THE LONG AND THE SHORT OF IT | JULIAN WORKS

For the past 4 seasons, we have enjoyed 9-1-1: Lonestar which allows us to follow the work and lives of first responders that are in Austin Texas! With an engaging ensemble cast, we took some time to talk with Julian Works who plays Mateo Chavez. We've watched as he's grown with his fellow fireman, become involved in a relationship, and really coming into his own!

We wanted to know more about how he got into the industry, his passion for storytelling, being in 9-1-1, how one trains for this role, his movie The Long Game, and more!

ATHLEISURE MAG: What was the show or movie that made you fall in love with storytelling?

JULIAN WORKS: I’ve been a movie buff since I was really young and loved so many classic films like Rear Window, La Dolce Vita, Rebel Without A Cause, East of Eden, On The Waterfront, A Streetcar Named Desire, Rocky, Dog Day Afternoon, The Godfather, Taxi Driver, and Midnight Express. They definitely lit a spark in me, and after hosting a YouTube Sports channel called Mun2 with my uncle as a teenager, I decided to audition for a rendition of The Odd Couple at my high school. I ended up booking the lead role of ‘Oscar Madison’ and the rest is history!

AM: Prior to you coming to 9-1-1: Lone Star, I first remember seeing you on The Affair. What is your creative process in approaching the characters that you have played?

JW: I do extensive research for any role that I play. In the case of The Affair, I came into the recurring role of ‘Angel’ after the show had been airing for 3 seasons, so I took it upon myself to binge-watch as many episodes as possible before the audition so that I could grasp the tone and the rhythm of the show. In the case of 9-1-1: Lone Star, on the other hand, I had the privilege of developing the character from its inception and the writers have molded the character around what I’ve brought to the table over the past 4 seasons. For The Long Game, I first read the novel by the great Humberto G. Garcia, then researched what it may have been like to be a Mexican American in 1950’s Del Río, Texas and of course brushed up on everything golf-related (including playing the game quite a bit before we began filming). Doing a deep dive into script and role analysis is also a part of my process. It always helps when you have a great director like Julio Quintana (Blue Miracle, The Vessel, Disgraced) or television showrunners like Tim Minear (9-1-1, Ratched, American Horror Story) and Rashad Raisani (Burn Notice, 9-1-1, 9-1-1: Lone Star) at the helm who guide you and put all of the pieces of the story together.

AM: What drew you to 9-1-1 Lone Star?

JW: Producers Ryan Murphy (Glee, Pose, American Horror Story), Brad Falchuk (Nip/Tuck, Scream Queens, The Politician), and Tim Minear. As soon as we saw their names attached to the series, my team and I knew we had to do everything in our power for me to work with them. It has been one of the most rewarding work experiences of my life.

AM: What is the training like to be on this show in terms of wearing the gear and being able to be in the mindset of a firefighter?

JW: It definitely takes some getting used to and ample training time. The gear is super heavy, so you have to be physically fit to handle the long hours with bulky clothing and able to handle sizable equipment, sometimes in hot weather. We’ve gone through extensive training with real firefighters and incredible consultants with our production team to make sure we honor the real firefighting heroes who risk their lives every day for us.

AM: Tell me about how you came to the 9-1-1 Universe as you actually had a few episodes in the flagship and how did that then bring you to 9-1-1: Lonestar?

JW: I booked a memorable Guest Star role opposite the legendary Angela Bassett (Waiting to Exhale, American Horror Story, Black Panther universe) on the flagship show, 9-1-1. A year later, when 9-1-1: Lone Star was casting, I read for ‘Mateo Chavez’ late in their casting process, fresh off of filming a TV show in Canada. Luckily, much of the creative team and the producers were the same on both shows, and they thought I’d be a great addition to the cast. I thank my lucky stars for that, since playing ‘Mateo’ has been one of the greatest experiences of my life until now.

AM: You also get to play a twin every now and then - what do you love about Marvin?

JW: I only played ‘Marvin’ once on the original 9-1-1 show. I love that he’s a very genuine and charismatic person who just lacks direction in life. To his benefit, Angela Bassett’s character, ‘Athena,’ gives him the tough love that he needs. She is the reason he reflects on his life and looks to change for the better at the end of the episode.

