JORDAN GONZALEZ ON PRETTY LITTLE LIARS, GROWING, LEARNING, AND EVOLVING

BY IRVIN RIVERA

PHOTOGRAPHER: IRVIN RIVERA, FASHION STYLING: ANDREW PHILIP NGUYEN, GROOMING: PATRICK SANTA ANA, GROOMING ASST: JOHNATHAN LOPEZ @ PATRICK SANTA ANA AGENCY, DIGITAL TECH: PHIL LIMPRASERTWONG, PHOTO ASSISTANT: ANDREW LOPEZ, PRODUCER: JESSE ZAPATERO LOCATION: GM STUDIO DTLA
**COVER:** Jacket & Pants: ASOS MEN, Boots: Dr. Martens

Meet Jordan Gonzalez, the dynamic actor breathing life into Ash in the latest season of "Pretty Little Liars: Summer School." Fresh off a promotional tour in Chicago, Jordan's schedule is brimming with creative ventures. While "PLL" keeps him busy, his passion for music has him revisiting his roots as a drummer, collaborating with friends, and even learning the guitar. Not stopping there, Jordan is exploring new horizons in writing and directing, working on a short film with a close friend and shadowing industry professionals to soak up as much knowledge as possible. “I’m just constantly trying to soak it all up– grow, learn, and evolve as an artist,” Jordan reflects.

In our candid conversation, Jordan shared his journey from a high-level soccer player to a thriving actor, constantly evolving and growing with every experience. His role as Ash, a stylish and confident leader of Millwood High’s LGBTQIA+ group, resonates deeply with him. Reflecting on his personal journey, Jordan connects with Ash's unwavering sense of self and loyalty. “If Ash’s existence and openness has helped one singular kid feel seen, then I’ve succeeded,” he says. This season promises more slasher vibes and strong, resilient characters, with Jordan at the heart of it all, ready to captivate audiences once again.

Top: CHARLES & RON, Pants: HIROMI ASAI, Coat: CHERESHNIVSKA, Boots: ASOS

Jordan, How are you? What’s keeping you creative and busy nowadays?
Hey! I’m doing great, just got back from Chicago where I was promoting PLL Summer School, and I fell in love with it. So of course, the new season is keeping me busy but outside of PLL, in my personal life I’m getting back to my roots as a musician and playing a lot of drums, collaborating with some friends for their music, and learning how to play the guitar. I’m also trying to stretch myself and get into writing a little so I’m writing a short film with one of my best friends. I also really want to direct so I’ve been shadowing some DP’s and directors. Trying to soak up as much info as I can.

Congrats on the new season of Pretty Little Liars: Summer School! Let’s talk more about the show. How would you describe your evolution as an artist throughout the years of your career?

I’m just constantly trying to soak it all up– grow, learn, and evolve as an artist. Because this is all so new to me, I try to take every experience as a learning moment that I can utilize as a tool to expand on my craft. As a kid I never really had the opportunity to explore what being an artist would be like because I was playing soccer at a high l level, so when I made the decision to try it out, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I never would have imagined that I would land in this, but once I did, it all just made sense. But it all still definitely feels like a fever dream, I don’t even know how I got here but I can’t believe I get to do this every day, I’ll never take that for granted.

Top: CHARLES & RON, Pants: HIROMI ASAI, Coat: CHERESHNIVSKA, Boots: ASOS

How did you first hear about the role of Ash in "Pretty Little Liars: Summer School," and what drew you to this character?

I was having a conversation with a friend, and she brought up that she just auditioned for the PLL reboot, I immediately thought “man I hope there is a role in there for me.” Flash forward two weeks and I looked in my inbox and saw the subject of an email that said “Jordan Gonzalez / Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin Self Tape”. I thought, no absolute way, and then I opened up the email to read the description of the character and freaked.

“Ash is super stylish, confident, and comfortable in his own skin. Wise beyond his years, Ash is the leader of Millwood High’s LGBTQIA+ group, where he befriends Little Liar, Mouse.”

It was one of those roles I wanted so badly, it felt perfect for me. I then spent several weeks refreshing my inbox on my phone like a maniac until I finally got the call, in that same friends backyard who had brought the project to my attention in the first place. A very full circle, kismet moment.

Ash is a unique and influential character in Millwood High. How do you personally connect with him?

Ash and I are actually pretty similar and I relate quite a bit with him. We both grew up in small towns that aren’t very accepting of people who are different, but like Ash, I never let that stop me from living my truth. I always sort of walked through the world with a “this is me, you can vibe with it or not” attitude and Ash does the same. He doesn’t take anything too seriously, except for protecting his people, and I love that about him. He’s fiercely loyal and has a huge heart.

How has your character Ash evolved from "Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin" to "Summer School"?

Ash has grown even more into himself from Original Sin to Summer School. Visually, he’s dropped his armor and shield in the form of hard textures (leather jackets and boots), dark clothing, and his perfectly quaffed hair and traded them in for longer free flowing hair, bright colors, and softer textures.

To me this is him shedding the idea of what a man should/has to be, coming into his comfortability within himself and his body and expression. The more comfortable he is in himself, the more free his look becomes. Emotionally he has had to learn to let Mouse do her thing, and support her own path to healing, even if it means through logging on to Spooky Spaghetti. Once he’s let in on the secret of Archie and Angela Waters, he has to get on board with supporting Mouse and solving the mystery of Bloody Rose Waters or else he knows he will lose her.

Top Set: CODE 22, Pants: MARGIER, Boots: DR. MARTENS, Chains: H&M

What’s unique and exciting about this Pretty Little Liars series compared to the other ones?

It truly is a love letter to the horror classics and there’s no shortage of summer slasher vibes this season. Both Original Sin and Summer School do an incredible job of subverting the genre and don’t make the women just victims, they’re resilient, strong, and don’t need a guy for protection.

