October 21, 2025 • 31 mins
This week, Tommy is joined by actor Max Parker who is one of the break-out stars of the Netflix series BOOTS. Max plays the powerful role of Sergeant Sullivan, who on the surface is tough dude, but in reality there is so much more than meets the eye with this character. Today, Max opens up about how he relates to this complex character, how he’s been waiting to do a powerful queer story, the moments that hit him the hardest when reading the script, why he’s proud to show a darker time in queer history, one of his scenes that absolutely gutted him, why living a publically out life led him to so much more happiness, his competitive disco dancing past, humping Cynthia Erivo’s tongue in a past project, the powerful message he takes away from BOOTS, and so much more.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hey, guys, welcome to I've never said this before with me,
Tommy di Dario. If you haven't watched the show Boots yet,
what are you doing? Sorry, I'm not yelling at you.
I'm just very excited because it is one of the
best shows of the entire year. And my guest today
is someone that I knew I had to get on
(00:20):
my show. I watched Boots about a month before the
world got to see it, and you know, I'm picky
with who I have on the show, but it was
a no brainer to get the brilliant Max Parker on now.
Max Parker is a breakout star of the series. He
plays Sergeant Sullivan, who has quite a journey throughout the show.
On the surface, he's a tough dude. He yells at
the top of his lungs and within two seconds can
(00:41):
make you feel like the most useless person in the world.
But in reality, Sergeant Sullivan has so much heart and
it's just trying to figure out his place in the world.
Boots is based off the real life memoir The Pink Marine,
which I'm reading and it's so good. It's by the
incredible Greg Cope White, who documented his journey as a closet,
a gay teen who joined the US Marines when it
(01:02):
was illegal to be gay in the Marines. This conversation
is full of spoilers, so I hope you enjoy us
really diving into Max's experience in boots. All right, let's
see if today we can get Max to say something
that he has never said before. Max Parker, how are you,
my man?
Speaker 2 (01:22):
I'm great, A little tired, A little tired.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
You've been on a whirlwind.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
Yeah, yeah, definitely. There's a lot of firsts these past
few weeks that I've done. This is my first podcast.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
Okay, how's it all feeling.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
It feels good. I feel like I like structure, and
I like people like telling me what to do and
where to go. My problem is if I have like
free reign. I'm a procrastinator. So this feels great.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
So you're not like a type a person that needs
to have a strict schedule.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
No, I love that. Do you know when people like
think back to like school, that was my favorite time,
just having a schedule and just like knowing exactly what
I do. Yeah, because I've got ADHD, so like my
mind is like all over the place.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
Hmmm, Well, then I imagine doing a show like Boots
was really fun for you because you could focus all
of that into screaming and yelling and ripping people apart,
like your character does so brilliantly in the show.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
Yeah. Thanks, Yeah, Sullivan's sort of opposite to me in
that sense. He's very he's very strict, he can make
his own plans. He's a perfectionist. I am a bit
of a perfectionist, but in sort of like a chaotic
like he's very thoughtful. He's always thinking about the next step.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
How in the world did you scream so much as
Sergeant Sullivan, I mean, doesn't seem like that's your default.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
No, man, it's tough. It's very tough. I think there's
a difference between shouting and screaming. And Sullivan has a
lot of like outbursts or he's not just giving orders,
he's literally like, what's the word, crashing out. He's crashing
out a lot of the time on the recruits. So
it's this like screaming and you know, like in Hollywood,
(03:05):
there's a lot of reset another take. We ended up
having to come with like a process of filming either
other recruits first, and I would give it, you know,
eighty percent, and then when it swaps back, I could,
you know, give it full beans. But we had amazing
like voice coaches. We went through a couple of them
(03:25):
and we are all like blowing bubbles through the water
and steaming and so yeah, it was like a labor
of love.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
Yeah, yeah, no, it's it was amazing to see that
performance come to life. And I know, as an actor,
you win some, you lose some, You audition, it's all
part of the game. It's a long journey. You're in
it for the long run. But did you really really
really want this role? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (03:48):
Well at the start, No, the start, I got given
the sides for just one scene, and I remember it
just let the description was drill instructor, and I just
never assumed that I looked like a drill instructure. That
I sort of had it in me and I love
(04:08):
the script, but I didn't necessarily think. It's almost like
if I think I'm going to get something, I'm more
into it, you know what I mean. And then as
they drip fed more and more script to me, sort
of did about eight rounds for this job. So it
was clearly like the wild card, and they just kept
wanting to see more and more and more, and sort
of about halfway through I knew that I really wanted it.
(04:31):
Sort of did my research. I saw a lot of
drill instructures that did look like me, and I knew
the character was, you know, very similar to a lot
of stuff that I've been through. So I was like, yeah,
if I don't get this job, I'll be good.
Speaker 1 (04:44):
Yeah. So what changed for you? What made you suddenly
really want it?
Speaker 2 (04:48):
I think I've always wanted to do a queer story,
and a queer story that's written well, and the script
it's just such a gift to play this. You don't
necessarily just do like two levels of a character. He's
so well rounded and you get to see so much
of him sort of he's almost like how he's created
(05:10):
this persona, and it was such a gift to be
able to do that. As sort of like the shallow answer,
but then the deeper answer as well is that I
know it's an important show. Obviously it's a fun show,
but the show itself I think has some really important
topics that it's great to be a part of.
Speaker 1 (05:30):
Yeah, it's a powerful show. And your character specifically has
these moments throughout the series where I mean, I certainly
related to some of the things that he goes through,
and he really goes on a journey with his sexuality.
Talk to me a bit about that and how you
brought yourself to that role.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
I think a lot of queer people always go through
a point of hiding or discovering who they are, and
then it's almost like a fight or flight moment for
most of us. And it's that sort of struggle, Like
I remember the times when I was not necessarily hiding,
but maybe lying to myself, and it puts you in
(06:09):
dangerous situations and you know, you can lose friends or
you can act out a certain way. And I actually
left home super early because I was still sort of
sticking it to the man in that sense, and just
this sort of lone range of mentality that you don't
really want to talk about it, so then it just
(06:29):
eats at you. And Sullivan is I think the epitome
of being a lone ranger. He doesn't have family that
he speaks to, his partner, he's basically sold out so
he can escape himself, and his best friend's homophobic. So
just just sort of that personified all delved into like
(06:51):
creating my version of Sullivan.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
Did you have to stop reading the script at any
point or from filming at any point because a moment
or a scene hits too close to home?