AM: For those that need a refresher where do we end with Mateo from last season and what can you tell us about where we pick him up again for next season?

JW: Without giving away too much, let’s just say that he and Nancy (Brianna Baker) are a part of the fifth season’s storyline. Stay tuned for new and big climate events, explosions, amazing rescues, and the evolution of old and new relationships! Like all previous seasons, ‘Mateo’ will have a breakout episode where new and exciting things will be revealed!

AM: For fans of the show, what are the takeaways that you want viewers to feel about Mateo's arc or the show in general?

JW: I love ‘Mateo’s’ humor and optimism, even when faced with great adversity or personal challenges. He keeps getting back up and trying again, until he achieves his goal and I’d like viewers to really take that positive attitude and indefatigable outlook with them, into their own lives.

AM: You are in The Long Game which hit theaters last month and debuted at SXSW last year where the film earned the SXSW Narrative Spotlight Audience Award. What drew you to this movie?

JW: The incredible novel, Mustang Miracle, by Humberto G. Garcia, the script, and our indomitable director Julio Quintana. I almost worked with Julio before on another movie right as I was offered 9-1-1: Lone Star, and after watching that film, I knew I had to work with him. The stars aligned and I had an incredible experience working with him and the entire cast and production team that made the film possible.

AM: For those who have not seen this movie. Tell me about it and who do you play?

JW: I play ‘Joe Trevino,’ a young Mexican-American caddie who ends becoming the San Felipe High School’s most valuable golfer and a champion, along with his team, for the Texas State Championship in 1957. The film is based on a true story and tells the story of the racism and prejudice of our country’s past, but also the hope, evolution, and inspiration that everyday Americans have demonstrated to make America a better home for us all. Simply put, it’s a story about the triumph of the human spirit over adversity and illustrates the lesson for people of any background that you can do anything if you believe in yourself, work hard, and have a strong team around you to reach your goals.

AM: You have an incredible cast that's also in this film from Jay Hernandez (Suicide Squad, Magnum P.I., Last Resort), Dennis Quaid (Lawmen: Bass Reeves, Full Circle, The Day After Tomorrow), and Cheech Marin (Shotgun Wedding, Machete, Nash Bridges). Canelo Alvarez is an Executive Producer of the movie. What did you enjoy about being in this film?

JW: Besides having the privilege and the honor to embody the late ‘Joe Trevino’ and work with our talented director, cast, and production team, I loved the preparation, both physically and mentally. I also loved our filming locations, from Colombia to Texas, and learning from so many wonderfully talented people. Of course, having Canelo Alvarez executive produce our film was phenomenal, and meeting him at his most recent fight in Las Vegas was surreal.

AM: When you're not on set or when you're preparing for your next role, what are 3 workouts that you do to stay in shape?

JW: I love to box, train in mixed martial arts, and go on long-distance jogs and hikes.

AM: How do you take time for yourself?

JW: Music is an important outlet for me. Listening to it and creating. I love a variety of music, from Nipsey Hussle, Drake, and Dr. Dre, to Elvis, The Bee Gees, and Michael Jackson, and compose lyrics for future songs that I’m looking to record.

AM: Are there and upcoming projects that you can share?

JW: I am currently filming the 5th season of 9-1-1: Lone Star and the entire cast is very excited to be back on set! We look forward to sharing the continuation of our storylines and our characters’ journeys with fans this Fall. Stay tuned!

IG @julesworks

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | Dylan

Read the JUN ISSUE #102 of Athleisure Mag and see THE LONG AND THE SHORT OF IT | Julian Works in mag.

A DECADE OF INTRIGUE | HISHAM TAWFIQ

For the last 10 years, we have enjoyed NBC's The Blacklist where we are introduced to Raymond "Red" Reddington (James Spader) a former ex-US Naval Intelligence officer who became a prominent criminal and has evaded the FBI and been on their Most Wanted fugitive list for decades. He voluntarily gives himself up to FBI and lets them know that he has created a list known as the Blacklist. In his exchange to inform on their operations, he wants to receive immunity from prosecution as long as he works exclusively with FBI Elizabeth Keen (Megan Boone).

