It was pretty organic, actually. I was taking dance classes and we had an acting class at our studio that popped up. My mom was like, “Nate, you should do it.” So, I went and did it and that was where I met my future manager. It’s been history ever since.

PC: You’re best known for your role on Disney’s Mech-X4. How has that experience prepared you for all the exciting projects that you’ve had in 2018?
Nathaniel: It’s been pretty incredible. Mech-X4 is one of the best experiences I’ve had as an actor because I got to explore being the lead of my own show. It’s also a character I got to experiment with since I’ve played him for two seasons. He’s someone I could play around with and I could talk to the writers about. It’s really nice working with a team like that. It was also amazing to get to travel to Canada for work.

As for how it prepared me, I grew accustomed to working with new people and becoming friends with them before we started working together. That’s really important. It’s nice to get to know people before you start working with them.

PC: Of all the characters you’ve played, which are you the most similar to and which was the most challenging to embody?
Nathaniel: They’re all super, super similar to me because I’m pulling from myself when I play these characters, but if I had to choose one, I would say Gonzo in American Vandal. He’s a really funny kid. He likes playing sports, I like playing sports. He’s also really loyal to his friends and doesn’t rat them out right away. I don’t think I would either…until it got super serious.

As far as the hardest character to play, it was probably Wallace in Five Points because of the excessive bullying and how he fell into drugs. Those major plot points were super difficult to embody because I didn’t get pulled into the bullying as much as Wallace did. I definitely didn’t resort to selling drugs to other students.

PC: If you could write a storyline for one of your characters what would it be and why?
Nathaniel: I would love to write a storyline for Wallace in Five Points. I’d like to see him actually get in trouble instead of being super sly and getting out of it. I’d like to see how he would handle that with his parents and the school administration. How would he explain himself to the police? How does a straight-A student turn into someone that no one expected him to be?

PC: You’ve had tons of projects in 2018. How do you find the balance between all of them and also just being a normal teenager?
Nathaniel: It occurs naturally. Even though I’m an actor, I’m still a normal teenager. I hang out with my friends from high school. They keep me humble by always making fun of me. I just take everything one day at a time. I wake up, I figure out what I have to do for that day, and I get it done. Then I sleep, recharge, and get ready for the next day. Actors are regular people. We tackle the same issues that everyone else does.

PC: When you look back at this year, is there a moment that sticks out to you?
Nathaniel: Definitely meeting Kerry Washington. As an actor, getting to work on a show that she’s producing is amazing. Also, working on my first short film with a friend, Raymond.


PC: Can you tell us about the short film?
Nathaniel: The short film is the brainchild of Raymond. He brought me on board to co-direct and co-produce with him. It’s a project that we’re both really proud of. We’re in post-production and we’re excited to start submitting it to festivals. We’re also excited to show our friends and family. It’s definitely a passion project of ours.

PC: As you look ahead in your career, what are some of your aspirations and goals?
Nathaniel: That’s a good question. I want to transition over to writing and filmmaking; that’s a big goal of mine. I also want to go to school for acting. I would love to be recognized by my peers in the industry as a talented actor and filmmaker. I also hope to inspire people to see their insecurities and anxieties as weapons. A lot of times, I think people see them as burdens, but everyone is perfect in their own way. They just have to use what makes them “them” to their advantage.


PC: You do a lot of advocacy work. Tell us about the organizations that you work with. Have you always known that you wanted to use your platform to build awareness?
Nathaniel: I knew if I were ever given a platform, I would want to use it, I just didn’t know for what. In light of recent events and the shootings around the country, I’ve paired up with Everytown to get the word out. Gun control weighs on my heart. The shooting over at Thousand Oaks is super, super close to me. It’s scary. My friends knew people that were there.

I want to speak out against guns and try to regulate as much gun control as possible. Another organization that I work with is Literacy Initiative. My team brought it to me and I immediately wanted to be involved. Growing up and going to school, I had all these things that I took for granted. I had pencils, notebooks, everything, but there are school districts that aren’t as fortunate. I want kids to grow up with the same education that I had.

PC: What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned being a part of this industry?
Nathaniel: I think the biggest lesson that I’ve learned is not to lose yourself. I’m fortunate to have a great family and come from a nice background. I have these people to keep me straight and in order. I realize how important that is because it can be easy to lose yourself to greed, fame, or whatever else it is.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Last show you binge-watched?
Nathaniel: The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina

PC: Most used emoji?
Nathaniel: Oh, the laughing and crying face of course.

PC: Person you would like to meet, dead or alive?
Nathaniel: Martin Luther King, Jr. He’s amazing.

PC: Person you’d like to work with in the future?
Nathaniel: The director, Ryan Coogler


PC: Marvel or DC?
Nathaniel: Marvel

Make sure to follow Nathaniel on Instagram and Facebook.

Photo Credit: Lydia Murty // Stylist: Veronica Graye // Groomer: Courtney Hart for The Only Agency