Speaker 2 (07:06):
I think I think when I read a script, especially
if I'm learning the script, I'm always in reading as
an outsider first. I always wanted to read just as
a viewer. It sort of gives me an insight into
how I think it should be played. And then sometimes
if I read a scene, it doesn't necessarily hit hard,
(07:28):
and when I'm on set it can totally change with
who you're playing it with. And I think I think
the There was a scene in the show where he
has a phone call. He rings basically Captain Vahado is
helping him out in an unspoken way. She's basically saying
(07:50):
everything's going to be fine, and there's a moment where
he basically is the only person that he tells that
it's true. In a he says that we have the
same tattoo, so he basically admits that the investigation is correct.
He is gay. And there's that moment where she can't
(08:11):
admit that she's heard it, so she just says like,
get on with it sort of thing, and that moment
really hit because it just it just reminded me a
load of times where I don't know, you'd open up
to friends and they'd just like laugh it off, and
then you would then laugh it off and just you know,
(08:32):
carry on with your life. I think that was a
moment for me that I read on the page, and
I knew that it probably hit me hard when I
filmed it.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
Laughing off in the sense of, you know, I don't
want to talk about it, so we're just going to
not really go there, or laughing off in the sense
of like, oh, okay, like great, who cares both?
Speaker 2 (08:52):
I think, do you know what one of my biggest
fears is when I came out, I didn't want to
because I knew that maybe my parents had an idea,
because my dad, pretty much since I was a late teenager,
used to say, you know, if you've got anything to
tell us, we'll always be there for you. And it
took me so long to come out because well, it
was definitely a journey for me anyway. I was still
(09:13):
discovering who I was, but I didn't want to be
proven wrong. I'm very stubborn, and my worst fear is
that I'd come out to you know, my mom or
my dad, and they'd be like, oh, we knew, don't
worry about it, because coming out to some friends they'd
do the same and it it hurts a little bit.
So they did the best thing and they came over,
gave me a hug, started to talk about you know
(09:34):
what it meant the future and all that kind of stuff.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
So yeah, yeah, it's so interesting. You're playing a role
now where you reflect and think so much back on
your own journey and there are parallels with your own
journey because that's not always the case. And for something
so personal as that as your own journey coming out
and having the player's character who's going through that, I
imagine there's a part of all of this that's cathartic
(09:59):
or maybe a little healing. Like it's an interesting thing, right.
Speaker 2 (10:03):
I mean, I think there's a there's a there's a
thing that people say when they hate watching queer stories,
and it's always sad that we never get happy ending.
And it's almost that is Sullivan's story so far that
you know you're watching this demise of a character, but
it's it's not it's almost not in a way over
(10:26):
a relationship. It's not like you know, the story doesn't
center really around the romance. It's about like the era,
the nineties, the military, and you know, it's a truthful
telling of probably a lot of people's stories. So although
it is a depressing sort of demise of such a
(10:46):
strong character, I think it's important to show the darker
side of the era.
Speaker 1 (10:53):
Yeah, and it's I mean, it was a lot of
people's reality. It's not something that's just being written about.
It's what people went true. And for me, one of
the scenes that I thought was so strong and it
really resonated and storylines, I guess is as you mentioned,
when your character is in love with was he another
recruit or a surgeon?
Speaker 2 (11:15):
Yes, he was a recruit. Yeah, no, no, no, no,
he's a he's a sergeant sergeant.
Speaker 1 (11:20):
So, yeah, you have this, we see this officer, an officer.
We have to get the terminology right, officer he he.
You guys had this epic kind of love story and
then seemingly overnight, you just turn it off and it's
just like we see that switch with your character and
it's just almost like that never existed. You're not interested
in existing because there was a chance, you know, you
(11:42):
were probably worried in the show your character that you
would be outed, so you kind of ended up turning
him in. It was this whole like, wow, I can't
believe that people had to go through that, but it's
very real. I mean it's survival mode, right.
Speaker 2 (11:56):
Yeah. Obviously reading that I was gootted a little bit.
You know, you want your you want your character to
be the nice guy in a way, and it was horrible.
But yeah, that scene where you see Wilkinson sort of
their little their little special place is that motel room.
(12:16):
That's where they meet up secretly, that's where they're allowed
to be themselves. And he's setting up, you know, a
date night, a meal, and he's just waiting there and
Solomon doesn't even say bye to him. He's just packs
up and leaves. And obviously he he lies to his
friend about you know, maybe thinking that Wilkinson was gay.
(12:38):
He doesn't go out and try and get him caught.
But that's I think part of his demise is the
guilt of what he's done to the person that he loves.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
Mm hmmm, yeah, it's powerful. What are you the most
proud of with your work in the show.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
I'm proud that I don't really see myself too much.
I think I watch it and see the character that
I've created, which is great. I don't love watching myself back.
I know that some people, a lot of people don't.
But I'm also proud that, like, this show was such
a labor of love. It took it. We started filming
(13:16):
almost two and a half years ago, we had the
strikes in between, all of us changed so much as people,
and that the fact that, you know, all of us
put a lot of time and work into the show,
and it would have been so disheartening if the show
wasn't great. But I'm so proud of the show. I've
(13:37):
only watched the show once. I sort of like, I'm
liking this the memory of watching it and being so
proud of it. And then obviously we did the panel
the other day and saw all those Clipson played and
it was like I was refreshed to still enjoy the
scenes as much as I did when I watch it
the first time. So I'm just excited and sort of
like impatient for it to come out.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
And it's gonna be an important show for many people.
And I love that there are so many you know,
proudly out gay actors who are playing these very bro masculine,
you know, by society type of roles, because that's not
always the option that actors are given. And I think
(14:20):
it's so cool and it's time we see more of
that and I love seeing that personally. Do you feel
like in your career you ever had to worry about
being gay? Playing gay? Was that a choice you had
to make at any point?
Speaker 2 (14:35):
I think I think it's that unspoken thing about if
you come out, you might not be taken seriously for roles,
And I think it's unspoken because we just don't see
it necessarily. I think nowadays there's a lot more members
of our community that are playing lead roles as straight
(14:57):
or gay, and then the a lot of gay actors
that I guess do a lot of gay work. Whether
that's because for that, that's because they want, they feel
it's important to do that, or whether they're being pigeonholed,
I don't know. I am really proud of this project
and I'm really glad that I got to play this
queer character, but yeah, i'd still I still want to explore,
(15:20):
like loads of different characters that don't necessarily want to,
you know, just play queer roles as a as a
as a gay actor. So yeah, I don't know how
it's how it's going to look for me. Hopefully that
won't be the case, but I'm I'm sort of hopeful.
Speaker 1 (15:37):
Yeah, And it's something for you as a human, as Max.