We learned about their relationship with this rookie agent, Blacklisters and Dembe Zuma, played by Hisham Tawfiq who is his number 2. We have seen him be his confidant and navigate his way to joining the FBI himself! We caught up with him to talk about his service in the military, being a first responder, how he got into the industry and his role in the series.

If you have yet to watch The Blacklist, this interview will include discussions about plot points about the show and specifically Season 9 and the current and final season, Season 10 which is airing now.

ATHLEISURE MAG: In doing the research into your backstory, you have always fostered your work in the arts as well as being a literal super hero with your time in the Marines and being a firefighter in the FDNY for 20 years while still focusing on being an entertainer, when you were growing up, what did you want to be?

HASHIM TAWFIQ: When I was growing up, I had dreams of becoming a pilot! And I think that at the time, to be a pilot, you had to have 20/20 vision so that quickly left my vision. But I was always an outdoors type of person. I was always into physical activity and I think my dream was to be a football player, but then I got injured. I took a dance class and I fell in love with dance and that was my introduction into theater and that allowed me to make that transition. But, my ultimate dream was to be a pilot.

AM: Tell us about your earliest memory as an actor and what was the path for you to decide that this was also something that you wanted to do?

HT: In the 90’s I started to dance and theater and I was doing this intensive acting and I went to this workshop which also had students that included Denzel Washington and Debbie Allen. It was at that moment what I took that class that I realized that I really liked this and I could see myself doing this as a career. But at the same time, I was already a firefighter, so there was already this struggle between being a firefighter and pursuing this career as an actor.

AM: How did you end up being a firefighter as you were Station Chief for the FDNY in Harlem?

HT: So when I was in the Marines, I already started thinking about what I would do when I came out. I took all of the tests, I took police exams, corrections, and I knew nothing about the fire department. There was a flyer in my home from this organization called the Vulcan Society which is an organization of Black Firefighters (editors note: the Vulcan Society was founded in 1940 and is a fraternal organization of black firefighters in NYC). At the time I was coming out of the Marines, out of 10,000 NYC firefighters, less than 2% were African American. The Vulcan Society was active in the inner-city high schools to recruit people of color to the fire department. I came home and I saw that postcard and I filled it out. Like I said, I knew nothing about the fire department, but I filled it out and I started learning about the job and the hours. I was a physical person and I like to get dirty and dusty and all of those type of things. I found out that it was an exciting job and that it was something that I would love to do. At the time, I was a Correction Officer at Sing Sing when they called me and I left that and went to the fire department and never looked back.

AM: Wow! A lot of people talk about the training or you see it when you’re watching shows like FOX’s 9-1-1, its spinoff 9-1-1: Lone Star and ABC’s Station 19 which are my favorite first responder shows. Did you find training to be a firefighter difficult?

HT: No ha ha! I guess because I was just out of the Marine Corp and I think that that was the most toughest thing that I had ever experienced physically! So when I went into the firefighter training, it was kind of easy for me. I was a squad leader and I stood out. There was nothing really about the Firefighter Academy that was challenging for me. Like I said, I had just gotten out of the Marine Corps and that was the most challenging thing that I had done. I remember taking the physical and it was a breeze for me and I remember blowing through that. People were like, “oh man, this guy is moving through it!” Being fast, being physical and being strong is part of my attributes and that’s what led me to go towards those kind of jobs.

AM: Were you still acting while you were being a firefighter?

HT: By this time, I was dancing with a dance company ha! So, when I was a correctional officer and a firefighter, I would spend my weekends going to rehearsals for dance and I slowly transitioned that into the theater. So I started doing plays, but I always had my firefighter job and it was one of the reasons that I took it. Not only because of the adrenaline rush, but I knew that as a firefighter, I had a lot of time off and I used that time off to do all of the things that I was passionate about.

AM: In your acting career, you have done a lot of things on the stage and a number of TV shows from NBC's Law & Order to The Blacklist, do you find when you’re preparing for a role for the stage vs. on TV that it is a different process for you?

HT: Yes! I love the theater because you get time to really rehearse, practice and to really live in these spaces. When you're with the people that you’re working with, you get to create and work through the costumes. It’s just a different process that goes into theater that I really love! I love being being on TV too! There is a different way that you have to create and prepare for theater then you do with TV or film. I love that process in theater.

