Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with The Plot Against America’s Jacob Laval

Actor Jacob Laval is one of the brightest young stars making his mark on the industry. He began training in musical theatre in 2013 and made the decision to pursue acting professionally in 2017. Since then, he’s had guest spots in Jessica Jones, Happy!, Netflix’s John Mulaney & the Sack Lunch Bunch and Team Marco as well as made his Broadway debut in The Rose Tattoo. This year, he’s breaking new ground in his first role as a series regular in The Plot Against America and we spoke with him about it.

Career

PC: How did you discover your passion for acting?
Jacob: When I was younger, I always wanted a job, any job, so my parents found out that I could do background work, and I started doing that in the summer. I really liked being on set and a director told my mom she should bring me to an agency. I decided I wanted to do more work and try to get bigger roles.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Jacob: Definitely my parents and my talent agency, Take 3 Talent (especially Natasha), because they are the ones trying to help me get all my jobs. We are a team.

PC: How challenging is it to balance your career and life as a normal kid?
Jacob: Sometimes it’s challenging, sometimes it’s not. When I was on Broadway, it definitely was hard to balance because I was going to school all day and doing eight shows a week. In TV and film, you sometimes miss school, but they give you tutors. Sometimes, I end up missing special school events, like my class field trip to Philadelphia this year and my school’s annual Halloween party. It can be sad, but I think it’s worth it in the end.

The Plot Against America

PC: Tell us about The Plot Against America, your character, and what drew you to this project.
Jacob: The Plot was a very fun experience. I got to go to all these cool places in the Catskills and New Jersey.

I really liked my character because of how dramatic he is—he’s serious and quiet and smart. I also feel like I can relate to my character a bit.

I was drawn to it because I knew this would be a great opportunity, plus I think the idea of alternate history is interesting.

PC: This is your first role as a series regular. Did you feel any pressure heading into the project?
Jacob: I did a little bit because I was worried about the part where I had to be sad. I overcame it, though, by working hard with my acting coach, Dana Berger, and my parents.

PC: How similar/different are you to your character?
Jacob: I think sometimes I’m like him because Seldon is smart and I like to think about things a lot. Sometimes I’m not like him because Seldon is quiet and I can be much more talkative. Also, Seldon is Jewish and we always knew my mom’s family was Jewish. The same time I got the part, my dad’s father found out from a DNA test that he is half Jewish!

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Jacob: Survivor

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Jacob: The Emoji Movie

PC: Favorite book?
Jacob: The Goblet of Fire. I love how they implemented the other schools in that one.

PC: Favorite play or musical?
Jacob: The Rose Tattoo, of course! And Wicked is my favorite musical.

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Jacob: The Beatles

PC: Who would play you in the story of your life?
Jacob: Someday my kid!

Catch The Plot Against America on HBO on March 16, 2020.