Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with The Astronauts’ Bryce Gheisar

Audiences are strapped in to watch rising actor Bryce Gheisar lift off in his new Nickelodeon series, The Astronauts. The show follows five kids who accidentally launch themselves into space and embark on an adventure of a lifetime.

Pop Culturalist caught up with Bryce, who’s delivering an out-of-this-world performance as Elliott Combes, to learn more about The Astronauts, his character, and how he discovered his passion for the arts.

Career

PC: How did you discover your passion for acting?
Bryce: I’ve always loved to perform. I used to do my school talent shows. Then, I heard about an acting class that was near me called Cathryn Sullivan’s Acting for Film and I begged my parents to let me go. At first, they weren’t so sure because I was a competitive gymnast and busy with that, but I finally helped save money for the first class and my parents signed me up.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Bryce: I would say that any movie or TV show that I have seen has had a big impact on my career. Leaving the theater—or the living room at this point—after watching a movie seals the deal on my love for filmmaking. Also, watching movies and seeing other people work on a set shows the possibilities of what my career could be like in the future. So far, every time I have left a set, I’ve taken something very valuable with me.

PC: You’ve had a lot of success already in your young career. When you look back, is there a particular moment that stands out?
Bryce: I would like to say that working with Mandy Patinkin was a highlight. Seeing how he took the soul of the writing on the page and fabricated something entirely new was truly amazing. Being on set and seeing others be creative and seeing their process helps you mold your own.

The Astronauts

PC: Tell us about The Astronauts, your character, and what drew you to this project.
Bryce: The Astronauts is a show surrounding a group of five kids who are the sons and daughters of the staff at Helios. Their lives drastically change when they make an immature decision to board a rocket ship that blasts off with them inside.

My character, Elliot Combes, is the one who convinces the others to make this irrational decision. Elliot is the son of the billionaire rocketship owner and has always lived in his father’s shadow. He thought this was a way to prove himself…he was sorely wrong.

I think how good the first script was and knowing that legends such as Ron Howard and Brian Grazer were backing up the show drew me to the project.

PC: There are a lot of different layers to Elliot. Which was your favorite to explore? Which was the most challenging?
Bryce: For the first few episodes of the show, we wanted Elliot to come off in a certain way to the audience, so that when we see the other side of him it really hits home. You’ll have to watch the show to find out what this other side of him is. [laughs] There were definitely some sides that were more interesting to portray than others. Every great character that is created in a show like this has a lot of depth. As the episodes progress, we pull back the layers of Elliot and see who he truly is. That is one of the main reasons I love being an actor: getting to slowly introduce a real person to the audience.

PC: How did you and the cast build your bond?
Bryce: We had a lot of fun on set. I think that we mainly bonded over our characters while filming.

PC: If you had to summarize the first season in one sentence, what would it be?
Bryce: They’re not kids anymore; they’re astronauts.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Favorite book?
Bryce: My favorite book is October Sky. After reading that book, I felt really inspired.

PC: Favorite play or musical?
Bryce: My favorite musical is Hamilton. I was able to see it live in Boston.

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Bryce: The Wrecks.

To keep up with Bryce, follow him on Twitter and Instagram. Catch new episodes of The Astronauts every Friday at 7/6c on Nickelodeon.