Violeta Nicola __ What was the moment you decided you wanted to pursue acting?

Owen Teague __ When I was four, I saw the animated version of Beauty and the Beast, and I became obsessed with the film. I remember that I wanted to be the characters on the screen. When I was older, I saw King Kong (2005)  with Andy Serkis playing Kong. Seeing Andy's performances made me realize that I can perform as an animated character in a movie thanks to motion technology.

VN __ What were some of the high points and low points in your career?

OT __ Playing in Bloodline was huge for me as an actor. I was beginning my film and TV career, and working with the cast of Bloodline was a privilege because they are so talented. I was very young and inexperienced, so I learned much from them. Since then, I've been very fortunate as I have played in many movies and shows. As for the low points, there are moments where I kind of wonder, "Is my career over?" You know? There is always that doubt in the back of my head. I feel many actors go through this. But I don’t think it’s bad as it makes me work harder to perfect my craft. I'm always terrified when I start a new project [laugh]. I remember when I was thirteen, I got written out of a show. I still carry that memory with me; it taught me that nothing is stable and you always have to bring your 100%.

VN __ Is there a character that stuck with you the most, that made you learn something new through a different lens?

OT __ I learned how to act and be on set when playing Nolan Rayburn in Bloodline. From filming playing Harold Lauder in The Stand, I learned how far to take things and how to protect yourself when you are playing a dark character. Harold was a really dark guy, and there were a lot of things that came with him. I'm not a method actor, but the character got into me in a way that I wasn't ready for. If you don't do that consciously, especially with a character like that, it can get into your head, and it happened quite a bit for me on that project. I'm glad that I learned my lesson from that experience.

VN __ What was the experience like on Netflix’s Black Mirror?

OT __ I had a great time filming that episode of Black Mirror. We were lucky because, in that episode, Jody Foster was the director. She was fantastic! As an actor who became a director, it was seamless for her to direct as she knows both positions well. Black Mirror was fun and intriguing because of how they made a world so similar to ours yet so different. They changed little tiny things, and looking back on what the episode was about and thinking about it in day-to-day life, it enforces the idea of how technology can change us.

VN __ The next project I wanted to discuss is A24's Beth & Don. What can you disclose about it?

OT __ I'm a huge fan of A24 and everything they produce, so I was very excited about this project. Nicole Holofcener is the writer and director. She has this beautiful way of doing comedy, which is to create these characters who are so uncomfortable and ill-equipped to deal with life and put them in horribly funny situations that are also incredibly sad. It's a comedy, but there's also this element of "nothing is right." I have no words to describe how incredible everyone on set was. All of them are amazing artists, and I'm glad I got to do a project where I got to have so much fun.

VN __ You are very diverse in the roles you play; while Beth & Don is a comedy, you also got to do a thriller called Reptile. What was that change like?

OT __These two projects were quite far apart, but you can still feel a change. I did Reptile in October of last year and Beth & Don about two months ago. In between I shot Eileen. For Reptile, I was on set for literally two days. One day rehearsal to get to know the character, learning my lines, and chopping my hair off [laugh]. On the second day, I was already filming. It was quick and kind of scary because I was playing a character who could go in any direction, so it was total creative freedom which I had never had before. Our director, Grant Singer, was like, "Yeah, dude, go crazy." That'll be interesting to watch because I remember what I ended up doing, but you never know how the final product turns out after editing. It's a super cool movie, really bizarre, and kind of screwed up.

VN __ The last project I wanted to ask you about is To Leslie, coming out in October. Because the release is so close, how do you feel about it?

OT __ I'm super proud of this project. It's a story that I care about. After the screening, people would say, "You know my dad was an alcoholic, or my best friend is going through this." Everyone knows someone with an addiction issue; we want people to come together and talk about it when they see this movie. The fact that something we made can resonate with people and bring something out of others, give them hope or help them through it is just incredible. It's a fantastic cast of actors as well. Working again with the director, Michael Morris, and my co-star Andrea Riseborough was lovely.

VN __ Because you’ve been in so many projects and have the experience to match, what is one piece of advice you would give to aspiring actors wanting to follow in your footsteps?