'DASH & LILY'S' AUSTIN ABRAMS CAN RELATE TO DASH'S LOVE OF J.D. SALINGER
American actor AUSTIN ABRAMS stars as “Dash” in the Netflix Romantic comedy series “Dash & Lily” based on the best-selling YA book “Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares.” The series revolves around New York and its prominent landmarks, invoking that sense of Christmas holiday nostalgia prior to the 2020 global pandemic. It was produced by Nick Jonas and Shawn Levy is now streaming on Netflix.
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Abrams provided a calming sense of familiarity to his character by being grounded, thus effortlessly delivering the vibes of an old soul. It’s entertaining to note his character development the series as he evolves and opens up to a stranger.
Austin Abrams is absolutely one of Hollywood’s emerging young actors worth paying attention to. His attention to detail and his passion to his craft shows in his projects.
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This summer, Austin starred in Amazon Studios’ feature film “Chemical Hearts.” Based on Krystal Sutherland’s novel Our Chemical Hearts, Abrams portrays the lead Henry Page opposite Lili Reinhardt. Additionally, Abrams stars opposite Zendaya in the critically acclaimed HBO teen drama series “Euphoria.” He also co-stars in the hit NBC drama “This is Us,” portraying the character of “Marc,” the love interest for the teenage version of the character of Kate. His additional television credits include “The Walking Dead,” “Shameless” “The Americans” and “Silicon Valley.” On the big screen, Abrams starred in Guillermo del Toro’s horror film “Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark.” In 2017, he starred opposite Ben Stiller in the independent film “Brad’s Status.”
In this exclusive interview, Abrams opened up about his role and his experiences in the show, the exciting things about Dash & Lily, acting, books, This Is Us, and more.
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How was it to film in NYC before the global shutdown due to the pandemic?
It was great. NYC has an energy that I think we captured in the show.
How would you characterize Dash’s character evolution throughout the show?
Dash starts out with a cynical outlook and throughout the series he grows more positive.
How similar are you to Dash’s character?
I’m not too similar, but we both enjoy reading.
What’s the best part about playing Dash’s character?
The best part about playing Dash is understanding his relationship with his parents and how that effects him.
If Dash would have his own soundtrack, which would it be?
The Taxi Driver soundtrack.
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Do you also love books as much as Dash does? If so, what are some of the favorite books that you’ve read?
Yes, I can relate to his love for J.D.Salinger.
How would you describe the show?
Dash & Lily is a romantic story about two people getting to know each other through a notebook in NYC.
Which among the places that Dash and Lily visited and featured in the series are your favorites?
The Morgan Library and the Strand bookstore were both incredible places.
What are the challenges and the highs that you experienced during filming?
One of the challenges I experienced was keeping track of the growth of my character since we shot multiple scenes from different episodes in the same day.
How did you manage to rise above the challenges?
Keeping notes and visuals helped.
What’s the most memorable moment for you throughout the whole process of making the series?
David Levithan and Rachel Cohn visiting the set and seeing their excitement for the show.
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How’s your creative process whenever you go and film a scene?
It's different every time, but there’s always a desire to experiment.
How did acting start for you? Was it something that you’ve always wanted from a young age?
Yes, it started when I went to acting camp as a kid.
Who and what inspires you?
Heath Ledger has always inspired me. Also, anyone who has the bravery to be who they are, regardless of the rules of the time they’re living in.
What’s your dream project?
Something that makes me sweat.
Which roles do you feel like you gravitate towards the most?
Roles that are different and ones I am not sure if I can pull off.
Out of all the roles that you’ve played, is there any role/character that resonated with you the most and why?
I enjoyed playing Marc on THIS IS US. Marc is very manipulative, and it is interesting to delve deeper into the darker sides of relationships.
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What movie/TV show have you seen the most?
The Dark Knight
Best advice you’ve ever received?
Stop biting your fingernails
What’s a valuable lesson that you’ve learned that you always carry with you?
You never know what can happen.
What’s your ultimate goal?
To truly live life without expectations.
What’s your guilty pleasure?
The news
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If someone were to play you in a movie, who would it be?
John Malkovitch
Have you ever had moments whenever you read your script/watch playbacks when you almost yell at your character for doing something that you, yourself won’t do?
No, I’ve found it best to not judge the character while working.
If you were a book, what book would you be and why?
Cook book. I like food. Nom nom nom
