BY IRVIN RIVERA

EDITORS NOTE: When does one develop a strong sense of self? When can you finally say that you believe in yourself no matter what the world thinks or says? When do you stop seeking for outside validation to know that you’re doing just fine and that you’re beautiful just the way you are? It’s no easy feat but it’s definitely doable. It’s a journey but it starts with self-acceptance - that unwavering feeling of content in knowing that you’re always at the right place, at the right place, all the time, regardless of whatever you do, and wherever you are.

There’s this journey of self-discovery that actor, Zane Phillips shares on screen and on stage with the characters that he plays. Zane plays Chad in Netflix's hit series Glamorous with complexity and depth. He shared how Chad breaks free from the typical rich, blonde douchebag archetype that evolves into a multi-dimensional character with his own struggles, relationships, and vulnerabilities. Through his performance, Zane challenges our preconceived notions and invites us to empathize with Chad, ultimately falling in love with his character by the end of the season.

He candidly discussed the challenges he faced, including self-doubt and the need for external validation, particularly in an industry that often requires actors to be their own directors.

However, Zane's growth and self-assurance throughout his career are truly inspiring. He shared how he discovered a newfound sense of groundedness and embraced the support of his family, who has been a constant source of love and encouragement.

Zane's story serves as a reminder that success in any field, especially the arts, requires not only talent and dedication but also a strong sense of self-belief and the ability to recognize the support system around us. As Zane expressed, we must celebrate the love and encouragement we receive, rather than isolating ourselves in a perceived state of loneliness.

We hope you find this issue as inspiring and relatable as we did. Zane's portrayal of Chad in Glamorous and his personal journey as an actor serve as a reminder to embrace our authenticity, challenge stereotypes, and find joy in fully embodying the characters we portray in life. Let us celebrate the diversity and complexity of the human experience, and eventually find our strong sense of ourselves.

In this exclusive interview, we delve into the intriguing world of Zane Phillips, an immensely talented actor who recently captured audiences' attention with his role as Chad in Netflix's hit series Glamorous. With his portrayal of the complex character, Zane breaks free from the stereotypical blonde antagonist and infuses Chad with a depth and authenticity rarely seen in such archetypes. As we explore Chad's evolution throughout the show, Zane reveals the layers and nuances that make this character truly captivating. Beyond his role in Glamorous, Zane opens up about his personal journey, sharing the challenges and triumphs he has experienced in his career thus far. He shares the struggle of finding confidence in his own abilities and trusting his instincts as he stepped into the realm of film and television. However, his perseverance and unwavering passion have propelled him forward, allowing him to embrace a newfound sense of grounding and assertiveness in his craft. Zane's journey serves as an inspiration to aspiring actors, especially those who have had to overcome societal expectations and seek validation from within. Join us as we discover the essence of Zane's passion for acting and the profound impact it has had on his life.

Hi Zane, what's up?

How's it going? Long time, no see! [We actually just wrapped the photoshoot two hours before this interview.]

Haha. I know! How are you?

I'm doing all right, just been sort of bouncing around today trying to get stuff done before I have to go to New York tomorrow.

Okay, so congrats on your role as Chad in Netflix's Glamorous. Tell us about Chad's character evolution throughout the show.

Well, I think what's fun about Chad is that he gets to inhabit this sort of classic archetype of rich, blonde douchebag that sort of serves as the antagonist for a lot of these classic movies from the 80s and 90s. And, you know, you have a knee-jerk reaction to this kind of guy, which is negative, you want to punch him in the face. But what I think is cool about this show, right, is that we sort of give queer spins on all sorts of these classic tropes. And so, for Chad, we see his type A personality, and his devotion to his work. And we understand that it's because of this struggling relationship that he has with his mother and I think with his own sense of self-confidence. And I think what's cool is that as the season progresses, we get to see more of that, and we get to sort of understand why he is the way he is, and I think he also gets to understand why he is the way he is as well as the audience does. And so, in that way, I think, I don't know -- I love the character and I love that by the end of the season, you really do -- I fell in love with him by the end.

So, you're saying there's a lot of layers to Chad that the audience will discover.

Yes, absolutely. Absolutely. And it's fun too, because I think I also get to be one of the "clownier" ones in the cast. And so, that helps to, I think, sell some of these more earnest moments is that you're like, all right, you know, this guy's entertaining too.

What's your favorite moment from the show that you can remember?