You never thought twice about it. You never were like,
I'm not gonna be out because it could.
Speaker 2 (15:46):
In fact, no, I did think that way at the start,
for sure, but I'm just so much happier now.
Speaker 1 (15:55):
Nothing beat to that.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
Yeah, it's it's sort of worth it for me anyway.
Everyone has their own journeys, and you know, you might
not be surrounded by the people the right people to
come out, or you might not be surrounded by the
right you know, you might be in a professional like
sports where it's harder than you know, being an actor
to come out. So I understand that, but I personally,
(16:18):
I'm glad of how things are going.
Speaker 1 (16:21):
You're so happy right now, so what makes you happy?
Speaker 2 (16:25):
What makes me happy right now is literally the scheduling.
I'm so glad to finally have someone tell me what
to do. I got married in August this year, so
you know, I'm enjoying all the memories and because for work,
you know, we travel all over the place. I've got
(16:45):
I don't necessarily have a group of friends I grew
up with. I have a lot of two friends from
this job, three friends from here, and just to see
everyone at our wedding and just I just see them
on Instagram and now like all hanging out with each other,
which is quite cool, sort of like a reset into
appreciating things more. And I'm also happy that, like this
(17:11):
show that I've spent so long talking about to people
is finally coming out and it's sort of like a
big breath now and just sort of get on with
doing stuff. I think. I think I'm always aware of
the ticking clock. I sort of I'm one of these
people that, you know, really thinks about dying, Like when
(17:33):
I was a kid. I just think about dying because
it's that sort of thing like I need to leave
my mark on the world. So I'm always, you know,
ready to do the next thing. That's why I'm proud
of this show, because I feel like I'm starting to
do stuff that I'm you know, proud of. That's a
good feeling, right, Yeah, not dying is a great fit.
Speaker 1 (17:51):
Well, please don't do that. We will be proud of
the work. Let's not die. Thank you? That would be great.
What what do you think people would be surprised to
know about you? I mean a lot of people are
meeting you through the show. You play someone that you
are in very much, not like who is Max without
this role or the non actor Max? Who are you
(18:11):
the non actor Max?
Speaker 2 (18:14):
So I am a sort of dual personality Max, Like
I have this like fun wild wanting to like go
out and party, and I also like a proper homebody.
I love watching like movie marathons on the couch eating food.
I'm a big foodie luckily, like my partner in his
business goes to a lot of like openings of restaurants
(18:37):
and I get to sort of like try loads of
different cuisines and travel. So I'm a big foodie. And
something that people don't know about me probably was I
used to I used to do cheerleading when I was younger,
and I used to dance really yeah, I used to
bust the met what kind of dance? So I used
to compete. There's a dance style called disco in the UK,
(19:01):
and it's basically the most highly competitive like sequined outfits
like gymnastics basically in a circle and usually do the
same circuits as like ballroom. So the ballroom dancers will
be on the first day and we used to watch them,
and then we'd be the second day and they'd watch us.
And I just used to do it because I had
(19:22):
so much energy as a kid, and my sisters were
doing it, and so like my parents basically just was like,
you're too difficult to hold on to while they're watching,
So they just sent me to the dance class. And
then both my sisters ended up quitting and I kept on.
So I was the one who took it up as
a career.
Speaker 1 (19:40):
So you were pretty good at that, I did.
Speaker 2 (19:43):
I did like five years in the West End, so
I did. I got all my dancing stuff out. Now
I can barely touch my toes, so I don't think
i'd got back into it. But yeah, I was in
like Matilda in the musical I Think Guys and Dolls.
I worked with Cynthia Revo. We did a musical, the
X Factor musical called I Can't Sing. It was sort
(20:05):
of this like fast musical written by a comedian called
Harry Hill, and it was the strangest, funniest thing like
Simon Cowell was an alien trying to like steal money
for his planet. I stopped like Cynthia getting through the audition.
There was this like huge blow up mouth at the
back of the stage and I came in as a
fly and like humped a tongue. It was just the
(20:26):
weirdest show. But yeah, we got to do like stuff
like the Royal Variety performances and as a break that's
just like a big tick. So I sort of got
everything out of theater that I really wanted to do.
And then the thing with me saying that about Adhd
is I get bored so easily. And with TV and film,
(20:46):
I think you just in one day the next day
is completely different. You know, you could be getting hit
by a car one day, the next day you're playing
a vet. So yeah, I wasn't quite Billy Elliott, but
had a little dance in me.
Speaker 1 (21:02):
But you did it. You did it. I'm sure there's
some good video of you out there doing it all. Yeah,
don't now we're going to all be on YouTube trying
to buy it. That's amazing. It's so interesting that you
brought up having adoh a few times, but you're in
a profession that requires such focus and learning so much
so quickly and rewrites, and you know you have to
be so in tune and present for it is that
(21:26):
harder to do or easier to do because of it.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
Weirdly, I think it's almost like I knew that this
should have been my career because this is kind of
the only thing that I'm never bored of, so therefore
it makes me I can focus and learn lines and
do all the stuff that I need to do on set,
because I think the problem is because I care so much,
it's hard to let go when things don't go your way.
(21:51):
You can become a bit of like your own worst
enemy when it comes to like acting. But I think
it's also superpower because I think you're able to read
people a lot because you're constantly thinking about what people
are thinking about. So yeah, I'm I'm seeing it as
a good thing in my profession, and I think a
(22:11):
lot of people who have ADHD usually go into creative work.
Speaker 1 (22:14):
For sure, it's sort.
Speaker 2 (22:15):
Of like an outleok to just vomit all your talents.
Speaker 1 (22:20):
I think, Yeah, that's awesome. That's awesome that you look
at it as almost a positive and something that's enhancing
your career and making you who you are, which I
think is right on. It's all they're all parts of
us and we have to honor them for sure. Is
there anyone whose career you look at and you're like, man,
I just so respect that, and like that's the vibe
I would love. I mean, you're your own artist, of course,
(22:42):
on your own journey, but does anyone out there just
kind of like have that special something to you.
Speaker 2 (22:49):
I'm a big fan of Leo and Michael Vossbender, of course,
but I think I think right now, I think it's
really brave what Jonathan Bailey is doing. He sort of
had this moment where he's just at the top of
his game and now he's just you know, taking a
break just to focus on himself for a little bit.
(23:10):
I think that's really brave. And he's also you know,
playing a lead as a gay man, so you know,
that's sort of inspiring, I guess for a lot of us.
And he's very talented, you know, I watched I first
discovered him when I was watching a show in the
(23:30):
West End called Company, and it was the gender reversed version.
