Connor Jessup on "Locke and Key" and Waves of Love

BY IRVIN RIVERA, EDITOR: CLARA SEELY-KATZ

Connor Jessup is unequivocally sweet and thoughtful. If you look at his social media pages, you will see them peppered with photos of old and new friends, shoutouts, and so much love to share. And, when reminiscing on his acting jobs, talks most about his experience with the cast and crew above anything else.

He stars in Netflix's Locke & Key, an adventurous and magical show full of mystery and heart. Read on to learn more about the young actor and his exploits.

FASHION STYLING: MARC ERAM, GROOMING: CAITLIN KRENZ

Hi Connor. How are you?

I'm pretty well, thanks!

How have you been since you wrapped filming season three of Locke & Key?

We wrapped almost a year ago, so it kind of feels like a far-off lifetime. I've been traveling a lot, working a bit, and catching up with friends and life that had drifted away over the last few years.

How would you describe Tyler's character evolution throughout the seasons of the show?

In season one, he felt very young and ill-equipped to me. He was totally lost in his grief. He didn't know what to do with all that feeling or his sudden sense of responsibility. By the end of the show, though, his grief has settled into him, he's grown up around it. He's much more solid, mature, and patient with himself.

After three seasons, what is your favorite part about playing this character?

This show really taught me to relax at work. I hadn't realized how tense I'd been playing other characters.

What's the most memorable moment for you throughout the whole process of creating the series?

It's more a collection or a blur of moments. The further it gets in the past, the more my memory of the whole show is just laughing with Emilia. It seems like we spent three years together just crying with laughter, laughing at nothing.

What is your proudest moment in life so far?

Coming out to my mom and dad and best friend. That wave of love.

Who and what inspires you?

It used to be books and movies, but now it's mostly my friends. They're brilliant and they make me want to be better.

What scares you?

Gradual loss of love.

What's the biggest discovery that you've made about yourself in the last few years?

That a lot of the ways I define myself, the qualities I really built my identity around, don't seem to fit quite right anymore. I know myself less than ever.

What's your dream project?

I'd love to do a Song of Achilles adaptation. I swooned so hard for that book.

Out of all the roles that you've played, is there any role/character that resonated with you the most and why?

I was in a movie called Closet Monster years ago. It was one of the best experiences of my career for lots of reasons, but specifically, I was playing a character on the precipice of coming out, which mirrored where I was in my own life at the time. The meaning and value of that has sort of expanded in me over the years. I really treasure that part.

Aside from acting, what else keeps you busy?

I spend most of the time I'm not acting trying to write, which is mostly just staring at my wall. Other than that, seeing friends, watching movies, horrifying social media addiction, reading, and traveling.

What are you most excited about this year?

There's a short film I'm really hoping to make this fall. It's been so long since I've made something of my own, I really miss it.

What's a valuable lesson that you've learned that you always carry with you?

It always feels a bit weird to try to sum up lessons. But definitely, one thing is that curiosity is a lot more important than craft or talent.