Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with You’s Adwin Brown

Up-and-coming actor Adwin Brown is one of the new faces joining Season 2 of You. Based on the 2014 novel by Caroline Kepnes and written by Greg Berlanti, You follows Joe Goldberg, an obsessive bookstore manager who goes to extreme measures to insert himself into the lives of those he stalks. Starring alongside Penn Badgley, Victoria Pedretti, and Chris D’Elia, Adwin joins the cast as Calvin, the manager of a high-end grocery store in LA. The series, which debuted on Lifetime and was later acquired by Netflix, became an instant cult classic, gaining over 40 million viewers in its first season. Pop Culturalist had the pleasure of speaking with Adwin about his breakout role.

Career

PC: How did you discover your passion for acting?
Adwin: I was actually a pretty shy and quiet kid, but by the time I reached fifth grade, I started to come out of my shell. I loved cracking jokes during class and being the center of attention, so on a whim, my parents enrolled me in a performing arts middle school for six grade, and—without sounding too corny—it completely changed my life. I was surrounded by like-minded kids who had the same interests as me, so from that moment on, I was a full-fledged theater kid: equally annoying and passionate! I did school plays, church plays, acting competitions, regional commercials—literally anything I could audition for, I did!

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Adwin: There are so many people who influence me, it’s too hard to narrow it down to one person! I will say that growing up, a huge part of my childhood was a show on Nickelodeon called All That, which was basically a kid version of SNL. I always looked up to two of the castmates from that show: Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell. Not only were they hilarious and around my age, but they also looked like me! So I had no choice but to stan.

Will Smith has also been a huge influence on me since childhood. He started out doing such over-the-top physical comedy on Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and instead of doing the expected and continuing down that path, he switched it up and over the years he’s given us dramas, romantic comedies, sci-fi thrillers, biopics, etc. I greatly respect his versatility as an actor and the longevity of his career.

I must admit though, as I get older, I’ve started to find myself being influenced less by actors and more by creatives—Issa Rae, Donald Glover, Mindy Kaling, Bill Hader. I am really intrigued by the idea of creating, writing, and executive-producing my own material to act in. I hope my career starts to move more in that direction with every job I book.

PC: What has been the biggest lesson you’ve learned being a part of this industry?
Adwin: Be yourself! Period. A lot of times this industry will make you feel like you can’t book jobs unless you look like “this actor” or perform like “this actress.” I wish actors didn’t buy into that hype. Your individuality is what shines through when you audition, and that’s what casting directors want to see. Be authentic to yourself and the success will follow!

You

PC: You’re joining the upcoming season of You. Tell us about your character and his arc this season.
Adwin: This upcoming season, I play Calvin, who’s the manager of Anavrin, a high-end bougie grocery store in LA. It’s the store where Joe, played by Penn Badgley, ends up working once he moves to LA from New York. Throughout the season, you’ll see Calvin’s continuous efforts to try and keep the store running smoothly while simultaneously dealing with the store’s overbearing and unconventional owner, Forty, who’s played by James Scully.

PC: How familiar were you with the series? How will Season 2 differentiate itself from Season 1?
Adwin: You was one of those shows that seemed to get around with word of mouth! I just remember all of my friends talking about it and how they were glued to their TV screens. So when I got the audition for Season 2, I was pretty stoked. I binged the whole series in two days! I was obsessed. And with that being said, if you were obsessed with Season 1, then you’re going to lose your mind for Season 2.

I’d say the biggest difference between the two seasons comes from the change of networks. Season 1 was on Lifetime, and when you do a show on cable, there are a lot more restrictions and guidelines that must be followed. So with Season 2 being a Netflix original series, the writers had a lot more freedom to push the envelope!

PC: What can you tease about Calvin’s relationship with Joe?
Adwin: I can’t say too much, but I can say that it’ll be really fun to watch their relationship go from manager and employee to work buddies.

PC: What did you learn on the set of Heathers that you’ve been able to apply to You.
Adwin: First of all, I have to say that working on Heathers was an absolute dream! I still hang out with a lot of my castmates from that show, and I’m super lucky that I got to work with my talented buddy James Scully on You as well.

Heathers was a big cast and our days were packed pretty tight, so we moved pretty fast throughout the day. Sometimes scenes would get cut, sometimes we’d get new lines. Anything was possible! So I’d say the biggest lesson I learned was to be prepared for anything and to just roll with the punches.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Adwin: That’s So Raven. Yes, I know it’s a children’s show. Yes, I know it hasn’t been on the air in ten years. The heart wants what it wants.

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Adwin: Superbad

PC: Favorite book?
Adwin: Currently reading Becoming by Michelle Obama. Highly recommend it!

PC: Favorite play or musical?
Adwin: Proof by David Auburn is one of the first plays I ever studied, so it holds a special place in my heart. Favorite musical is probably In the Heights.

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Adwin: Billie Eilish

PC: Last show you binge-watched?
Adwin: Big Mouth on Netflix.

PC: Hidden talent?
Adwin: All my talents are out in the open, baby!

To keep up with Adwin, follow him on Twitter and Instagram. Binge-watch Season 2 of You on Netflix today.

Photo Credit: Shanna Fisher