Okay, so my favorite, favorite moment is at the very end, which I won't talk about for spoilers, like the very last moment of the show is one of my favorites. But my second favorite moment, hmm, let me race through the entire season in my brain. I mean, I do really love..., there are so many good ones. Hard to pick. Sorry, I'm really taking my time to really think about this.

Do you feel like right now, at this point in your career, that you feel like you're more grounded, and you have a more solid hold of yourself in that regard?

Absolutely. I mean, it's funny, because I just got to LA in February, and I was in New York for seven and a half years, and I keep on thinking like, oh, would it have been better for me to have moved to LA earlier and start to try to develop a career in this particular side of the industry earlier? And ultimately, I'm glad I waited in certain ways because I think I'm coming into this now, again, so much more sure than I was, so much more... You know, it was really cool to be able to be on the Glamorous set specifically and sort of, I felt an ownership of myself that I've never really felt before, in a way of being able to advocate for myself and for my ideas and for my character in a way that I never really have been able to before. And I just don't think I would have been able to do that as a 20-year-old or something. You know, it's something that does come with time and something that does um... Yes, and so I feel like the timing of that has been just perfect, honestly.

That's amazing. What is your proudest moment in your career so far?

Yes, I mean, I think being able to..., I know this is like all circling back to Glamorous but sorry. I think being able to, I was able to show my family, a majority of the episodes. I lost my father this summer. And so being able to show my dad what we had been able to accomplish and just being able to bring some happiness to him, I think is absolutely, my proudest accomplishment.

Has your family been supportive in your journey from the beginning?

Yes, yes.

That's great.

Yes, and again, I know, it's super uncommon. And, I mean that being said, don't get me wrong, I actually make my own way through everything, but I always had emotional support from them, and that, to me was invaluable, because I think, when somebody gives you that, that to me is a more effective motivator than trying to... To me, when my parents give me emotional support, it further spurs me to want to make them proud, and it's not coming from a place of lack. It's coming from a place of abundance, right?

Yes, exactly.

Where I don't feel like without this, I will not have that from them. But I know that if I continue to, it makes me feel like an extension of who they are and the love that they've shown me to have a love and a passion for what I do.

Would you say that’s how you find joy in the roles that you play, by seeing the life in the character?

Yes, yes, totally, totally. Because I think, again, you know, when there is this synergy between the actor and the writer and the words on the page, I think it makes it a much more creatively fulfilling experiment, you know? Because suddenly, the things you feel like you are, yes, it's this sort of magical connection that you don't get all the time. You know, sometimes you're doing something and you're like, alright, well this is not exactly a fully realized person. I'm going to do my best, I'm going to... Obviously, I love to work regardless, but it doesn't compare to being able to play something that feels alive and feels intentional, that feels lived in.

For sure, I mean, there’s nothing that will make you feel more excited than that.

Yes. Well, and also too, that's the thing, is like we want to see... Again, it's why Glamorous to me is so important because it does have so many characters like that, who are just living in the world, and they're not sanding their edges down. And I think when we talk about objects that emphasize queer trauma or anything like that, and obviously, it's an incredibly important thing to represent but at the same time so often the queer trauma response is to pull in and is to lessen yourself, right, because so much of our experiences, our traumatic experiences come from being in spaces that don't quite appreciate our extension. And so, what I love about Glamorous is that everyone feels extended. Everyone feels like a cookie shape and...

It's expansive.

Yes, yes! That's the right word for it. And so, I think it just makes me excited when I see queer representation approaching that because all of my friends in real life, you know, all of the queer community that I'm in, they're the most interesting, fun, cool, funny people in the world. They are expansive humans and I want to see that everywhere. Because I'm sorry, like being gay is freaking amazing. I love it. I never want to be in a position where I have to sort of act like it's some sort of burden on my back.

It never is and it shouldn't be, at all. Okay, Zane, final question. If you were a book, what book would you be and why? This is an open question, it could be a genre, made up book, your favorite book, up to you.

If I were a book, what book would I be and why? I think I would be..., that's a really good question. I feel like I'm going back to high school English class.

Taking you back on a journey.

I'm feeling like, maybe just because this is one of my favorite books but I'm feeling very like Count of Monte Cristo. In that it's long as hell, it's complicated as hell. It's a seminal piece of literature but it feels so accessible and I think for me, that's how I want to show up. I just want to be, I love the high and the low, I love participating in the high aspects of culture and the low parts of culture. Yes, it's just fun. It's fun and it's involved and it's suspenseful, and yes.