Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Dirty John’s Cameron Crovetti

Cameron Crovetti is one of Hollywood’s brightest young stars. He comes from a long line of storytellers, so it seemed destined that he would follow suit. Once he discovered his passion for the craft, he convinced his mom to let him start auditioning. Since then, he’s shared the screen with legends including Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman, and Reese Witherspoon in a little show you may have heard of called Big Little Lies.

This year, he’ll be seen starring in not one, but two big projects: Dirty John: The Betty Broderick Story and Season 2 of The Boys. Pop Culturalist caught up with Cameron to learn more about him and his upcoming roles.

PC: How did you discover your passion for acting?
Cameron: Well, I have always loved films. As soon as I could read and write, I was writing short stories and scripts. My entire family is in the business; my dad is a writer and producer and my mom was an actress and talent manager, but it wasn’t until I went to visit my sister on the set of her first series regular role that I was hooked. I loved the energy on set and how my sister got to pretend all day. My brother and I begged my mom for several years to start acting. She waited until she thought we were emotionally mature enough and understood the process before she started letting us audition.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Cameron: My sister and my mom. My sister paved the way for my brother and me by introducing us to our agent and other amazing people in the industry. She also showed us how fun it is to be involved in this industry. My mom has helped me understand the business and how to become an actor that is always improving on my craft.

PC: Do you ever find it challenging to balance your career and life as a normal kid?
Cameron: It’s funny, my siblings and I get that question a lot. Being an actor is normal life in my family. I have friends that do sports sometimes twenty-five hours a week, and that seems more time consuming than acting. I also don’t go from project to project; I take breaks and go back to school, play sports, and hang with my friends, but I always can’t wait to be back on set. Acting is amazing and fun—way more fun than sitting in a desk at school. Most of the sets I have been on have had kids my age that I can hang with, which makes being on set even more fun.

On Big Little Lies, there were five kids my age to hang with, including my twin and Nicole’s [Kidman] kids. Every day we would hang out, swim together, and sometimes spend late nights in each other’s hotel rooms building forts. We were so sad when we wrapped.

PC: You got your big break in Big Little Lies. What did you learn on that set that you brought over to The Boys and Dirty John: The Betty Broderick Story?
Cameron: I think an actor is always learning and adding to their craft. I had some intense scenes with Nicole, and I used the experience of those scenes to add to the characters I played in Dirty John and The Boys. I was able to add more layers to my characters in those shows and dive deeper into the emotional turmoil of the characters.

PC: Tell us about your upcoming roles in The Boys and Dirty John. What can fans expect?
Cameron: In Dirty John, I play Ryan, the oldest son of Betty Broderick, played by Amanda Peet, and Dan Broderick, played by Christian Slater. Ryan is dealing with his parents’ divorce and the turmoil of a broken family. I had some great scenes with both Amanda and Christian that pushed me as an actor.

In The Boys, I play Homelander’s son. Believe it or not, his name is Ryan, too. Ryan is dealing with the realization he is a superhero’s son and navigating those feelings. I can’t say much that happens, but wow, look out. Ryan is such a complex character and he has so much to deal with. I had a lot of fun playing this role. I was able to do some cool stuff and also be challenged as an actor.

PC: What’s been the best piece of advice one of your colleagues has shared with you?
Cameron: I always go back to working with Meryl [Streep]. She is one of the most revered actors of our time and is one of the most humble and nicest actors I have ever met. In the famous scream scene in Big Little Lies, Meryl screamed during every single take; she gave it her all for every take. Then, when the camera turned around for my coverage, I was expecting Meryl to pretend to scream and stay silent or leave and have a body double do it. Meryl not only stayed, but she screamed just like all her other takes when the camera was on her. She was such a giving actor—she gave me a hundred percent so my brother’s and my reactions were real.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Cameron: I am watching multiple shows—I watch everything. But, right now Nick and I are watching Upload.

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Cameron: The Shining

PC: Favorite book?
Cameron: The Shining

PC: Favorite play or musical?
Cameron: Wicked

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Cameron: Owl City

PC: Hidden talent?
Cameron: I was a competitive gymnast and on track to maybe one day go to the P&G’s or Olympics, but acting has kept me really busy, so I had to put that aside.

To keep up with Cameron, follow him on Instagram. Catch new episodes of Dirty John: The Betty Broderick Story every Tuesday at 10/9c on USA Network.

Photo Credit: Sara Pine