This interview is part of Out's March/April fashion spread, in which out actors Joel Kim Booster, Daniel Kyri, Mark Indelicato, and Satya Bhabha talked TV and modeled menswear on the Universal Studios Lot’s Courthouse Square.
How would you describe your personal style?
Comfortable, baggy, but still chic — I think I still got it going on.
It’s a beautiful spring day. What clothing essentials do you reach for?
I wake up, I reach for my Tom Ford aviators, my gray Balenciaga City bag, and a pair of Carhartts.
PRIVATE POLICY Lavender Patch Pockets Crop Suit Jacket and Pants; SAINT LAURENT Black Smooth Leather Vassili Zipped Boots; EMANUELE BICOCCHI Sterling Silver Link Chain Necklace with Bolt Pendant, Sterling Silver Rigid Curb Chain-Style RingsANTHONY BARRIOS
On Hacks, how do your character’s clothes impact your expression as an actor?
It’s so great for me to come in and put [Damien’s clothes] on because they are nothing like my personal style. So it really is like a visual way for me to be transported into the character and into the world. I don’t like Damien’s clothes, but Damien — I don’t think — really cares either way.
How has your character resonated with fans — LGBTQ+ ones in particular?
Fans respond to all of the characters of Hacks in different ways. I think that for Damien people respond to his kind of sassiness, his crassness in terms of like, in season 2, his disdain for [Hannah Einbinder’s character] Ava for no reason.
I don’t think about him as an LGBTQ+ character, but I think that that’s what’s really nice about playing him…. There’s this kind of subtext of queerness throughout the entire show…. Not every queer representation needs to be like screaming it at you, you know, so I like that Damien doesn’t really talk about his sexuality at all.
Hacks Season 3 | Official Teaser | Max Still standing and better than ever. Season 3 of #Hacks premieres May 2 on Max. About Max: Max is the culture-defining ...
What can you share with us about your character’s journey this season?
Damien actually has a journey this season, diva. It’s going down in season 3 — there’s lots of changes, lots of moving parts…. There’s a big shake-up in Team Vance [Damien’s comedian boss, played by Jean Smart], and Damien is obviously very much involved in that.
VERSACE Light Blue Embellished Denim Jacket and Jeans, Silver Croc-Effect Medusa Mules; EMANUELE BICOCCHI Small Gold Arabesque Skull Pendant, Sterling Silver Link Chain Necklace with Bolt Pendant, Sterling Silver Rigid Curb Chain-Style, Wheat Band and Large Arabesque Band RingsANTHONY BARRIOS
What does it mean to you to be an out actor on TV today?
I’m really proud and glad to see how much has changed since I was a teenager on Ugly Betty. It’s always been endowed in my entire experience as an actor because when I came into this business and on to Ugly Betty, I was playing a queer character. So I don’t know what it’s like to not be an out actor.
Tell us about a TV show that changed your life.
The Real Housewives of New Jersey. I said it and, and if you haven’t watched it, revisit seasons 1 and 2, you’ll do yourself a favor. It’s art. I mean, the table flip heard around the world — and it still holds up today. I could watch Danielle Staub get chased out of a country club all day, every day on a loop.
ANTHONY BARRIOS
This cover story is part of the Out March/April issue, which hits newsstands on April 2. Support queer media and subscribe — or download the issue through Apple News, Zinio, Nook, or PressReader starting March 18.
photographer: ANTHONY BARRIOS @anthony__giovanni
photographer’s assistant: JORDAN FRAME @_jordanframe
photographer’s assistant: ANDREW BARRIOS @andrewbarrios1
stylist: EDWIN ORTEGA @edwin.j.ortega
stylist assistant: KAREN VELIZ
grooming for Satya and Mark: JOSÉ FIGUEROA @josefigz
grooming for Joel and Daniel: TRACY RAFFELSON @tracyraffelsonmakeup
videographer: ROBERT MARRERO @itsrobertmarrero
location: COURTHOUSE SQUARE, UNIVERSAL STUDIOS BACK LOT @unistudios
All TV shows — HACKS, LOOT, CHICAGO FIRE, and SCOTT PILGRIM TAKES OFF — are produced by Universal Studio Group. Interviews are condensed.