AM: I remember when The Blacklist started that it would be a show that I was going to enjoy. I’m a huge fan of James Spader (Stargate, Secretary, Boston Legal) as well as Amir Arison (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Billions, The Dropout) and Harry Lennix (The Matrix Reloaded, Ray, Billions) that are core and original castmembers with you. There have been so many people that have been guest stars with the show from Stacy Keach (Mickey Spillane’s Mike Hammer, Sin City: A Dame to Kill For, Blue Bloods), David Costabile (Breaking Bad, Suits, Billions), Anthony Michael Hall (Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, The Goldbergs) the late Lance Reddick (Oz, The Wire, BOSCH), etc. You play Dembe Zuma. How did you find out about the show and what did you know about your character when you read for the part?

HT: I knew nothing! My character wasn’t in the pilot, but that was the only episode that I missed. After the pilot, James requested that he should have a team around him. So initially, I was this Muslim African Freedom Fighter who was rescued by Red from human trafficking as a child. So my audition was all improv. I had no lines so I just made up a backstory that came from my life and experience. It was only supposed to be for 1 episode, so there wasn’t really any pressure or angst about it. Then, it turned into something different than what I had anticipated or even expected! But that was that journey of that process. But it wasn’t like I was initially being brought into a series regular role! But this is where we are after 10 years!

AM: You’re character has such a presence whether it was when he wasn’t talking, or he was a man of few words and now having more evolved storylines, how do you approach your character?

HT: I really draw a lot from personal experiences! I take a lot from my personal life and I put it onto this character. I wouldn’t say that it was easy, but what I have learned especially in not taking the traditional route in acting – the hard thing for me was getting the training and learning how as well as what tools need to be used in order to tell a story. I pull from these experiences that I have had from getting into character and doing all of that, that’s the easy part because I have had such a colorful life. So it was just getting the training and learning about pulling the different emotions and experiences so I could put them into Dembe.

AM: Up until Season 9, we see Dembe and Red and their dynamic and you really create a sense of humanity and a bit of a moral compass for him. What was it like to play off of James Spader?

HT: The interesting thing was, I didn’t know anything about James Spader! Luckily for me I didn’t come in with all of these notions about him so it worked out great. As I started to work with him, that’s when it really became evident to me. He is so intense and that’s when I was like, “oh My God, this guy!” It’s not even that I’m working with James Spader – it was that I am working with this extremely talented human being. You know, our chemistry – we just have it! Anytime we got into a scene, it was like these sparks just flew whether we were improving certain things or reading off the page, we have always had this amazing chemistry. It’s an amazing thing to have and to play off of and I am greatly appreciative of!

AM: In Season 9, your character joins the FBI! What do you think about this twist in the storyline and being able to work in a different way with other members of the cast? We’re assuming that you played off of things in your own life to bring these nuances to life as well for the switch in his character.

HT: Absolutely, it was definitely different especially going from not really speaking that much to downloading the Task Force on who the next Blacklister is so it was definitely a shift. I went out and got myself an acting coach to make sure that I was approaching it right and putting on a whole other layer of Dembe which was challenging but also exciting. I welcomed it and also enjoyed it. A lot of people disagree and say that I should go back with Red! I think that as an actor, it was something that I definitely welcomed and I had fun playing with even though I missed the chemistry that I had with James.

AM: Before we delve into the final season, how do you describe Dembe and what are the similarities between you and the character? Have you been able to give back feedback to the writer’s room in terms of how Dembe develops?

HT: Oh absolutely! I think that in the beginning, because Dembe wasn’t scripted, there was just so much that we didn’t know. It wasn’t until Season 3, 4 or even 5 that I started having conversations with John Bokenkamp (The Call, The Blacklist, The Blacklist: Redemption), the creator of the show and we talked about who is Dembe and what did he look like? We knew he was Muslim and we didn’t get to see any of that so it was really important to me especially since I am Muslim that we make sure that we are authentic about that and that we show that. They agreed. We talked a lot and we had a lot of conversations and we see him praying and doing these things which meant a lot to me. That’s also hard to let go because I’ve been part of building this character and flushing him out as opposed to this character being presented to me. I enjoyed all of that!

