Rising young actor Anthony Hill isn’t afraid to put in the hard yards. From his time on the gridiron to his work on screen, Anthony has quickly become one of Hollywood’s most exciting fresh faces. This year, he joins the cast of the longest-running primetime drama, Grey’s Anatomy.
Pop Culturalist spoke with Anthony about landing his first role as a series regular, how the show has taken new light given the global pandemic, and what audiences should know about his character, Dr. Winston Ndugu.
PC: How did you discover your passion for acting?
Anthony: I was a student at Coffeyville Community College, a little school in Kansas, and I was taking my first acting class. We were all assigned a monologue to learn during the first week of class, and I was given one from Fences by August Wilson.
I remember being in my dorm that week, preparing to do the monologue, and loving the process of that. I was using methods we were learning to find the character, the meaning behind his words and actions, and dissecting the scene as a whole. It really lit me up. I felt like I discovered a lifeline. Then, when I put it up on stage the following week, I loved performing equally as much as I loved preparing for the performance, and that’s when I realized I’d found a new passion.
PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Anthony: My mom, my dad, and my sister. They—each in a different way—helped me develop my love of storytelling and of film and television. And collectively, they’re a big part of my drive and motivation as well. I think about them every day on this wild journey.
PC: You were a former wide receiver for the Oklahoma State Cowboys. What was the biggest lesson athletics taught you that you’ve been able to apply to your acting career?
Anthony: One thing that I took away from sports that I still keep in mind with my career now is understanding the importance of collaboration. At OSU on the football team, one of us, alone, cannot get a win a game. Likewise, on the show, one of us, alone, cannot create an episode. From the writers, to the directors, to the actors, gaffers, PA’s, DP’s, all the way up to the execs, I think remembering and recognizing how important teamwork is while we’re telling these stories on Grey’s naturally keeps my mindset in a place of gratitude. Seeing everyone carry out their specific jobs day-to-day is inspiring. Then, to watch the final product on Thursday nights feels like magic, and I love it.
PC: You recently joined the cast of Grey’s Anatomy. Has this project taken a new weight given the year we’ve had?
Anthony: I would say most definitely. Don’t get me wrong, this cast and production team have approached every previous season with detailed care to tell these stories realistically and honestly, but this year, with this global pandemic looming, and the harsh and tragic realities our medical workers are facing, we feel a deep responsibility to honor these front-line heroes and do justice to their experience. So yes, I think there is a bit of added weight this year for Season 17.
PC: This is your first series regular role. Has anything surprised you about the experience? What’s been the biggest takeaway thus far?
Anthony: I love how the Grey’s team gives actors so much freedom to collaborate in the process of creating a character. I’ve been lucky enough to be a guest star on several projects over the years, but there was never an opportunity to have much of a say in my characters or in a storyline. So, that’s one thing I’m really appreciating about this new experience.
PC: What can fans expect from Dr. Winston Ndugu this season? What can you tease about his arc?
Anthony: I’m really looking forward to fans being able to see more of Winston’s personality and get to know him a little bit better in the back half of this season. Now that he finally showed up in Seattle in the mid-season finale, it will be a lot of fun to see him in the mix with the other main characters on the show. I’m excited to see people’s reactions to some big moments coming up.
PC: In addition to Grey’s Anatomy, you have a couple of other projects in the works. Are there any you can talk about at this time?
Anthony: Something I can talk about is that I’m in the final stages of finishing a script for a feature I’ve been writing. I’m really hyped about that.
PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Anthony: Good Mythical Morning. It’s a show on YouTube. I’ve watched it every day for years. It’s an obsession.
PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Anthony: Oh there’s plenty. Ace Ventura 2: When Nature Calls comes to mind.
PC: Favorite book?
Anthony: One of my favorites is The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.
PC: Favorite play or musical?
Anthony: Topdog/Underdog—Suzan-Lori Parks is a genius.
PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Anthony: Hmm…One Direction might surprise some people. Also, the amount of film score instrumentals I listen to might get me a few weird looks—shout out to Hans Zimmer.
PC: Who would play you in the story of your life?
Anthony: Viola Davis because she can do it all.
To keep up with Anthony, follow him on Twitter and Instagram. Watch new episodes of Grey’s Anatomy every Thursday at 9/8c on ABC.
Photo Credit: ABC
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