So he was playing this famous character he's usually played
a bride, but he's getting married, and I just remember
he was outstanding, and then they were like, oh, well
have you heard he's going to be in this new
show called Bridgeton. So yeah, I've sort of followed him
(23:50):
from there from Afar, so yeah, I'd love to have
some of his success.
Speaker 1 (23:55):
Yeah. Well, it's funny because I was just telling my
team here that you very much remind me of him.
I've interviewed him a few times. He's a very nice guy.
We speak from time to time, and there's a lot
of similarities I see between the two of you. Great,
not just you know, being gay, like just who like
your performances and your work and how you conduct yourselves
and all of it. So I think that there could
(24:16):
be a very similar parallel there.
Speaker 2 (24:19):
Well, maybe I can get back in the Fierro straps.
Speaker 1 (24:23):
Were you ever in them?
Speaker 2 (24:25):
No?
Speaker 1 (24:25):
I'm like, wait, you played Fierro?
Speaker 2 (24:27):
No? No, I I don't have a high voice. Okay,
I think like you on the lower side.
Speaker 1 (24:35):
All right, So there's one thing you can't do, I
guess in your.
Speaker 2 (24:37):
Yeah, you go have one.
Speaker 1 (24:38):
Yeah, okay, fair enough. So for everybody who's going to
be streaming Boots over and over, again, because, like I said,
it's going to resonate with so many people. What for
you is your takeaway for anyone watching who feels maybe
not worthy or unseen or not good enough, Like, what
would you say to them?
Speaker 2 (25:00):
I think watching the show, every single person, whether they're
like the most confident in the room, whether they're the
shyst in the room, they all have something that they're
not proud of or that they're hiding or that they're
scared of. We're all very similar and we don't know it.
And I think in the show, everyone seems to find
an answer to their problems from the most unexpected people,
(25:23):
and I think that's sort of true in life, you
know you. I think you can find similarities in this
world with anyone, and it's sort of that like human
connection side that we sort of lack, and we stick
in our bubbles and we sort of closed off to
new things. And I think what's great in the show
(25:45):
is that there's so many different characters from all different
backgrounds and races and religions, and by the end of it,
they're all best friends. They've all learned to put differences
aside and make it to the end. So in a
cheesy way life gets better with diversity. M was that cheesy?
Speaker 1 (26:04):
No? I love that, Okay, I love that imprint and
it's right on. I mean it's right on, and that's
one of many beautiful messages in the show. So I
think that's really cool. Max. The name of the show
is called I've Never said this before, and it was
born because I cover a lot of our carpets and
(26:25):
quick sit downs through other jobs I have that just yeah,
it's not the most real natural conversation. It's a lot
of bites that people need, and you guys get asked
the same stuff because every show needs a different bite,
and I mean sometimes it bores me. I'm not gonna lie.
So I came up with this idea where I bring
people on and we get to learn a little bit
more about who they are. And I asked them this question,
(26:47):
which is, what is one thing you've never said before
that can mean anything to you? But it just gives
you a chance to say something that you want to
say that you don't get to say quite often.
Speaker 2 (26:55):
So I mean, I literally was going to say that
as a dancer, but you've already suck that out of me.
So trying to think of another one. What have I
never said before? I think that is one thing that
I've never said that I don't usually talk about, is
this sort of like the anxiety that I know a
(27:17):
lot of my actors actor friends feel. And it's that
sort of it's that sort of thing where we all
sort of fake it till you make it. You know,
that social media version of yourself is always like the
positive stuff. And I know that a lot of my friends,
even when they're going through like a tough time, will
put on this face and try and post them at
(27:38):
a premiere because it makes them feel like and right now,
for actors, it's so tough, so tough that the not
many people want to take chances and lose money. So
it's almost about, you know, getting a name for yourself
in order to let people take a chance on you.
So I am. I think one thing that I want
(28:01):
to do more with my actor friends as well is
like help each other out, try and create stuff ourselves,
because I think people just look at maybe look at
actors and the glamorous side of Hollywood and think that
it's you know, superphone and maybe easy, and it's not.
(28:22):
It's tough.
Speaker 1 (28:23):
Yeah it is, And I like that it's trying to
take a little control back in an industry where you
don't always have the most control. And I think a
lot of people in different professions probably feel that. It's
not just actors, it's many jobs. You feel that way,
And it's like, what can I do to make me
feel like I can control it a little bit, or
insert my creative vision or make something happen for myself,
(28:43):
which I think is important.
Speaker 2 (28:46):
And just the understanding that there's a lot a lot
of us are in a lot of us are in
a similar situation in terms of, like, you know, anxiety
about the future of actors. You know, there's an AII
actress now being Tilly.
Speaker 1 (29:01):
Don't even bring Tilly up. You will trigger me. I
cannot like, I don't want nothing to do with Tilly.
Go away, Tilly.
Speaker 2 (29:07):
No, yeah, no, Tilly nothing, Nope, Okay.
Speaker 1 (29:12):
I like that we have to look out for each other,
right and anything that ease anxiety. I'm all about, Max.
Before we go, one last little glimpse into who you are.
Favorite food, favorite song, and favorite movie right now at
this moment in time.
Speaker 2 (29:28):
Right now, this moment time, my favorite movie will it's
a toss up. I'm obsessed with Lord of the Rings,
and you can't pick three, so I'm gonna have to
just say, if you watch them all together, it can
be one movie, The Lord of the Rings. My favorite
song right now it's probably Ray Where is My Husband?
(29:56):
She's incredible. I've followed her since she was singing on
like dance songs and obviously she sort of like stuck
it to the man and did her own thing, and
now she's creating all this amazing music. So proud to
be British when I see Ray doing it on my
favorite food, I love Thai food, and my favorite dish
probably would be like drunken noodles. Oh, good choice, spicy,
(30:17):
big fat noodles.
Speaker 1 (30:19):
Good choice, good choice. I love it. I love it. Max. Well,
thank you so much for hanging out today. I'm I'm
psyched for the show. I'm psyched for you. I think
this is the start of an amazing chapter of your life.
And I love when people who do great work also
stand for great things. And I think through just being yourself,
(30:39):
you're helping a lot of people out there, and then
the day and age we need it. So I'm just
psyched for it all.
Speaker 2 (30:44):
Oh, thanks man, Thank you very much. Thanks for having me.
I'm popping my podcast, Jery.
Speaker 1 (30:49):
Well, I hope it was nice and easy for you.
Speaker 2 (30:50):
It was seven out of ten okay, great, goodbye, goodbye.