Who is Dembe? Dembe because of the evolution of how he came to be, Dembe is kind of me! I kind of consider myself a quiet guy and I think that the only thing that you won’t see Dembe do is that I’m a funny/silly guy! Sometimes we see Red and Dembe have these card games and to play like kids. We see a little bit of that. A lot of Dembe is really me minus the violence.

AM: What can you tell us about the final season or what should we be looking for?

HT: I think that we all know that all The Blacklisters are coming after Red. We also know that because they’re coming after Red and because of Dembe’s affiliation with him, now he is also in danger. It just sets the stakes really really high. I think that what it also does is that Dembe has dealt with conflict, but now he’s really conflicted because of not being with Red in this most dangerous time since he is on the Task Force. I think that what we’re going to see play out in Season 10 is this back and forth of being able to choose a side. At the same time, being this moral compass and what that conflict looks like.

AM: You have been in this cast for the past 10 seasons. What are some of your favorite moments from the show?

HT: I loved when I got to play with Mr. Solomon, Edi Gathegi (Twilight, The Twilight Saga: New Moon, X-Men: First Class) character – I love that episode with the pool balls and getting tortured and going after him. That one stands out. There are so many, but I also loved just because of how I came into acting and all of these people that I looked up to. I loved the time that I got to play with Benga who was in Season 9 – being my daughter and being kidnapped that was an amazing episode for me. I loved the episode where we got to explore my religion and faith not only personally, but also with Dembe. Then there are some amazing episodes in Season 10 that I can’t speak on, but I’m really excited about that. There’s one episode where we have never seen about Dembe. I’m excited to see how that played out. Out of 10 years, there have been so many beautiful moments as you know. But those are some of the moments that I really enjoyed.

AM: What will be your biggest takeaway from being part of this production?

HT: That’s hard, I learned so much watching James and how he works and how specific he is. Just how he approaches everything – that’s something that I will take away from it. Being prepared for the unexpected because this was definitely unexpected. In 10 years, I’ve grown so much, I’m a whole different person and there’s so much growth that I have had. Not just professionally, but also personally. The biggest takeaway in terms of the craft is just seeing how dedicated James was and learning how he approaches it and putting those tools in my pocket as I’m moving forward.

AM: What will we see you doing next? Are there any projects that you’re able to share with us or things on your bucket list whether it’s in front of or behind the camera?

HT: I’m a Sci-Fi geek, so I’d definitely like to do anything Sci-Fi! I love westerns so I would love to be a cowboy, but after a show like this, I’m also in love with doing something that doesn’t have fun and just a drama between me and my son, me and my wife or something like that. Anything and everything! I’ve also been working on a documentary about my life so all of those things, I would love to tackle. That’s the scary thing about not knowing what’s next up for me professionally. Like I said, I would love to be an astronaut in space or riding around on a horse!

IG @hishamtawfiq

PHOTGRAPHY CREDITS | PG 104, 106, + 113 Will Hart/NBC | PG 109 Virginia Sherwood/NBC | PG 110 Scott Gries/NBC |

Read the MAR ISSUE #87 of Athleisure Mag and see A DECADE OF INTRIGUE | Hisham Tawfiq in mag.

ON THE SCENE | BRIAN MICHAEL SMITH

Over the last few years, Brian Michael Smith has been a man that has had clutch characters in shows that are part of major cultural moments. We love the way he embraces the shows that he's in as well as really being into the process of movie making magic behind the camera. We catch up with Brian to find out how he gained the love he has for the entertainment industry, we chat about his process to approaching playing his roles, we talk about him being one of our faves in FOX's 9-1-1: Lone Star and his advocacy in the trans community.

ATHLEISURE MAG: When did you realize that you wanted to be an actor?

