BY IRVIN RIVERA

In this exclusive interview with “Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” actor NICK BENSON, we uncovered the secrets behind his post-holiday creative bounce. Originating from the heart of the entertainment hub, Los Angeles, Nick reminisces about pivotal high school moments that ignited his passion for acting. The interview takes a thrilling turn as Nick shares the intricacies of portraying Jessup Diggs in 'The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes,' providing a sneak peek into audition tales, on-set camaraderie, and reflections on contributing to the legacy of The Hunger Games franchise.

As the conversation unfolds, Nick candidly discusses the "contentious" romance in the raw world of Panem, the immersive on-location experiences in Germany and Poland, and his hopes for audiences as they witness a different side of the Capitol in this prequel. Nick Benson's journey, from his LA roots to the grandeur of The Hunger Games, offers a fascinating glimpse into the life of a rising star, with nuggets of advice for aspiring actors and a playful revelation about his literary alter ego – a mug cake cookbook that never says no to a baked treat.

Hi Nick! How’s it going? What’s keeping you creative and busy nowadays? Hello! I’m doing well, thanks. Just bouncing back from the holidays. I’ve been going to the movies a lot! Catching up on everything in time for awards season and I’ve seen some pretty good stuff. It’s inspiring. 

Nick, you grew up in Los Angeles, surrounded by the entertainment industry. Can you share a pivotal moment or experience that made you decide to pursue acting professionally during your high school years? 

I’m gonna share two moments if that’s okay. First, theater class exercise in 9th grade – my real life best friend had to play dead and I ended up sobbing over his “dead” body. It was the first time acting felt real and authentic to me. 

Later on, the highschool musical in 11th grade – I got my first lead role and rehearsing for that was the highlight of every day. After the show closed, I had my first thought about doing this for the rest of my life. 

Jessup Diggs, your character in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, is a strong tribute from District 12. How did you approach embodying his protective and towering presence, especially given his tragic fate in the arena? 

Well I am a larger person so that did a lot of the heavy lifting, but I did try to adopt a more imposing physicality, especially when Jessup was around Coriolanus. With Lucy Gray, I just tried to channel my inner big brother, but Rachel didn’t make that very hard because I would want to protect her in that way in real life. Even though Jessup does meet a tragic end, his objective was to protect her from harm up until the moment he physically couldn’t anymore. 

You mentioned auditioning for both Jessup and Reaper from District 11. What was it about Jessup that resonated more with you, and how did you tap into the character's gentle giant persona during the audition process? 

It’s funny because growing up people either described me as a gentle giant or a giant teddy bear, so I guess tapping into that was easier for me. It was kind of like I played myself while just thinking about Jessup’s specific circumstances, which is a good deal to get as an actor. And I’m glad it worked out how it did because Dimi Abold absolutely delivered as Reaper. 

Your scenes in The Hunger Games are mostly alongside Rachel Zegler, who plays Lucy Gray Baird. Can you share a memorable or funny moment from your first interaction or filming together that set the tone for your on-screen relationship? 

[Spoilers] So we shot my final scenes the second week of filming, and that was my first time working with Rachel as I had covid during the first week. When we were filming my last few breaths before I die, in between takes she told me she thinks of my laugh to get herself to shed a tear (I’ve been told I apparently have a great laugh). Even though we had just met, I loved how she was able to grasp the little she knew about me to make our relationship real for her, and I had no worries about our chemistry afterwards and knew we were going to have a great time together, which we did!

The 10th Hunger Games had a unique setting with mentors introduced for tributes. How did the unconventional dynamics, like the mentor-tribute relationships, impact the interactions between Jessup and Lucy Gray? 

I think it specifically affected our relationship because Jessup is protective of Lucy Gray, so needless to say he doesn’t trust this capitol boy mentoring her. I assumed Jessup had never even met a capitol citizen before and what he had heard wasn’t good, so that gave him even more reason to have a watchful eye on Coriolanus. For Jessup, the addition of mentors just added to the people you had to look out for. 

Filming on location in Germany and Poland without much green screen must have been an immersive experience. Can you share a moment when the realistic set design added to the intensity of the scenes, making you feel like you were truly in the Hunger Games? 

Oh gosh I don’t even know where to start. The zoo enclosure was pretty crazy since we were rolling in mud and they had to let us out by removing like 3 of the bars on the cage. The train us tributes took to the capitol was real as well, and the cars were filled with hay so it really felt like we were delivered like barnyard animals. When you have sets like that it makes getting into the world and circumstances so much easier; it fully transports you. 

The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes explores the complex relationship between Coriolanus Snow and Lucy Gray Baird. How do you interpret the dynamics of their "contentious" romance, especially considering Jessup's perspective? 

Me personally, I think Snow is full of shit. Or maybe he did love her in a way but was too selfish to love her fully. I definitely resonate with Jessup’s mistrust of Snow because, as evidenced many times in the movie, he tells everyone what they want to hear but only in an effort to preserve his own image. And while Lucy Gray tries to see the good in him, I think she ultimately came to the same conclusion. 

