Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Inheritance’s Josh Murray

Actor Josh Murray lives for the moments when he can transform and become the character he’s playing. Whether it’s projects like Killing Lincoln, Swamp Murders, or The Dreamfactory, Josh continues to impress with talent that goes unrivaled. This May, he starred alongside Lily Collins, Simon Pegg, Connie Nielsen, Chace Crawford, Patrick Warburton, and Michael Beach in the mystery-thriller Inheritance. The film tells the story of a widow and her daughter who receive a shocking secret inheritance that threatens to destroy their lives. Pop Culturalist caught up with Josh to learn more Inheritance and his career.

Career

PC: How did you discover your passion for the arts?
Josh: The arts have always been a big part of my life. My dad was a big movie buff and was writing spec scripts for most of his life. Growing up, I remember reading his scripts and imagining what they would be like as a movie as well as being mesmerized by old classics—Citizen Kane, John Ford Westerns, or even foreign films like Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai and Throne of Blood. My mom was a pianist, and I picked up a few instruments growing up also, which is still a huge part of my life.

When I was in college studying computer science, I started having health issues and chronic pain that was preventing me from continuing with my physical fitness pursuits and even hobbies like music, so I was looking for something to do that wasn’t physically demanding. I was also feeling this pull for personal transformation at the time, which is when I began to really explore the idea of acting. I ended up finding out about a short film audition, which I went to, and although I had no idea what I was doing and felt paralyzed by fear when I read, I ended up getting a small speaking part in it and have never really stopped pursuing acting since.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Josh: I would have to say my acting coaches: first Carol Fox Prescott and then later Niki Flacks and Josh Pais and more recently Jo Kelly. They have been pivotal in helping me discover things much more important than mere acting techniques: a new way of seeing the world and understanding what it is to be human.

PC: You’ve had a lot of success in your career. When you look back, is there a particular moment that stands out?
Josh: The first real professional set I had a role on was a period adventure film, Alone Yet Not Alone, which takes place in the French and Indian War. I played a young George Washington, which I dove into preparation for wholeheartedly, visiting Mount Vernon, reading biographies, taking period movement classes, etc. The colonial period was one of my favorite historical times to read about growing up, and I used to romanticize the stories so much it saddened me that I didn’t live during those times. My first take on the film, I was riding on horseback into the British encampment and I was looking at all these British regulars and Native Americans milling about the tents and the illusion of it hit me so hard I started thinking, “This is it! This is what I’ve always wanted: to travel back in time!” my next thought was “Oh yeah, they’re filming me. Do the scene!” Those are the moments I live for as an actor.

PC: In addition to acting, you’re also a director, producer, and writer. How has your work behind the scenes made you a stronger actor and vice versa?
Josh: When I’m acting, I don’t want to think about anything other than the experience I’m having in that role. In between takes, however, I want to do everything I can to create a truthful environment for that experience. Having had the benefit of working in other capacities dealing with the big picture of a film has given me a much greater awareness of the story and all the factors that influence the finished product.

When I’m just an actor, it’s a delicate balance, but where warranted I want to be a collaborator to help the team make the scene the best it can be. One of the greatest compliments I think I get is when people say, “My favorite scenes were the ones you were in,” and I know whether they realize it or not they’re not just talking about my performance.

Inheritance

PC: You have a new film out. Tell us about Inheritance, your character, and what drew you to that project.
Josh: The story centers on a young attorney, Lily Collins, whose father, Archer Monroe—played by Patrick Warburton and myself—is the patriarch of a wealthy and powerful political family. After his passing, she finds an envelope containing directions to an imprisoned man, Simon Pegg, and begins to uncover the secrets of her father’s dark and hidden past.

What stood out most about the script was it had this very elevated tone, almost like a modern-day Shakespearean tragedy. I’ve had several roles like this one that are more expositional in nature, in service to telling a story for other characters, and they aren’t the most glamorous. But the cast was of such a high caliber I knew I had to do it.

Being around excellence always inspires me to up my game. I hadn’t heard of the director before this, but he ended up being a true joy to work with also. And even when it came to scenes he didn’t end up needing, he was absolutely dedicated to making every shot just right and so enthusiastic when we got results. If you’re reading this, Vaughn Stein, I’d love to do it again sometime!

PC: You’re sharing a role with Patrick Warburton. What was that collaboration like? How did your interpretation of the character impact this?
Josh: You know, I had already finished my first week of filming before I even met Patrick and didn’t have the chance to collaborate in advance. While I didn’t want to impersonate him, I did watch a bunch of clips of him in different roles to get a feel for what his energy is like and how he might approach the role. I tried to incorporate that into the rest of my usual preparation so that there would be some continuity of character. It’s funny—the first time I came back on set after Patrick had done some scenes, Vaughn [the director] looked at me bug-eyed and shaking his head and said, “It’s freaking me out. It’s like you two are the same person!” So I must have done something right.

When we finally had a chance to talk, I found Patrick to be a ridiculously fun and funny guy, and when I mentioned I had just come back from a scuba diving trip to the Great Barrier Reef, I was tickled to find out he had gone diving from the same little Australian town many years ago! So I feel like we do have some cosmic links.

PC: What do you hope audiences take away after seeing the film?
Josh: I think the beauty of film is the universal language and interpretive nature of art, so it can and should mean many things to different people. For me, the thing that resonates most is that a lie has a limited shelf life. Sooner or later someone has to pay the consequences.

PC: Besides Inheritance, do you have any other upcoming projects that you can chat about?
Josh: Right now, I’m in the middle of producing and acting on a feature film thriller called Gym Rat with my friend and very talented filmmaker Korstiaan Vandiver. As an actor for hire, I have no say in the end product, and sometimes I can spend weeks pouring my heart and soul into a role without so much as seeing my face in the final result. Being a decision-maker on a project is really empowering, and I’m stoked to bring this story to the screen.

Another reason this project is really special is that strength training was one of my passions I had to give it up for almost a decade while I battled through health issues, which were part of the impetus to pursue acting. To now come full circle as an actor playing a fitness freak and doing more intense physical training than ever—I gained twenty pounds in six months in preparation for the role—is an amazing feeling, and I’m truly grateful for it.

I’m also in a small upcoming indie sci-fi film Final Frequency that was recently finished, opposite Lou Ferrigno Jr. and Charles Shaughnessy, as an FBI agent with mysterious allegiances.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Josh: I like to unwind to Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Josh: Game Night! It slays me.

PC: Favorite book?
Josh: The Lord of the Rings

PC: Favorite play or musical?
Josh: Macbeth

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Josh: Lana Del Rey

PC: Who would play you in the story of your life?
Josh: I was in Dublin years ago and randomly dropped by this comedy show in a pub. I must have stuck out like a sore thumb because the guy doing stand-up immediately started picking on me and asking questions. When I told him I did IT—to avoid any more attention—he said in his Irish brogue, “You do IT? Information technology? Riiight. You look like the guy they would get to play you in a movie about your life in IT.” So maybe I should say me? But OK, if I could pick any actor, it would be Daniel Day-Lewis and not just because he can literally play anything, but I feel like he’s someone who would understand me.

To keep up with Josh, follow him on Twitter and Instagram. Stream Inheritance today.