Top Set: CODE 22, Pants: MARGIER, Boots: DR. MARTENS, Chains: H&M

What has been the most challenging aspect of portraying Ash, and how did you overcome it?

The most challenging aspect probably doesn’t even have anything to do specifically with Ash but just being thrown onto a set for the first time was a massive learning curve. Auditions are one thing, and they are wildly different than being able to collaborate in a scene on set. I think of it as those swim instructors who just toss a baby into the pool to teach it how to swim on its own– you just have to hope you know how to swim, and quickly.

How do you prepare for a role that is both socially significant and personally relatable?

I don’t even know if there is a way to prepare for it. It’s a very vulnerable space to be in and comes with a lot of responsibility, as it should. I try as best as possible to come from an educated space that tries to represent different people’s experiences while personalizing it in a way that feels authentic and true to my specific experience and story.

Set: ASOS MAN, Boots: DR. MARTENS, Jewelry: LOUPN

Ash is a social leader in his school. How do you see this role influencing young viewers?

Him being a social leader is important to his DNA as a person, he cares for everybody and wants to make sure they know that everyone is accepted– So when he’s confronted with hate in episode 6 when the city council gives an event permit to Redemption House instead of him to host a Pride event, it really hurts his heart. Without safe spaces for LGBTQ+ youth to express themselves, it causes real harm. And something that I love about him is that he doesn’t let it get him down for too long, and he stands up for what's right by mobilizing with Mouse to create that safe space of celebration.

How do you hope Ash’s story will resonate with viewers and contribute to the larger narrative of "Pretty Little Liars: Summer School"?

If Ash’s existence and openness has helped one singular kid feel seen, then I’ve succeeded. On the flip side of that, something I love that Lindsay and Roberto have done is just allow Ash to exist without his Transness being the center of his storyline, and because of that, a lot of fans actually still don’t realize that he is Trans. I think this is incredibly important for so many reasons, but one that I personally love is that it allows viewers to fall in love with him for who he is, which is much bigger than his Transness. They get to know him without any preconceived biases that they might have had if they knew right from the jump that he was Trans. Then when they find out and already have a deep connection to him, then hopefully it changes their hearts. Then maybe they can understand a little better.

How has working on "Pretty Little Liars: Summer School" impacted your perspective on social issues?

As a male cast member, getting to be in support of our female directors, writers, and castmates is a unique honor of being a part of this show and it constantly reminds me how important equity is and to keep fighting alongside them for it.

What are some of the challenges you faced when transitioning into acting, and how did you overcome them?

I’ve always been the type of person who says “yes” and then figures it out after the fact. I was trusting my instincts to follow something that felt right, but I really had no idea what the hell I was doing, so I had to make up for a lot of lost time to catch up to where my peers were at. Coming into something so late in the game, with zero training, was and is mentally challenging, and comparison is the killer of joy. Whenever those thoughts become overwhelming, I try to (even if I don’t believe it in the moment) remember that my art is unique to me and what is meant for me is meant for me and what is meant for others was always theirs to have.

How do you feel about the representation of transgender characters in mainstream media today?

I think there is always room to do better– As humans, as creators, and storytellers. I think the last time I checked, transmasculine characters make up only 5% of media? So I think there’s quite a bit of room for improvement haha. I also believe representation also comes in the form of allowing trans actors in the same audition spaces as cis actors. My transness is a piece of who I am, but it’s not all of who I am, so why shouldn’t I be able to play for example a Nightwing or Robin?

Can you share a bit about your personal journey and how it has shaped your career?

Oh man, I’ve lived so many lives before being an actor. I think that has informed me incredibly in my career. I’m able to pull from these really uniquely human experiences and sprinkle little bits into each character. I’ve always lived fearlessly, taken risks and chances. If we really do only come to this planet once, why not do your damnedest to shape your life into what you want it to be. There’s no such thing as failure in my mind so I think that also has helped keep me motivated in a highly competitive art form.

Also, my mom and I share some good laughs about how chaotic life has always been for myself, her and my brother (I swear you could make a whole film out of it)- there’s nothing like a little life difficulty to really give you the gift of resilience.

What advice would you give to aspiring actors who are part of the LGBTQ+ community?

Create, create, create. What is so special about the LGBTQ+ community is it’s willingness to help each other. Find other artists who inspire you and create something together.

How do you balance your personal life with your professional commitments?

Balance is something I’ve always enjoyed. I think balance brings harmony to your life so I find it enjoyable to make sure to keep it between my personal and work commitments. Making sure to continue to pour into your loved ones and also yourself is a rule I keep myself binded to.

How do you stay grounded and maintain a sense of self amidst the pressures of the entertainment industry?
the gym and music are where I find solace from the pressure. Putting my headphones on and canceling all the outside and inside head noise keeps me sane and grounded. Always having a strong sense of self will never lead you astray. Keeping true to your own values, how you treat others, and taking a look at the world outside of yourself is always important for me. Hey man, I’m just a guy on a floating rock trying to make the best of it ya know?

What has been the most rewarding part of your acting career so far?

Every single bit of it. I did the thing I sought out to do, and I always say if it went away tomorrow, I would still be proud of myself. But I have some manifesting candles lit so hopefully I’m not going anywhere anytime soon.

What’s a valuable lesson that you’ve learned that you always carry with you?

Never fail to try more.

If you were a book, what book would you be and why? (Open question. Could be a title/a genre/a made-up book/ your own book, etc

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. It has some of my absolute favorite quotes to live by. “Well, I must endure the presence of a few caterpillars if I wish to become acquainted with the butterflies.”and “And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.”... Also it’s a nickname someone has for me