Speaker 1 (30:55):
Until the Next time I Ever Said This Before is
hosted by Me Tommy Dedario. This podcast is executive produced
by Andrew Puglisi at iHeartRadio and by Me Tommy, with
editing by Joshua Colaudney. I've Never Said This Before is
part of the Elvis Duran podcast network on iHeart Podcasts.
(31:17):
For more, rate review and subscribe to our show and
if you liked this episode, tell your friends. Until next time,
I'm Tommy de Dario.
Hey, guys, welcome to I've never said this before with me,
Tommy di Dario. If you haven't watched the show Boots yet,
what are you doing? Sorry, I'm not yelling at you.
I'm just very excited because it is one of the
best shows of the entire year. And my guest today
is someone that I knew I had to get on
(00:20):
my show. I watched Boots about a month before the
world got to see it, and you know, I'm picky
with who I have on the show, but it was
a no brainer to get the brilliant Max Parker on now.
Max Parker is a breakout star of the series. He
plays Sergeant Sullivan, who has quite a journey throughout the show.
On the surface, he's a tough dude. He yells at
the top of his lungs and within two seconds can
(00:41):
make you feel like the most useless person in the world.
But in reality, Sergeant Sullivan has so much heart and
it's just trying to figure out his place in the world.
Boots is based off the real life memoir The Pink Marine,
which I'm reading and it's so good. It's by the
incredible Greg Cope White, who documented his journey as a closet,
a gay teen who joined the US Marines when it
(01:02):
was illegal to be gay in the Marines. This conversation
is full of spoilers, so I hope you enjoy us
really diving into Max's experience in boots. All right, let's
see if today we can get Max to say something
that he has never said before. Max Parker, how are you,
my man?
Speaker 2 (01:22):
I'm great, A little tired, A little tired.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
You've been on a whirlwind.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
Yeah, yeah, definitely. There's a lot of firsts these past
few weeks that I've done. This is my first podcast.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
Okay, how's it all feeling.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
It feels good. I feel like I like structure, and
I like people like telling me what to do and
where to go. My problem is if I have like
free reign. I'm a procrastinator. So this feels great.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
So you're not like a type a person that needs
to have a strict schedule.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
No, I love that. Do you know when people like
think back to like school, that was my favorite time,
just having a schedule and just like knowing exactly what
I do. Yeah, because I've got ADHD, so like my
mind is like all over the place.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
Hmmm, Well, then I imagine doing a show like Boots
was really fun for you because you could focus all
of that into screaming and yelling and ripping people apart,
like your character does so brilliantly in the show.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
Yeah. Thanks, Yeah, Sullivan's sort of opposite to me in
that sense. He's very he's very strict, he can make
his own plans. He's a perfectionist. I am a bit
of a perfectionist, but in sort of like a chaotic
like he's very thoughtful. He's always thinking about the next step.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
How in the world did you scream so much as
Sergeant Sullivan, I mean, doesn't seem like that's your default.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
No, man, it's tough. It's very tough. I think there's
a difference between shouting and screaming. And Sullivan has a
lot of like outbursts or he's not just giving orders,
he's literally like, what's the word, crashing out. He's crashing
out a lot of the time on the recruits. So
it's this like screaming and you know, like in Hollywood,
(03:05):
there's a lot of reset another take. We ended up
having to come with like a process of filming either
other recruits first, and I would give it, you know,
eighty percent, and then when it swaps back, I could,
you know, give it full beans. But we had amazing
like voice coaches. We went through a couple of them
(03:25):
and we are all like blowing bubbles through the water
and steaming and so yeah, it was like a labor
of love.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
Yeah, yeah, no, it's it was amazing to see that
performance come to life. And I know, as an actor,
you win some, you lose some, You audition, it's all
part of the game. It's a long journey. You're in
it for the long run. But did you really really
really want this role? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (03:48):
Well at the start, No, the start, I got given
the sides for just one scene, and I remember it
just let the description was drill instructor, and I just
never assumed that I looked like a drill instructure. That
I sort of had it in me and I love
(04:08):
the script, but I didn't necessarily think. It's almost like
if I think I'm going to get something, I'm more
into it, you know what I mean. And then as
they drip fed more and more script to me, sort
of did about eight rounds for this job. So it
was clearly like the wild card, and they just kept
wanting to see more and more and more, and sort
of about halfway through I knew that I really wanted it.
(04:31):
Sort of did my research. I saw a lot of
drill instructures that did look like me, and I knew
the character was, you know, very similar to a lot
of stuff that I've been through. So I was like, yeah,
if I don't get this job, I'll be good.
Speaker 1 (04:44):
Yeah. So what changed for you? What made you suddenly
really want it?
Speaker 2 (04:48):
I think I've always wanted to do a queer story,
and a queer story that's written well, and the script
it's just such a gift to play this. You don't
necessarily just do like two levels of a character. He's
so well rounded and you get to see so much
of him sort of he's almost like how he's created
(05:10):
this persona, and it was such a gift to be
able to do that. As sort of like the shallow answer,
but then the deeper answer as well is that I
know it's an important show. Obviously it's a fun show,
but the show itself I think has some really important
topics that it's great to be a part of.
Speaker 1 (05:30):
Yeah, it's a powerful show. And your character specifically has
these moments throughout the series where I mean, I certainly
related to some of the things that he goes through,
and he really goes on a journey with his sexuality.
Talk to me a bit about that and how you
brought yourself to that role.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
I think a lot of queer people always go through
a point of hiding or discovering who they are, and
then it's almost like a fight or flight moment for
most of us. And it's that sort of struggle, Like
I remember the times when I was not necessarily hiding,
but maybe lying to myself, and it puts you in
(06:09):
dangerous situations and you know, you can lose friends or
you can act out a certain way. And I actually
left home super early because I was still sort of
sticking it to the man in that sense, and just
this sort of lone range of mentality that you don't
really want to talk about it, so then it just
(06:29):
eats at you. And Sullivan is I think the epitome
of being a lone ranger. He doesn't have family that
he speaks to, his partner, he's basically sold out so
he can escape himself, and his best friend's homophobic. So
just just sort of that personified all delved into like
(06:51):
creating my version of Sullivan.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
Did you have to stop reading the script at any
point or from filming at any point because a moment
or a scene hits too close to home?
Speaker 2 (07:06):
I think I think when I read a script, especially
if I'm learning the script, I'm always in reading as
an outsider first. I always wanted to read just as
a viewer. It sort of gives me an insight into
how I think it should be played. And then sometimes
if I read a scene, it doesn't necessarily hit hard,
(07:28):
and when I'm on set it can totally change with
who you're playing it with. And I think I think
the There was a scene in the show where he
has a phone call. He rings basically Captain Vahado is
helping him out in an unspoken way. She's basically saying
(07:50):
everything's going to be fine, and there's a moment where
he basically is the only person that he tells that
it's true. In a he says that we have the
same tattoo, so he basically admits that the investigation is correct.