BRIAN MICHAEL SMITH: I’ve always had an inclination towards acting. My family was pretty close knit and full of people who couldn’t tell a story without acting it out, and I learned at a very young age that I liked to entertain. I truly fell in love with acting when I was in fifth grade and our class put together a play where we made up the plot and characters. I remember how powerful it felt to step out there and have everyone respond to and believe in my character without question. It felt like anything was possible and I loved it. I stayed involved with acting a bit throughout school, but it wasn’t until I was in my 20s living in New York that I decided to really commit to acting professionally. In fact, I remember it was a day I was working background in one of the battle scenes of the Dark Knight Rises. It was something I started doing to learn more about working on set and earning some side money. It was a Saturday, and Wall St. was shut down, there were like 600 people dressed as cops or warriors, IMAX cranes, Batmobiles, fake snow blowing around. Christopher Nolan (Tenet, Justice League, Interstellar), Tom Hardy (Inception, Legend, Venom) and Christian Bale (Vice, The Big Short, American Hustle) were a foot away hammering out the scene. I’m standing there with my partner, and they call action and all these guys start yelling and doing their fight choreography and it's FUN! They yell cut after what felt like 15 minutes and we're all standing there panting and I just remember looking around thinking this is exactly how it felt when I was a kid at my happiest, outside playing with my friends on Saturday mornings and I love this and would do it for free. Then I’m looking around at all the people involved to make this, the hundreds of different jobs, and it hit me that yes this is a real industry, a profession, a day-to-day and this is all I want to do.

AM: You have been in a number of phenomenal shows including Toine Wilkins in Ava DuVernay’s Queen Sugar on OWN, Pierce Williams in Showtime’s The L Word: Generation Q and currently, you play Paul Strickland in 9-1-1: Lone Star just to name a few. When you’re selecting projects that you want to be part of, what is your process and what are you looking for?

BMS: My process has depended on the project or what my career or creative goal has been at the time. At first, it was about getting experience and learning the craft and industry. And then as I started to earn more credits and get my career going, I shifted my focus to developing a body of work that spoke to what was important to me as a person and defined who I am as an artist. Around 2016, when looking for work, I started asking my myself, “What story do I want to tell right now? And what part of myself or being a person do I want to explore in my work?”

And then right before I booked Queen Sugar, I was asking myself, “as an artist what do I want to say?" What can I do with a character, a scenario that no one else can do?” And these are the questions I still use when seeking out work.

AM: I have been a fan of 9-1-1: Lone Star from the beginning and have enjoyed Paul and seeing his contributions to his team as well as sharing his life as a trans man on the show. Can you tell me about him and what drew you to wanting to play him?

BMS: I love Paul, he is a great aspirational character. He possesses a lot of qualities I admire like bravery, tenacity, aptitude, and a great sense of humor. He’s definitely a guy you want on your team. You know he will have your back. He has a fierce love for people in his family including his chosen family and the community that he serves. He is an enigma in a way, and it has been really interesting for me to discover more about him as the seasons develop.

What drew me to him originally was that he was a character I pretty much manifested for myself. At the time the audition notice came out, I was working on the L Word and really enjoying playing Pierce who was very different from me in a lot of ways that I enjoyed exploring. He was reserved, he was methodical and very corporate. And while I enjoyed that, I was in a space where I really wanted to play someone more physical.

I was at an event in the summer of 2019 and a friend had asked me, “If you could be playing character right now what would you want to be playing?” And I had literally just wrote in my vision board/ goal sheet: “Be cast as a series regular in an ensemble action-oriented procedural TV show that keeps me working in LA, increases my footprint.” As I was sharing that with him, I got the email for the audition for Paul in Lone Star.

In the casting breakdown, Paul was described originally as ‘a Midwest roughneck’ and I loved that and also the note about his powers of observation, so I like this idea of this very physical tough guy who is also really smart and a bit of a brainiac.

AM: You play a firefighter – what is it like to prepare to play Paul physically, emotionally and mentally?

BMS: Physically, it has been a journey to figure out how to best play Paul. When I first started to get ready, my goal was to just get in shape. I’d been playing a character with a very different style than Paul on the L Word and knowing how physical and athletic Paul was going to be, I wanted to look like a firefighter so my training for the weeks leading up to Lone Star was focused on that goal. I found myself hitting the gym 5 days a week, doing weightlifting workouts I used to do when I was a thrower in college and then adding circuit training to trim down. But when we actually started visiting fire stations and working with actual firefighters, I saw that the build I had developed was cute for TV but didn’t really match the real-world physique of most of these guys, I could barely work the equipment for anything longer than a minute and was pretty easily gassed out when doing the job-based activities. So, I went back to the drawing board with my physical training and came up with a program that focused on functional strength and muscle endurance. I looked up training programs and exercises that actual firefighters do, I added a weighted vest to my circuit workouts and added functional mobility work to my warms up.

