Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Motherland: Fort Salem’s Tony Giroux

Tony Giroux first made his mark on the industry as a professional dancer, sharing the stage with everyone from Rihanna to Pitbull to Zendaya. He transitioned into the world of acting after catching the bug following his role in Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn. Since then, he’s continued to build an impressive résumé, which includes projects like the CW’s Arrow, E! Network’s The Arrangement, Syfy’s The Magicians, Disney Channel’s Descendants, and ABC’s Once Upon a Time.

This April, he joins the cast of Freeform’s Motherland: Fort Salem as a conflicted young man named Adil. Pop Culturalist caught up with Tony to chat about his multifaceted career and Motherland: Fort Salem.

PC: You’re starring in the new sci-fi drama/thriller Motherland: Fort Salem. Tell us about the series, your character, and what drew you to this project.
Tony: Gah! I get excited every time I am asked this question. This series, to me, is a fascinating tale inspired by the Salem trials of the late eighteenth century, yet reinventing its turn of events, bringing about much-needed strong female narratives.

Adil is a soft-hearted young man, torn from his home, caught in a fight between his proud cultural values and the ones deep within his heart. Through his sensitive, intelligent, and protective nature, he comes into Fort Salem to add a little extra tension and create some disturbances within the power hierarchy.

As to what drew me in, playing in a sci-fi show has always been a dream of mine. The writing was fantastic, and playing a character whose values aligned with my own was an absolute treat. I will let you find out what those are for yourself.

PC: Motherland: Fort Salem follows these three powerful women who are coming into their own. What was your journey like becoming an artist?
Tony: I grew up in a small city in France. My dad was an engineer; my mother was a program analyst. Exposure to the arts was slim to none. When I was thirteen, I saw the movie You Got Served, a film heavily showcasing street dance. And that blew my mind! The moves, the music, the American culture. I rushed to get the DVD, which came with a tutorial DVD. Every time I brushed my teeth, I would be doing the wave with my other arm, and every recess, I would do bad dance battles with another friend. I moved to Canada, then practiced, practiced, and practiced. At age twenty-one, I shared the stage with Rihanna. It was an incredible experience. I got into acting around a similar age, which started to teach me vulnerability and telling a story beyond moves. Becoming an artist has taught me so much about pursuing your dreams, accepting failure, and interacting with an honest heart.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence in your career?
Tony: My mom. As a kid, I played tennis competitively, and she came to watch every single game, every single weekend. When I started dancing, she was there for every show and always supported my decision to enter into the arts. Now as an actor, she is always present during the struggles, and embarrasses me every family dinner by screening my projects to my grandparents.

PC: Throughout the first season, Adil is very much a conflicted character. How did you prepare to tackle that and his arc this season?
Tony: Yes, well said—very conflicted. The fact that he came from a war-torn zone yet stood for nonviolence made for high stakes that honed me in right away. I want to approach every role with honesty, so I started researching a lot about the lives of refugees. And the fact that it is a show involving witchcraft, I also did super-fun research about energetic work or hyper awareness such as morphic resonance.

PC: What can you tease about Adil’s arc in Season 1? Which of his relationships was your favorite to explore and why?
Tony: Ah, you want the goods. Without saying too much, Adil comes into Fort Salem very grounded in his values and not afraid to confront the power structure, yet he also possesses very enticing powers, which builds his relationships on risky ground.

My favorite relationship to explore was with the young witches. In spite of him not entirely agreeing with their practice, the fact that we have a young man in a room with young women can make for spicy dynamics.

PC: Eliot Laurence has been developing this world for over a decade. What was it like working alongside him? What was that collaboration like?
Tony: Let me start off by saying that Eliot is an absolute genius. The world he created felt so full, magical, and relatable. And he is such a kind and open soul. I remember him bringing me into his office after the first table read. We sat, took a breath, looked at one another, and he just said, “How you doing?” and I was home. Probably one of the warmest welcomes I have ever received on a show. And throughout the season, he was extremely open to collaboration, which makes it a delight for an actor. I also managed to snatch some juicy conversations in between takes of us nerding out over science and paranormal topics.

PC: The show tackles a lot of timely and relevant themes. Which one resonated with you the most?
Tony: The matriarchy. The show tackles numerous important themes, and that one I hold close to my chest. I was raised by a strong and caring mother who showed me strength beyond gender roles. I believe we live in a time of transformation, where we are finally understanding a new definition of equality and unity. Being part of a show that supports strong female narratives was an absolute privilege.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Tony: Friends. Still is.

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Tony: Lord of the Rings

PC: Favorite book?
Tony: Letters to a Young Poet by Rainer Maria Rilke

PC: Favorite play or musical?
Tony: The Mercy Seat by Neil LaBute or A View from the Bridge by Arthur Miller.

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Tony: Whitney Houston. “I Have Nothing” may be my favorite song of all-time.

PC: Who would play you in the story of your life?
Tony: My grandpa

To keep up with Tony, follow him on Twitter and Instagram. Watch new episodes of Motherland: Fort Salem every Wednesday at 9/8c on Freeform.

Featured Photo Credit: Richie Lubaton