Pop-Culturalist.com

Jaren Lewison is a fast-rising star who has blown audiences away with his breakout performance as Ben Gross in Netflix’s Never Have I Ever. In the series’ first season, Jaren took audiences on an emotional rollercoaster with his character, transforming from jerk to fan favorite.

Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to speak with Jaren ahead of the premiere of Never Have I Ever Season 2 to learn more about what’s ahead for Ben, how he prepared to step into his shoes, and the power of diversity, representation, and reliability.

PC: How did you discover your passion for the arts and storytelling?
Jaren: Ever since I can remember, I’ve always wanted to be an actor. I loved the attention and loved telling stories during the holidays.

When I got into acting, I realized that professional storytelling and being a character in one of those stories really intrigued me. It grew from there. Now it’s my obsession.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Jaren: I have had a lot of really great role models. Whether I’ve met them or not, they’ve had a big impact on my career and the way that I approach things. But in terms of training, I trained at an acting studio called Cathryn Sullivan’s Acting for Film. That laid the foundation for me and gave me a lot of confidence in my skills.

Additionally, Alex Gay is one of my mentors. He’s an acting coach. He’s done a tremendous job. He actually helped tape me for Never Have I Ever and coached me for that audition. That ended up working out pretty well. [laughs] I definitely have to give big props to him and the rest of my team—my agent and my manager, Jennifer Patredis and Matt Shelton. They’re both incredible. They’ve guided me throughout my career and will continue to do so. I’m so thankful for them.

PC: Speaking about Never Have I Ever, Season 2 is coming out on July 15th. What’s ahead for Ben? What can you tease?
Jaren: I can’t give too much away, but I can tell you there’s going to be a lot of drama! There are going to be a lot of hilarious moments and a lot of heartwarming moments. Ben really does go through a pretty big journey in Season 2. He goes through a lot. You’ll see at the end of the season what I’m talking about. It will be a rollercoaster for sure. I think a lot of people are going to be really excited about his journey, but a lot of people may also not be so excited. You’ll have to watch and find out.

PC: The first season was a massive hit. Did you and the rest of the cast feel any pressure heading into season two?
Jaren: I don’t think it’s pressure. It’s excitement. When you have a show that’s so diverse and represents so many different walks of life, it’s exciting to get the chance to bring that joy to people all over again. Over forty-eight million people watched the first season.

For Season 2, we were looking forward to continuing these stories and continuing to champion that diversity through complex story arcs that really build upon that world that so many people fell in love with. I think we did an incredible job—the cast, the crew, the writers, the directors, everyone involved. We put so much love and effort into the second season.

PC: Your character has a lot of layers to him. Which was your favorite to explore and why? Which was the most challenging?
Jaren: My favorite was exploring Ben’s loneliness in episode six, where we got to understand the reasons behind his actions and why he is the way he is on the surface. That was really interesting to explore. That was something that I chatted a lot about with Lang [Fisher], Mindy [Kaling], and Kabir [Akhtar], who was the director for that episode.

It was something that was really special to portray because you have this character that’s really loud and brash and a jerk at the beginning, and then you come to understand the reasons behind why he is that way. It really changed people’s perspective on Ben.

It was also the most challenging layer. I knew it had to be done really well because it was so important to Ben’s character arc. If it was done poorly, there wouldn’t be any Ben supporters. It was challenging to understand Ben’s upbringing because I grew up in a really supportive household. I’m really close with my parents. My sister is one of my best friends. I didn’t really understand what it was like to be brought up in that kind of a household with absentee parents. For Ben, that has a tremendous impact on his personality, the way he views the world, and why he behaves the way that he does towards Devi and everyone else. That was really challenging, but I was able to do it because of the support that I received from the cast and crew. I’m really pleased with the results and the fan response to that episode in particular.