He is gay. And there's that moment where she can't
(08:11):
admit that she's heard it, so she just says like,
get on with it sort of thing, and that moment
really hit because it just it just reminded me a
load of times where I don't know, you'd open up
to friends and they'd just like laugh it off, and
then you would then laugh it off and just you know,
(08:32):
carry on with your life. I think that was a
moment for me that I read on the page, and
I knew that it probably hit me hard when I
filmed it.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
Laughing off in the sense of, you know, I don't
want to talk about it, so we're just going to
not really go there, or laughing off in the sense
of like, oh, okay, like great, who cares both?
Speaker 2 (08:52):
I think, do you know what one of my biggest
fears is when I came out, I didn't want to
because I knew that maybe my parents had an idea,
because my dad, pretty much since I was a late teenager,
used to say, you know, if you've got anything to
tell us, we'll always be there for you. And it
took me so long to come out because well, it
was definitely a journey for me anyway. I was still
(09:13):
discovering who I was, but I didn't want to be
proven wrong. I'm very stubborn, and my worst fear is
that I'd come out to you know, my mom or
my dad, and they'd be like, oh, we knew, don't
worry about it, because coming out to some friends they'd
do the same and it it hurts a little bit.
So they did the best thing and they came over,
gave me a hug, started to talk about you know
(09:34):
what it meant the future and all that kind of stuff.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
So yeah, yeah, it's so interesting. You're playing a role
now where you reflect and think so much back on
your own journey and there are parallels with your own
journey because that's not always the case. And for something
so personal as that as your own journey coming out
and having the player's character who's going through that, I
imagine there's a part of all of this that's cathartic
(09:59):
or maybe a little healing. Like it's an interesting thing, right.
Speaker 2 (10:03):
I mean, I think there's a there's a there's a
thing that people say when they hate watching queer stories,
and it's always sad that we never get happy ending.
And it's almost that is Sullivan's story so far that
you know you're watching this demise of a character, but
it's it's not it's almost not in a way over
(10:26):
a relationship. It's not like you know, the story doesn't
center really around the romance. It's about like the era,
the nineties, the military, and you know, it's a truthful
telling of probably a lot of people's stories. So although
it is a depressing sort of demise of such a
(10:46):
strong character, I think it's important to show the darker
side of the era.
Speaker 1 (10:53):
Yeah, and it's I mean, it was a lot of
people's reality. It's not something that's just being written about.
It's what people went true. And for me, one of
the scenes that I thought was so strong and it
really resonated and storylines, I guess is as you mentioned,
when your character is in love with was he another
recruit or a surgeon?
Speaker 2 (11:15):
Yes, he was a recruit. Yeah, no, no, no, no,
he's a he's a sergeant sergeant.
Speaker 1 (11:20):
So, yeah, you have this, we see this officer, an officer.
We have to get the terminology right, officer he he.
You guys had this epic kind of love story and
then seemingly overnight, you just turn it off and it's
just like we see that switch with your character and
it's just almost like that never existed. You're not interested
in existing because there was a chance, you know, you
(11:42):
were probably worried in the show your character that you
would be outed, so you kind of ended up turning
him in. It was this whole like, wow, I can't
believe that people had to go through that, but it's
very real. I mean it's survival mode, right.
Speaker 2 (11:56):
Yeah. Obviously reading that I was gootted a little bit.
You know, you want your you want your character to
be the nice guy in a way, and it was horrible.
But yeah, that scene where you see Wilkinson sort of
their little their little special place is that motel room.
(12:16):
That's where they meet up secretly, that's where they're allowed
to be themselves. And he's setting up, you know, a
date night, a meal, and he's just waiting there and
Solomon doesn't even say bye to him. He's just packs
up and leaves. And obviously he he lies to his
friend about you know, maybe thinking that Wilkinson was gay.
(12:38):
He doesn't go out and try and get him caught.
But that's I think part of his demise is the
guilt of what he's done to the person that he loves.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
Mm hmmm, yeah, it's powerful. What are you the most
proud of with your work in the show.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
I'm proud that I don't really see myself too much.
I think I watch it and see the character that
I've created, which is great. I don't love watching myself back.
I know that some people, a lot of people don't.
But I'm also proud that, like, this show was such
a labor of love. It took it. We started filming
(13:16):
almost two and a half years ago, we had the
strikes in between, all of us changed so much as people,
and that the fact that, you know, all of us
put a lot of time and work into the show,
and it would have been so disheartening if the show
wasn't great. But I'm so proud of the show. I've
(13:37):
only watched the show once. I sort of like, I'm
liking this the memory of watching it and being so
proud of it. And then obviously we did the panel
the other day and saw all those Clipson played and
it was like I was refreshed to still enjoy the
scenes as much as I did when I watch it
the first time. So I'm just excited and sort of
like impatient for it to come out.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
And it's gonna be an important show for many people.
And I love that there are so many you know,
proudly out gay actors who are playing these very bro masculine,
you know, by society type of roles, because that's not
always the option that actors are given. And I think
(14:20):
it's so cool and it's time we see more of
that and I love seeing that personally. Do you feel
like in your career you ever had to worry about
being gay? Playing gay? Was that a choice you had
to make at any point?
Speaker 2 (14:35):
I think I think it's that unspoken thing about if
you come out, you might not be taken seriously for roles,
And I think it's unspoken because we just don't see
it necessarily. I think nowadays there's a lot more members
of our community that are playing lead roles as straight
(14:57):
or gay, and then the a lot of gay actors
that I guess do a lot of gay work. Whether
that's because for that, that's because they want, they feel
it's important to do that, or whether they're being pigeonholed,
I don't know. I am really proud of this project
and I'm really glad that I got to play this
queer character, but yeah, i'd still I still want to explore,
(15:20):
like loads of different characters that don't necessarily want to,
you know, just play queer roles as a as a
as a gay actor. So yeah, I don't know how
it's how it's going to look for me. Hopefully that
won't be the case, but I'm I'm sort of hopeful.
Speaker 1 (15:37):
Yeah, And it's something for you as a human, as Max.
You never thought twice about it. You never were like,
I'm not gonna be out because it could.
Speaker 2 (15:46):
In fact, no, I did think that way at the start,
for sure, but I'm just so much happier now.
Speaker 1 (15:55):
Nothing beat to that.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
Yeah, it's it's sort of worth it for me anyway.