This physical work actually helped me connect emotionally to Paul, because I felt like one of the survival mechanisms he developed in Chicago to counter discrimination was to put all his energy into what he could control and to be the best firefighter he could be. I understood more about the amount of work he put in to do that what it would have meant for him to have that work overlooked for years in Chicago, then to have it recognized and celebrated by Owen and the 126 in Austin. Mentally and emotionally, it has been exciting and enjoyable to prepare to play Paul because he gets to do things that I’ve dreamed about doing, you know? He’s a lifesaver, he gets involved in these crazy rescues, and every day is different. He also gets the chance to live fully as his authentic self with people who love him.

AM: It’s an incredible cast and crew from having Ryan Murphy (Glee, Pose, American Horror Story) as the co-creator to working with Rob Lowe (West Wing, Code Black, Californication), Jim Parrack (True Blood, The Deuce, Suicide Squad) and Gina Torres (Suits, Westworld, The Catch) to name a few. What’s it like being able to work on this show and to be able to tell a series of stories that are so timely for us to watch as viewers?

BMS: It’s genuinely a dream come true for me to work with such incredible, talented, and giving people. It’s very rare that you get involved in a project and everyone is excited to be working on it. And with a production of this scale and the fast turnover of episodes, you need people who are at the top of their game, know how to roll with the punches and care about the people they’re working with and the stories we are telling. It’s an honor to be able to be a part of this kind of storytelling because I know our shows reach people in communities that may not include many people like the characters on our show. I think empathy and understanding come from watching these characters and learning who they are. I think the audience finds that they have much more in common with people they think are different from them and that can change hearts and minds.

AM: What have been your 3 favorite moments in playing Paul?

BMS: There have been so many! He’s such an enjoyable character and we get so many crazy calls. I personally love all the little 126 family moments in the firehouse and there were a lot of moments in season 1 where we were all still getting to know each other and our characters and would just crack up playing off each other. But let’s see off the top of my head:

Season 1 Episode 2 with the racist lady in the backyard - This was one of those days where we were still getting to know each other and had so much fun and the scene is just hilarious.

Season 2 Episode 11 - The truck rescue on the bridge – It was one of my first really big stunts and as an action movie buff, I felt like I was shooting a scene from Cliffhanger or something and then throughout the episode we got to see more of Paul and Marjan’s friendship and how they support each other. So, it was a good balance of action and character development scenes.

Season 3 Ice Storm gym collapse - One of the strengths of our show is that it’s an ensemble show, and we work often as a team, but every few episodes, you get a storyline that focuses on your character so what was cool for me about the ice storm was that Paul got to go on a bit of a hero’s journey after he is separated from the group.

We shot episodes 1-4 pretty much at the same time and so much of Paul’s storyline was shot in sequence so it truly felt like I was making a movie within a movie, which was new and exciting for me as an actor, to have the responsibility of carrying an episode arc and exploring some new aspects of my character. We hadn’t seen Paul face this level of challenge before, him being isolated from his team, and having to save a life while putting his life directly on the line.

AM: For next season, what would you like to explore for Paul as we continue to get to know more about him?

BMS: I’m interested in what career advancement would look like for Paul. I wonder if he wants more responsibility or some new professional challenges. I love rescues and action so I’d like to see what other dangerous situations he can get into. I want to explore his relationship with Austin and what his community there outside of the 126 family is. We know Paul has strong observational skills, so I’d love to see him put that to work more, maybe even solve some crime with Carlos.

AM: You have used your platform to advocate for trans rights and representation on the screen. You have done this through panels and other projects – how important is this for you to continue to do?

BMS: It’s very important to me to continue to advocate for equality for trans people. Right now, there are about 300 pieces of anti-trans legislation being proposed and passed in statehouses throughout the country. Bills that bar people from accessing healthcare, prosecuting family members, doctors or educators who refuse to out children, or block trans youth from participating in sports. Many of these bills are being advanced based on lies and misinformation. So, in addition to my advocacy through my art, I feel it’s just as important to use my platforms to combat this misinformation and make allies aware of these attacks on basic human rights.

AM: Do you have any upcoming projects that you can share with us?

BMS: I’m cooking up some things for the hiatus, but I can’t share yet.

