Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Grand Army’s David Iacono

David Iacono is an exciting up-and-comer and one of the breakout stars of Netflix’s newest must-see drama, Grand Army. Born and raised in New York City, David is bringing authenticity to the role and project which is set in the Big Apple and based on Katie Cappiello’s Slut: The Play. Pop Culturalist had the pleasure of chatting with this fast rising star about his career, Grand Army, and more!

Career

PC: How did you discover your passion for acting?
David: My mom thought I was a cute kid as a baby. She threw me into modeling at a very young age, and I was down for that. I enjoyed it. Eventually, I eased into acting.

I didn’t really discover my actual passion for acting until I got to LaGuardia High School, which is where I recently graduated from this year. I spent the last four years there, and that’s when I fell in love with the craft and the actual work that goes into acting, as opposed to doing it as a hobby or something to do after school. That’s when I really fell in love with what acting does for people, which is provide empathy, and it teaches people how to be human.

That’s when I really fell in love with what acting does for people, which is provide empathy, and it teaches people how to be human.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career, either personally or professionally?
David: Professionally, in terms of which actors I look up to, I’ve always been drawn to more comedic actors like Jim Carrey. I always really, really looked up to him because he has such a wide range. I can recite every line of Bruce Almighty, if you asked me to. But then he also has beautiful movies like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

Jim Carrey as an actor introduced me to the idea that comedy is sometimes more difficult to portray than something dramatic because you have to be so truthful in order to accurately get somebody to laugh or genuinely get somebody to laugh. So in terms of professionally, comedic actors, specifically Jim Carrey.

Adam Sandler is another one, even though Adam Sandler gets a lot of hate for just being slapstick, even though it’s really a feat to make somebody laugh as opposed to making somebody cry. Both have equal merit.

In terms of personally, my family. My family has always been so incredibly supportive. I wouldn’t have kept going, been able to hone my craft, and discover my passion if it wasn’t for my friends and family. They’ve been the fuel to my fire, if we want to get cheesy about it. [laughs]

PC: You’ve had a lot of success already in your young career. When you look back, is there a particular moment that stands out to you?
David: Absolutely. It’s crazy—when you asked that, a specific moment came to mind. I grew up watching comedic television and movies. When I was eleven or twelve, I booked a little role on an SNL sketch in 2014 when Melissa McCarthy was hosting.

The sketch was called “Art Exhibit,” and the premise was that there was this art museum that hired actual actors to portray famous paintings. It was interactive and it was funny. I’ll never forget that feeling of standing there on that stage with people that shared my interest that I’ve looked up to for so long.

I remember right before we went live, someone—I think the assistant director—looked me right in the eyes right before I was about to go live and he goes, “Don’t f-ck up.” [laughs] I didn’t have any lines. I was one of two actors that was portraying this painting in this art exhibit sketch.

I will never, ever, ever forget that immense joy and pressure and yearning to deliver and to make people laugh. I’ll never ever forget that moment. So oftentimes, before I step on a set or a stage, that’s the thought I have. [laughs]

Grand Army

PC: Tell us about Grand Army and your character.
David: I’m so incredibly excited and hype for everyone to lay their eyes on this show. Of course, this is going to sound biased, since I’m a part of it, but even as a viewer, it’s one of the most authentic, raw, endearing pieces of art that I’ve ever watched, especially because I’ve experienced so much of what actually goes on in the show.

It’s about a New York City public high school, and it follows five main students at the high school. It’s the biggest high school on the East Coast. It delves into how your background, your school life, and your public life affect one another. It hits on a lot of hot-button topics without just hitting on those topics for the sake of being controversial and for the sake of pushing any political agenda or anything like that.

The show aims to lay everything out on the line and say, “This is what’s going on. Let’s discuss it, think about it, relate to it, laugh at it, or cry from it.” It’s not strictly aimed at teenage audiences. I really do think it’ll be a great experience for parents to watch too because it doesn’t pull any punches when it’s delving into the lives of these New York City students.

I play Bo Orlov. I’m a sophomore at this school who often finds himself in some trouble because of his lack of etiquette or political correctness. I’m very excited for everybody to watch.

PC: The series is based off of Katie Cappiello’s play Slut. How familiar were you with the source material?
David: Like I mentioned earlier, I went to LaGuardia High School, which is a performing arts school. Every semester as a drama major, we have to put a performance of a scene from any given play. You get to pick the scene and get it approved by your teacher, then you get your scene partner.

My freshman year, I remember watching some sophomore scenes. These two actresses performed a piece from Slut: The Play, which Grand Army is loosely based on. I remember being utterly blown away by this one quick scene that they did. I remember being like, “Wow. I didn’t know that you’re allowed to be that real.” The material was so raw and truthful.

That’s how I became familiar with Slut: The Play. Then once I was auditioned for Grand Army, I was like, “Please, please. Let me be a part of it.” Because I’ll never forget watching Slut: The Play. So I’m grateful to be part of something as real as it was.

PC: You were talking about authenticity a bit earlier. A lot of the cast grew up and experienced this life in New York City. How helpful was that when building a bond between the cast?
David: Great question. You hit it on the head. After a couple months of shooting, we were like, “Why do we all like each other so much?” [laughs] We all come from such similar places yet still such nuanced, different places. We were all able to come together. This much authenticity isn’t always welcomed.

That’s why we’re forever in debt to Katie Cappiello, the author of Slut: The Play and the creator of Grand Army. She’s a proud New Yorker as well. So she welcomed our New York pride with open arms, and that’s why we all hit it off immediately. We still talk every day.

PC: What can you tease about Bo’s arc in Season 1? How did you prepare?
David: I can’t say too much, but his arc definitely impacts the rest of the characters in the season. In terms of how I prepared, he’s from Brighton Beach, which is a similar neighborhood to mine in Brooklyn. I’m from Marine Park, Brooklyn. In terms of the demographics and backgrounds, they’re different neighborhoods.

But how they’re similar is that they are pretty—I wouldn’t say sheltered but definitely not as open or politically correct as places like Manhattan or other places in Brooklyn. Not that they’re not accepting, but they’re heavily traditional.

In terms of how I prepared, I honed in from experiences that I had growing up in Brooklyn, which I’m so proud to be from. Not only that, but I drew from friends I had growing up that are more similar to Bo than I am. I was lucky to go to school in Manhattan. So I was able to break out of the sheltered mindset that exists.

PC: If you had to summarize the first season in one sentence, what would it be?
David: Teenagers from a melting pot of cultures in New York City struggle and strive to be their most authentic self alongside one another.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
David: Jersey Shore.

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
David: Grown Ups.

PC: Favorite book?
David: The Blood of Olympus by Rick Riordan.

PC: Favorite play or musical?
David: Now That We’re Men, which is also by Katie Cappiello.

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
David: The Rolling Stones.

PC: Who would play you in the story of your life?
David: Adam Sandler.

To keep up with David, follow him on Twitter and Instagram. Binge-watch Season 1 of Grand Army today.

Photo Credit: Nathan Johnson