Everyone has their own journeys, and you know, you might
not be surrounded by the people the right people to
come out, or you might not be surrounded by the
right you know, you might be in a professional like
sports where it's harder than you know, being an actor
to come out. So I understand that, but I personally,
(16:18):
I'm glad of how things are going.
Speaker 1 (16:21):
You're so happy right now, so what makes you happy?
Speaker 2 (16:25):
What makes me happy right now is literally the scheduling.
I'm so glad to finally have someone tell me what
to do. I got married in August this year, so
you know, I'm enjoying all the memories and because for work,
you know, we travel all over the place. I've got
(16:45):
I don't necessarily have a group of friends I grew
up with. I have a lot of two friends from
this job, three friends from here, and just to see
everyone at our wedding and just I just see them
on Instagram and now like all hanging out with each other,
which is quite cool, sort of like a reset into
appreciating things more. And I'm also happy that, like this
(17:11):
show that I've spent so long talking about to people
is finally coming out and it's sort of like a
big breath now and just sort of get on with
doing stuff. I think. I think I'm always aware of
the ticking clock. I sort of I'm one of these
people that, you know, really thinks about dying, Like when
(17:33):
I was a kid. I just think about dying because
it's that sort of thing like I need to leave
my mark on the world. So I'm always, you know,
ready to do the next thing. That's why I'm proud
of this show, because I feel like I'm starting to
do stuff that I'm you know, proud of. That's a
good feeling, right, Yeah, not dying is a great fit.
Speaker 1 (17:51):
Well, please don't do that. We will be proud of
the work. Let's not die. Thank you? That would be great.
What what do you think people would be surprised to
know about you? I mean a lot of people are
meeting you through the show. You play someone that you
are in very much, not like who is Max without
this role or the non actor Max? Who are you
(18:11):
the non actor Max?
Speaker 2 (18:14):
So I am a sort of dual personality Max, Like
I have this like fun wild wanting to like go
out and party, and I also like a proper homebody.
I love watching like movie marathons on the couch eating food.
I'm a big foodie luckily, like my partner in his
business goes to a lot of like openings of restaurants
(18:37):
and I get to sort of like try loads of
different cuisines and travel. So I'm a big foodie. And
something that people don't know about me probably was I
used to I used to do cheerleading when I was younger,
and I used to dance really yeah, I used to
bust the met what kind of dance? So I used
to compete. There's a dance style called disco in the UK,
(19:01):
and it's basically the most highly competitive like sequined outfits
like gymnastics basically in a circle and usually do the
same circuits as like ballroom. So the ballroom dancers will
be on the first day and we used to watch them,
and then we'd be the second day and they'd watch us.
And I just used to do it because I had
(19:22):
so much energy as a kid, and my sisters were
doing it, and so like my parents basically just was like,
you're too difficult to hold on to while they're watching,
So they just sent me to the dance class. And
then both my sisters ended up quitting and I kept on.
So I was the one who took it up as
a career.
Speaker 1 (19:40):
So you were pretty good at that, I did.
Speaker 2 (19:43):
I did like five years in the West End, so
I did. I got all my dancing stuff out. Now
I can barely touch my toes, so I don't think
i'd got back into it. But yeah, I was in
like Matilda in the musical I Think Guys and Dolls.
I worked with Cynthia Revo. We did a musical, the
X Factor musical called I Can't Sing. It was sort
(20:05):
of this like fast musical written by a comedian called
Harry Hill, and it was the strangest, funniest thing like
Simon Cowell was an alien trying to like steal money
for his planet. I stopped like Cynthia getting through the audition.
There was this like huge blow up mouth at the
back of the stage and I came in as a
fly and like humped a tongue. It was just the
(20:26):
weirdest show. But yeah, we got to do like stuff
like the Royal Variety performances and as a break that's
just like a big tick. So I sort of got
everything out of theater that I really wanted to do.
And then the thing with me saying that about Adhd
is I get bored so easily. And with TV and film,
(20:46):
I think you just in one day the next day
is completely different. You know, you could be getting hit
by a car one day, the next day you're playing
a vet. So yeah, I wasn't quite Billy Elliott, but
had a little dance in me.
Speaker 1 (21:02):
But you did it. You did it. I'm sure there's
some good video of you out there doing it all. Yeah,
don't now we're going to all be on YouTube trying
to buy it. That's amazing. It's so interesting that you
brought up having adoh a few times, but you're in
a profession that requires such focus and learning so much
so quickly and rewrites, and you know you have to
be so in tune and present for it is that
(21:26):
harder to do or easier to do because of it.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
Weirdly, I think it's almost like I knew that this
should have been my career because this is kind of
the only thing that I'm never bored of, so therefore
it makes me I can focus and learn lines and
do all the stuff that I need to do on set,
because I think the problem is because I care so much,
it's hard to let go when things don't go your way.
(21:51):
You can become a bit of like your own worst
enemy when it comes to like acting. But I think
it's also superpower because I think you're able to read
people a lot because you're constantly thinking about what people
are thinking about. So yeah, I'm I'm seeing it as
a good thing in my profession, and I think a
(22:11):
lot of people who have ADHD usually go into creative work.
Speaker 1 (22:14):
For sure, it's sort.
Speaker 2 (22:15):
Of like an outleok to just vomit all your talents.
Speaker 1 (22:20):
I think, Yeah, that's awesome. That's awesome that you look
at it as almost a positive and something that's enhancing
your career and making you who you are, which I
think is right on. It's all they're all parts of
us and we have to honor them for sure. Is
there anyone whose career you look at and you're like, man,
I just so respect that, and like that's the vibe
I would love. I mean, you're your own artist, of course,
(22:42):
on your own journey, but does anyone out there just
kind of like have that special something to you.
Speaker 2 (22:49):
I'm a big fan of Leo and Michael Vossbender, of course,
but I think I think right now, I think it's
really brave what Jonathan Bailey is doing. He sort of
had this moment where he's just at the top of
his game and now he's just you know, taking a
break just to focus on himself for a little bit.
(23:10):
I think that's really brave. And he's also you know,
playing a lead as a gay man, so you know,
that's sort of inspiring, I guess for a lot of us.
And he's very talented, you know, I watched I first
discovered him when I was watching a show in the
(23:30):
West End called Company, and it was the gender reversed version.
So he was playing this famous character he's usually played
a bride, but he's getting married, and I just remember
he was outstanding, and then they were like, oh, well
have you heard he's going to be in this new
show called Bridgeton. So yeah, I've sort of followed him
(23:50):
from there from Afar, so yeah, I'd love to have
some of his success.
Speaker 1 (23:55):
Yeah. Well, it's funny because I was just telling my
team here that you very much remind me of him.
