Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Helstrom’s Hamza Fouad

Hamza Fouad made a big splash this year with his breakout performance in Hulu’s Helstrom. Based on the Marvel comics, Helstrom follows the story of two estranged siblings who are brought back together to fight the worst of humanity—each with their own flare and skills.

Hamza shines as officer Derrick Jackson, the love interest of Chris Yen (Alain Uy), one of the leads of the series.

Pop Culturalist caught up with Hamza to learn more about him, Helstrom, and his character.

Career

PC: How did you discover your passion for acting?
Hamza: As a kid, I moved a lot. I was born in Djibouti, which is East Africa. My parents and I moved to Canada when I was very young. We lived an immigrant lifestyle where we picked up and moved wherever there was an opportunity.

I moved to Montreal first, then to Quebec City, Toronto, and Vancouver. We kept traveling every year, and it felt like I was in a different school every year. What I did to fit in at every school, from fourth grade up until my grade twelve year, where I moved a little later than the school start date and all the activities were taken, the only thing available was the school play. So I auditioned. My theater instructor, Ms. Carol Mann, made everyone read a monologue, and I read a monologue for Puck in Midsummer Night’s Dream. My voice carried, and she offered me the role. The rest is history. I got that bug, and I’ve been pursuing it since.

Helstrom

PC: Tell us about Helstrom and your character.
Hamza: Helstrom is a story of a complicated family. Victoria Helstrom fell in love with a bad guy and discovered it way too late. There’s a horrible, very traumatic family incident that tore everybody apart. It follows the story of the two children who were estranged and raised separately but now have grown up and found each other to track down the worst tragedy.

It’s based on the popular Marvel comic books of the same name. I play a character in the world named Derrick Jackson. I am the love interest of one of the characters. Derrick is the love interest of Chris Yen, who is one of the main characters in the show. He’s like a little brother to Ana Helstrom. He’s not just a police officer. He has a relationship with the Chris Yen character played by Alain Uy.

Derrick is one of the things that keeps Chris grounded in a world filled with the paranormal. What’s fun and interesting about my character is he’s oblivious. They are tracking down these horrible people and demons, and I’m just a San Francisco police officer. I feel like my character is one of the people in his life that keeps him grounded. Ana and I butt heads quite a bit because we both believe the other is no good for Chris. It’s a fun little triangle.

PC: This was Marvel’s first foray into the horror genre. Did that bring any additional pressure on top of the fact that you’re joining the Marvel family?
Hamza: I’m not going to lie. I felt more pressure on this project than anything I’ve ever worked on. But I mean, it’s great. I see it as a positive as opposed to a negative. I get the opportunity to be a part of one of Marvel’s first, regardless of whichever first it is. It’s part of that Marvel Universe and it’s big. I couldn’t be more excited. I’ve always been a massive fan growing up as a kid.

PC: Like you were saying earlier, your character has a lot of fun dynamics. Which was your favorite to explore and why?
Hamza: It would definitely be my dynamic with Ana Helstrom. It was fun because we both have the same intention and the same goals, but we go about it in different ways. It was really fun to work with Sydney [Lemmon] who plays Ana. She’s an absolute sweet angel. In between takes, she was like, “I’m not actually that mean!” [laughs] I was like, “I know. I know.” [laughs]

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Hamza: I’m a reality TV junkie. There’s a show called Geordie Shore. It came out after Jersey Shore. It’s a British version. It’s even crazier than the American version.

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Hamza: Probably Superbad. I can rewatch it and find something new to laugh about. I’ve watched it more than anything.

PC: Favorite book?
Hamza: I like Paulo Coelho. He wrote The Alchemist. That’s very, very important to me. I stumbled upon it. I was not much of a reader as a kid. I moved to Toronto in my early twenties. I walked into a library and said to the librarian, “I don’t read too often and my attention span is low. Please give me something you love!” She recommended The Alchemist. I borrowed it that day and I finished it that night. It really spoke to me. It’s a great book. I recommend it to anybody going through a transitional stage in life, whether it be a big move or a new job or a change in perspective. That book, hands down, has taught me so much in life.

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Hamza: I love me some old-school nineties pop. I’ve got some Destiny’s Child, Spice Girls, TLC, Backstreet Boys, the No Strings Attached album.

PC: Who would play you in the story of your life?
Hamza: Me. Who knows me better?

To keep up with Hamza, follow him on Instagram. Binge-watch Season 1 of Helstrom on Hulu today.