PC: How early on did you learn about the motives behind Ben’s actions and how did that impact your preparation?
Jaren: I think it was at the first or second episode table read. Lang and Mindy came up to me and we were chatting. I was like, “Wow, this is so great. This script is so funny.” She was like, “Wait until you get to episode six! That’s Ben’s solo episode.” I was like, “I can’t wait.” But I don’t think I realized she was being serious and that it was going to be an episode told from Ben’s perspective with Andy Samberg as the narrator, which is unbelievable because he’s one of my role models.

I didn’t really understand the gravity of the situation until I got the script and read it. I was so emotional when I read it because I realized that I was going to have the chance to show those complex layers of this character that I’ve fallen in love with. It was going to give me an opportunity to bring this other part of his life to the forefront of the conversation, and hopefully, fans would resonate with that.

PC: There are many great relationships within the series. Which was your favorite to explore and why? Is there another character that you would like to see Ben interact more with in the future?
Jaren: My favorite scenes tend to be with Devi because they have such an incredible and complex relationship. Anytime I get to act with Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, who plays Devi, it’s so much fun. She and I are really close in real life. She is one of the most brilliant actresses and most genuine people I’ve ever worked with. I really love getting a chance to do scenes with her. Our characters are going through so much together. Each scene is something new and different and allows me to grow as an actor. It’s always so much fun to be able to portray that.

In terms of who I would like to see Ben interact with more, one of my favorite characters is Trent. Ben Norris is one of the funniest human beings I’ve ever met in my life. I love anytime I’m in a scene with Ben Norris. He’s so funny. Trent is such a unique character. Sometimes Trent’s got this very elegant side, which you’ll see a bit more of in Season 2. He can be a bit surprising.

PC: Speaking of growth, this is one of your biggest roles to date. Has anything surprised you about the experience? What’s been the biggest takeaway?
Jaren: It’s really been so positively overwhelming. When you’re a kid and you’re growing up as an actor, you’re dreaming about projects. I don’t think that you can ever understand how amazing it feels to be on a show like this. When I was young, I dreamed about this and I still haven’t woken up from that dream.

The fan response—how much people love my character and the show—speaks to the power of representation, diversity, and relatability. It doesn’t matter your age, what community you belong to, or your upbringing, you can find something in our show to relate to, to love, and to be excited about. It’s exciting for me to be a part of something like that. I feel so lucky.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Jaren: I love Game of Thrones. I’ll watch Game of Thrones whenever I can. I actually bought these special edition White Walker shoes from Adidas when I was in high school because I’m such a big fan. I still have them, but I only wear them occasionally because I get scared they’re going to get dirty.

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Jaren: My favorite movie is Good Will Hunting. Or The Dark Knight. I will watch that over and over and over. It’s so good. The acting, directing, and storytelling is so special and exciting. I learn something new every time I watch it.

PC: Favorite book?
Jaren: I was obsessed with the Percy Jackson series when I was a kid. It got me into Greek mythology. As an adult, I’m continuously reading and enjoying different kinds of books, but I would credit my love of Greek mythology and magic to that series. That book holds a special place in my heart.

PC: Favorite play or musical?
Jaren: That’s a tough one. I love, love, love musicals. Les Mis is one of my favorites. I got the chance to do it in high school where I was one of the ABC boys. I love music. I love the history behind it. Les Mis is so cool. I love watching different musicals and seeing different plays. Anytime I have the opportunity, I watch more.

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Jaren: I have a really diverse musical palette. A lot of my answers would probably be surprising. I really like fifties music. I’m big into old soul. I’m also a big country fan as well. You can find everyone from Luke Combs and Johnny Cash to Sam Cooke, James Brown, Elvis, Frank Sinatra—all the way to punk rock. I love Paramore. I have really eclectic taste.

PC: Dream role?
Jaren: I really want to play the villain in a big film. My favorite performance by any actor is Heath Ledger’s Joker. I want to play a role that’s filled with depth and complexity. Edward Norton in Primal Fear is another example. Oh, and Anthony Hopkins in The Silence of the Lambs. Hopefully, I’ll get the chance to do that one day.

To keep up with Jaren, follow him on Twitter and Instagram. Binge-watch Season 2 of Never Have I Ever on Netflix today.

Photo Credit: Irvin Rivera