I've interviewed him a few times. He's a very nice guy.
We speak from time to time, and there's a lot
of similarities I see between the two of you. Great,
not just you know, being gay, like just who like
your performances and your work and how you conduct yourselves
and all of it. So I think that there could
(24:16):
be a very similar parallel there.
Speaker 2 (24:19):
Well, maybe I can get back in the Fierro straps.
Speaker 1 (24:23):
Were you ever in them?
Speaker 2 (24:25):
No?
Speaker 1 (24:25):
I'm like, wait, you played Fierro?
Speaker 2 (24:27):
No? No, I I don't have a high voice. Okay,
I think like you on the lower side.
Speaker 1 (24:35):
All right, So there's one thing you can't do, I
guess in your.
Speaker 2 (24:37):
Yeah, you go have one.
Speaker 1 (24:38):
Yeah, okay, fair enough. So for everybody who's going to
be streaming Boots over and over, again, because, like I said,
it's going to resonate with so many people. What for
you is your takeaway for anyone watching who feels maybe
not worthy or unseen or not good enough, Like, what
would you say to them?
Speaker 2 (25:00):
I think watching the show, every single person, whether they're
like the most confident in the room, whether they're the
shyst in the room, they all have something that they're
not proud of or that they're hiding or that they're
scared of. We're all very similar and we don't know it.
And I think in the show, everyone seems to find
an answer to their problems from the most unexpected people,
(25:23):
and I think that's sort of true in life, you
know you. I think you can find similarities in this
world with anyone, and it's sort of that like human
connection side that we sort of lack, and we stick
in our bubbles and we sort of closed off to
new things. And I think what's great in the show
(25:45):
is that there's so many different characters from all different
backgrounds and races and religions, and by the end of it,
they're all best friends. They've all learned to put differences
aside and make it to the end. So in a
cheesy way life gets better with diversity. M was that cheesy?
Speaker 1 (26:04):
No? I love that, Okay, I love that imprint and
it's right on. I mean it's right on, and that's
one of many beautiful messages in the show. So I
think that's really cool. Max. The name of the show
is called I've Never said this before, and it was
born because I cover a lot of our carpets and
(26:25):
quick sit downs through other jobs I have that just yeah,
it's not the most real natural conversation. It's a lot
of bites that people need, and you guys get asked
the same stuff because every show needs a different bite,
and I mean sometimes it bores me. I'm not gonna lie.
So I came up with this idea where I bring
people on and we get to learn a little bit
more about who they are. And I asked them this question,
(26:47):
which is, what is one thing you've never said before
that can mean anything to you? But it just gives
you a chance to say something that you want to
say that you don't get to say quite often.
Speaker 2 (26:55):
So I mean, I literally was going to say that
as a dancer, but you've already suck that out of me.
So trying to think of another one. What have I
never said before? I think that is one thing that
I've never said that I don't usually talk about, is
this sort of like the anxiety that I know a
(27:17):
lot of my actors actor friends feel. And it's that
sort of it's that sort of thing where we all
sort of fake it till you make it. You know,
that social media version of yourself is always like the
positive stuff. And I know that a lot of my friends,
even when they're going through like a tough time, will
put on this face and try and post them at
(27:38):
a premiere because it makes them feel like and right now,
for actors, it's so tough, so tough that the not
many people want to take chances and lose money. So
it's almost about, you know, getting a name for yourself
in order to let people take a chance on you.
So I am. I think one thing that I want
(28:01):
to do more with my actor friends as well is
like help each other out, try and create stuff ourselves,
because I think people just look at maybe look at
actors and the glamorous side of Hollywood and think that
it's you know, superphone and maybe easy, and it's not.
(28:22):
It's tough.
Speaker 1 (28:23):
Yeah it is, And I like that it's trying to
take a little control back in an industry where you
don't always have the most control. And I think a
lot of people in different professions probably feel that. It's
not just actors, it's many jobs. You feel that way,
And it's like, what can I do to make me
feel like I can control it a little bit, or
insert my creative vision or make something happen for myself,
(28:43):
which I think is important.
Speaker 2 (28:46):
And just the understanding that there's a lot a lot
of us are in a lot of us are in
a similar situation in terms of, like, you know, anxiety
about the future of actors. You know, there's an AII
actress now being Tilly.
Speaker 1 (29:01):
Don't even bring Tilly up. You will trigger me. I
cannot like, I don't want nothing to do with Tilly.
Go away, Tilly.
Speaker 2 (29:07):
No, yeah, no, Tilly nothing, Nope, Okay.
Speaker 1 (29:12):
I like that we have to look out for each other,
right and anything that ease anxiety. I'm all about, Max.
Before we go, one last little glimpse into who you are.
Favorite food, favorite song, and favorite movie right now at
this moment in time.
Speaker 2 (29:28):
Right now, this moment time, my favorite movie will it's
a toss up. I'm obsessed with Lord of the Rings,
and you can't pick three, so I'm gonna have to
just say, if you watch them all together, it can
be one movie, The Lord of the Rings. My favorite
song right now it's probably Ray Where is My Husband?
(29:56):
She's incredible. I've followed her since she was singing on
like dance songs and obviously she sort of like stuck
it to the man and did her own thing, and
now she's creating all this amazing music. So proud to
be British when I see Ray doing it on my
favorite food, I love Thai food, and my favorite dish
probably would be like drunken noodles. Oh, good choice, spicy,
(30:17):
big fat noodles.
Speaker 1 (30:19):
Good choice, good choice. I love it. I love it. Max. Well,
thank you so much for hanging out today. I'm I'm
psyched for the show. I'm psyched for you. I think
this is the start of an amazing chapter of your life.
And I love when people who do great work also
stand for great things. And I think through just being yourself,
(30:39):
you're helping a lot of people out there, and then
the day and age we need it. So I'm just
psyched for it all.
Speaker 2 (30:44):
Oh, thanks man, Thank you very much. Thanks for having me.
I'm popping my podcast, Jery.
Speaker 1 (30:49):
Well, I hope it was nice and easy for you.
Speaker 2 (30:50):
It was seven out of ten okay, great, goodbye, goodbye.
Speaker 1 (30:55):
Until the Next time I Ever Said This Before is
hosted by Me Tommy Dedario. This podcast is executive produced
by Andrew Puglisi at iHeartRadio and by Me Tommy, with
editing by Joshua Colaudney. I've Never Said This Before is
part of the Elvis Duran podcast network on iHeart Podcasts.
(31:17):
For more, rate review and subscribe to our show and
if you liked this episode, tell your friends. Until next time,
I'm Tommy de Dario.
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