Exclusive Interview: Karl Walcott Discusses Riverdale’s Final Season, His Character’s Arc, Collaborating with Casey Cott, and More

Karl Walcott is a rising star who is captivating audiences with his nuanced and dynamic performances in projects like Le Chalet, X-Men: Apocalypse, and Demain Des Hommes. Currently, he can be seen in his breakout performance as Clay in the final season of the CW’s Riverdale. Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to speak with Karl about playing this iconic character, collaborating with scene partner Casey Cott to bring a beloved pairing to life, and more.

Please Note: This interview was conducted prior to the SAG-AFTRA strike. We stand in solidarity with SAG-AFTRA and the WGA, and will not be conducting further interviews until a fair deal is reached.

PC: How did you discover your passion for storytelling?
Karl: When I was a kid growing up, we had this family camera. My brothers, cousin, and I would make these home videos. We would improvise and create these skits. That’s when I realized that I loved it. We would then all watch it together. It created great memories. I loved the feeling of them watching it and seeing their reactions. They’d be like, “Karl, you should do this. You’re really funny.” I think that’s what made me believe in myself. But I really started pursuing it after college.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Karl: Good question. I don’t know if there’s one person. Everything that’s happened in my life, or is happening, are things that are meant to be. I feel very blessed to be healthy and that I grew up in a household that gave me what I needed. They gave me love and were there for me. My parents were always there for me supporting me. It really allowed me to try to do something that I loved. Also, I grew up watching movies. When I was a kid and I saw these actors, I thought it was the coolest thing ever. But I don’t know if there was one person in particular.

PC: You’ve had so much success already in your young career. When you look back, is there a particular moment that stands out?
Karl: The first gig that I ever got was the start of everything. I still remember to this day the moment when I got the call after my first-ever audition. I landed a lead character in a web series. I had auditioned three times. I had never been on set before as an actor; I’d only ever been an extra. I got this opportunity, and I was like, “Oh my God. This is so cool.” I was like, “This is smooth sailing.” I thought I was going to go to Hollywood the next year. I was in this alley in downtown Montreal screaming my head off.

But after it was all done, I realized how this industry really is and that it’s a lot tougher than I believed it to be. Just because you landed one gig, life doesn’t stop there. It continues. You got to keep dreaming and pursuing it no matter what and keep working at it. I also come from an athletic background. My parents showed us that if you want to be good at something, you have to work hard at it. My mom would tell us to do one thing really well. On my dad’s side, it was about dreaming. So, it was a combination of dreaming and being the best that you can be. You have to put in a lot of hours.

PC: That hard work has led you to Riverdale. As an actor, I imagine you get so many auditions. What was it about playing Clay and the Riverdale script that resonated with you?
Karl: I think it’s the fact that he can be anything that you want him to be. That’s how I see him. Since I’m coming into the series in its seventh season, I had a blank slate. I could do whatever. They would be like, “That was good. Let’s also try something else.” That’s Clay. I came in and had so much fun from beginning to end, and I was able to try things and see where he could go.

PC: You’re playing such an iconic character in the Archie comics. Did that bring any added pressure heading into this project?
Karl: I felt it at first, but I also felt very ready for this with my background, all the years that I’ve been doing this, and all the shows that I was on when I was in Quebec. I felt really ready for this gig. I remember when I sat down and did my first scene, I was like, “I’m here. This is a dream come true. Now, let’s show them what I can do and show them that I can deliver.” That’s how I felt. It was a mix of excitement and pressure, but I’m really blessed to be here.

PC: When you’re playing a character who’s lived in another medium, what’s something that you wanted to make sure was translated from page to screen? What’s something new you brought to him?
Karl: That’s a good question. I feel like the writers would answer that better. They told me that I made his arc bigger. I’m not sure how because I didn’t know what they had planned out. That’s Clay, though. You never know. You get the scripts as they’re coming. You just try to do the best that you can. I feel like I bought a little bit of humor to Clay, but it’s the writers who know what inspired them to write as much as they did.

PC: What were those initial conversations that you had with Casey [Cott] as you explored the dynamic between your two characters?
Karl: When I got to set, Casey and I got to know each other. He has so much experience doing this. He really led the way. In other words, whatever he said goes. [laughs] That’s how I felt. I have so much respect for him. Heading into a scene, we’d talk a bit about how we’d approach it and talked with our director. It was such a team environment. It’s all about teamwork and creating. I was open to any suggestions, trying things, and also throwing in my own opinions. We built this together.

For example, when I invite him into the dark room, we were looking for moments where I could incorporate more physical touch to show interest. The director, Casey, and I were all looking for those moments, and we found it. It’s when I give him the pamphlet. We continued to find those moments. Then, we’d have conversations where we’d be like, “We shouldn’t put too much physical touch here because it’s the ’50s.” It was always a team effort.

PC: This is one of your biggest projects to date. Did anything surprise you about the process?
Karl: Good question. One thing that I learned is that I won’t be surprised when I go to a new set. I was a little bit overwhelmed with the size of everything. It was a big studio with a lot of rooms. After seven months, I finally knew where to go. [laughs] I always do preparation for any role, but I’ll be even more ready for the next project.

To keep up with Karl, follow him on Instagram. Watch Riverdale every Wednesday on the CW.

Photo Credit: Jenna Berman