From attending midnight premieres to starring in The Hunger Games prequel, your journey seems like a full circle. How did your love for the franchise, from the original books to the movies, influence your experience working on The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes? 

Honestly, being a fan helped a lot! Obviously it added to my excitement and motivated me to do my best work, but also since I was already familiar with the world, diving into this didn’t feel too new or foreign to me. I came into it knowing all of the lore and Panem specific vocab so it felt easy to return to this world I knew so well. It allowed me more time to focus on learning Jessup as a person rather than learning the world he lived in. 

When you found out you got the role as Jessup Diggs, you were on your way to visit your sister. Can you share the moment you told her, and what was her reaction to you being a part of one of your favorite franchises? 

I had been keeping her updated about my audition process, and I was trying to keep it a secret for a bit but she ended up asking about it while we were hanging out. I told her and she started yelling. She just kept saying, “You’re gonna be in the Hunger Games?!” It was an awesome moment to share with her especially given the impact this franchise had on us growing up.

The prequel provides a raw and brutal look at Panem, 64 years before the original trilogy. How does this version of Panem differ, and what do you think fans, both new and old, will appreciate about this fresh perspective? 

I think it’ll be a treat for the fans to see Panem and the Capitol before the glitz and glamour. Whereas in the original trilogy you’re watching the established institution get broken down, in our prequel, you’re watching them build this institution up – they’re still recovering from war and figuring things out. It’s like a Panem history lesson or text book in movie form. It’s a look at vintage Panem, like a period piece but in the future? And it’s portrayed beautifully though the set design and detailed costuming (Trish Summerville is the GOAT). 

The wounds of war are still fresh in The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, creating more tension and darkness. As an actor, how did you navigate portraying the relationships and atmosphere in this more raw version of Panem? 

This was kind of a challenge for me at least, but I had to keep in mind that the Hunger Games were still pretty new in our movie. Whereas they’re more accustomed to the games in the original trilogy, it was new to our characters, and that changed our energy and attitudes towards the games. There was less fear of the capitol and more anger. Reminding myself that emotions were raw and intense as a product of the war helped guide me in the right direction on how to navigate playing in this era of Panem. 

Given your perspective as both a fan and an actor in the franchise, what do you hope audiences take away from this reintroduction to Panem and the Capitol in a different light? 

I think the coolest thing about prequels is that they can answer the whys and hows that may arise from the original film(s). My hope for audiences is that they really consider how every tradition or facet of society starts somewhere. Everything has its origins, and everything that happens today is a product of things that happened before. Maybe it can inspire us to look at the origins of some of our societal rules and question if they still hold weight in today’s times. 

The Hunger Games has been a major part of pop culture. As an actor, do you feel a sense of responsibility or excitement knowing that your portrayal of Jessup Diggs contributes to the legacy of this iconic franchise? 

Oh jeez legacy is a big word! I think I’m still so close to the project that I haven’t really thought about it in that way, but it’s not lost on me how lucky I am to have a small contribution to the world of this massive, beloved franchise. It’s definitely a dream come true. I had a couple of pinch me moments on set with my friends in the cast just reminding ourselves that we’re in the Hunger Games. I also know the fans place a lot of importance on how they pictured things when reading the book, so I just hope I did Jessup’s character justice for them!

The Hunger Games movies depict a dystopian world where young people are pitted against each other. How do you think this narrative reflects or comments on our society, and what impact do you hope it has on viewers? 

A line that stuck with me was one of Tom’s final lines at the end of the movie when he says, “The whole world is an arena.” Sometimes the world really does feel like that – like this is all just one big Hunger Games, just less overtly so. I think the moments that really stand out in this film are the ones where the good of humanity prevails and transcends the circumstances, and I hope viewers walk away embracing the necessity of those moments in our world. 

With Boo, Bitch and now The Hunger Games prequel, your career is gaining momentum. What goals or aspirations do you have for the future, both personally and professionally? I would love to discover even more about myself. I want to see how far I can push myself as an actor and surprise myself. I want a role I can really sink my teeth into. I want to explore more of all the mediums – theater, TV, film, etc. Maybe I’ll try and write something. Maybe get more into music. I’m excited to grow, artistically and on a personal level. 

Given your experience in theater, television, and film, are there specific roles or genres you're eager to explore in the future, or any dream collaborations on your wishlist? Well I’m still new here so there’s way too much I want to do. Lots of boxes to check off the bucket list. I would love to work with A24, Jordan Peele, or Donald Glover on a horror/thriller or comedy or both! A neo noir would also be sick. 

Looking back at your journey from community theater to starring in a Hunger Games prequel, what advice would you give to aspiring actors who may be inspired by your story and are navigating their own paths in the industry? 

Again I’m still very new, but I would say always try to stay artistically inspired and work on your craft. And believe in yourself! Self doubt is the killer of any artistic breakthough. Lastly, do not be afraid of making mistakes. Learning from them will only propel you forward. These are also reminders for myself but great to keep in mind when initially starting your career! 

If you were a book, what book would you be and why? 

I once saw this mug cake cookbook in Urban Outfitters or something, I would be that. I will never ever decline a baked treat.