AM: Will we see you take on other roles in the industry whether it’s writing, producing or directing?

BMS: Yes, during the hiatus from the show I’m going to spend time developing some projects I’d like to produce soon.

AM: In watching the show, we know you’re in great shape. On your IG, we see you boxing and going at it in the gym. What is a typical workout like for you as we’re always looking to add to our routines!

BMS: Thank you! After season 2 and the Quarantine 15 I put on, I found myself needing to adjust my workouts again. During the last month of the hiatus, I shifted from strength and powerlifting to aesthetics and conditioning. So, in the gym, I started lifting like a bodybuilder, and to push myself in the cardio department, I started boxing. The results have been incredible. I feel like I found the right combination for my lifestyle and fitness goals.

I try to hit the weights at least 3 times a week and do boxing 4 times a week. In the weight room, I’m doing bodybuilding workouts, following the progressive overload principle, and lifting a high volume of moderate weight and really focusing on fully contracting the specific muscle I’m targeting. So, within 90 minutes, I’ll try to do 3-4 exercises for a specific muscle group doing 3 sets of 12-20 reps.

Boxing has been a game-changer for sure. I work with my trainer, Adel Altamimi, 4 days a week and a typical session with him involves, mobility warm up, shadow boxing, mitts, or drills, bag work and then some boxing strength training or HIIT cardio.

It’s intense but I’ve been able to improve my level of fitness at a faster rate than I imagined possible because of it. I’ll also share that recovery is also a critical part of my training. I make sure to hit the sauna, hot tub, or ice bath daily, and try to get sports massages at least once a week.

AM: When you’re not on set or being an advocate, how do you take time for yourself for a bit of a reset?

BMS: Hanging with my wife and my pup T’Challa. We’re still relatively new to LA, and now that things are opening back up, we like to go out and explore the city or just kick it at home. I also got my first motorcycle this year so learning to ride and work on that is my new jam.

IG @the_brianmichael

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | PG 74 - 79 Jack Zeman/FOX | PG 81, 82 + 158 9LIST STORI3S Storm Santos; STYLING Toye Adedipe; GROOMING Grace Phillips |

Read the latest issue of MAR ISSUE #75 of Athleisure Mag and see ON THE SCENE | Brian Michael Smith in mag.

ATHLEISURE MAG | #75 MAR 2022

In this month’s issue, our cover story is with 5 XUFC Welterweight Champion, stuntsman, actor and rapper, Tyron Woodley. We talk about he went from being a 2 X All American wrestler, to MMA, being in the UFC and taking on various interests as a free agent in the MMA. We catch up with BRAVO's Real Housewives of Potamac and entrepreneur Candiace Dillard-Bassett as she talks about her work in public service under the Obama administration, her focus on uplifting women and those in the pageant world and joining the cast to use the platform allowed her to share her music and work in TV/film to the world. We catch up with 9-1-1: Lone Star's Brian Michael Smith who talks about his career, how he approaches his craft, learning about the industry in front of and behind the camera, the show and how he uses his platform to speak out on trans rights. We catch up with Bear Grylls as he talks with us about how he got into being an adventurer, Running with Bear on National Geographic, the importance of supplementation and more. We also talk with Gorjana Reidel, co-founder of gorjana. She talks about how they built the brand, key items that we should have in our assortment and the importance of empowering women! 

This month’s 9PLAYLIST is from EDM ALOK as well as Curb Your Enthusiasm, comedian, spokesperson and co-host of May I Elaborate? JB Smoove. Basketball influencer and trainer Chris Brickley and adventurer Bear Grylls shares their 63MIX ROUTIN3S of what they do Morning, Afternoon and Night with us. Our 9DRIP comes from our cover Tyron Woodley. Our 9LIST STORI3S comes from Brian Michael Smith and Candiace Dillard-Bassett as they share their must-haves in grooming/beauty, style and fitness. This month’s 9LOOKS shares some of our favorite ensembles from Herve Leger. 

Our monthly feature, The Art of the Snack focuses on Baazi in NY. This month’s Athleisure List comes from JAPAN HOUSE | Los Angeles and Loreley Beer Garden. As always, we have our monthly roundups of some of our favorite finds.

Read the MAR ISSUE #75 of Athleisure Mag.