Owen Teague has starred in many hits, sharing the screen with the likes of Whoopi Goldberg, Chole Sevigny, Samuel L. Jackson, and more. This year, Owen is starring alongside Winona Ryder and Dermot Mulroney in the mystery thriller Gone In The Night and the drama To Leslie, which are now streaming on your home devices. In addition, Owen will also be starring in the lead role in the next installment of Planet Of The Apes, which is currently being filmed in Australia.

Looking ahead, Owen Teague has a diverse range of projects in the pipeline. He's set to bring his comedic chops to A24's Beth & Don, a film written and directed by Nicole Holofcener, where he'll be sharing the screen with Julia Louis-Dreyfus. He's also delving into the world of crime thrillers with Netflix's Reptile, starring alongside Benicio Del Toro and Justin Timberlake. And fans of Ottessa Moshfegh's work can look forward to Eileen, a film adaptation of her bestseller novel, where Owen will be co-starring with Anne Hathaway.

We met with Owen via Zoom in Australia while filming Planet of the Apes to discuss his list of achievements as a young Hollywood rising star and his initiatives to bring environmental issue awareness.

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 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 I could perform as an animated character in a movie thanks to motion technology.

VN __ What were some of your career's high and low points?

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 fortunate to have played in many movies and shows. As for the low points, there are moments when I kind of wonder, "Is my career over?" You know? There is always that doubt in the back of my head. Many actors go through this. But it's not terrible, as it makes me work harder to perfect my craft. I'mI'm always terrified when I start a new project [laugh]. When I was thirteen, I got written out of a show. I still carry that memory; it taught me that nothing is stable and you must always 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 Harold Lauder in The Stand, I learned how far to take things and how to protect yourself when playing a dark character. Harold was a 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 I wasn't ready for. If you don'tdon'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'mI'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 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 they created a world similar to ours yet so different. They changed little, tiny things, and looking back on the episode and thinking about it daily reinforces how technology can change us.

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 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 they created a world similar to ours yet so different. They changed little, tiny things, and looking back on the episode and thinking about it daily reinforces how technology can change us.

VN __ You recently wrapped up shooting Eileen, which is set to be released this fall. I understand it's based on the book by Ottessa Moshfegh. Were you familiar with her work before taking on this project? 

OT __ I wasn't familiar with her work before taking on the project, but I read the book before I shot it. I fell in love with her writing. It is so honest and unnerving. Sometimes, I thought, "I wish I didn't know that about this character." But I'm also glad I do because that makes it a good book. She's outstanding.

VN __ It was just announced that you will be a part of the new Planet of The Apes. Is there anything you can disclose about the project yet?

OT __ That's why I'm in Australia now. I'm currently in ape school [laugh], learning to be a chimp. I'm not allowed to say anything other than that.

VN __ Do you remember watching the franchise's first movie while you were younger?

OT __! I watched the movie when I was very young because I remember it disturbing me as a kid. It's no worse than any other sci-fi film that is out there. And yet, there's something about that movie that's so disturbing. It's a great movie. I don't watch many blockbuster films, and I'm not an action movie guy, but I love something about this franchise. I am thrilled we're making something extraordinary, and I can't wait to see the end product.

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

OT __ I'm a massive fan of A24 and everything they produce, so I was excited about this project. Nicole Holofcener is the writer and director. She has this beautiful way of doing comedy: to create these characters who are so uncomfortable and ill-equipped to deal with life and put them in horribly funny, unfortunate situations. 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 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 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, said, "Yeah, dude, go crazy." That'll be interesting to watch because I remember what I did, but you never know how the final product turns out after editing. It's a super cool movie, really bizarre, and screwed up.

VN __ The last project I wanted to ask you about is To Leslie, which is 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 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?

OT __Keep working at it and keep trying. You may be lucky and get an acting role on the first try, but it can sometimes be different. I'm in a place where I'm steadily working. I'm in a new position that I haven't been in before, which is surreal. But it took me ten years to get to a place where I felt stable. So keep training, working, and learning, and don't be a jerk. Always be kind.

VN __ What causes are dear to your heart and hope to bring awareness to in the future through your platforms?

OT __ I always liked apes, chimpanzees, and gorillas. I spent a week at a sanctuary in Florida before coming to Australia, and when you spend time with these beautiful creatures, the feeling of having to do something to ensure they will be okay settles in. However, the problem is more significant because if you care about one group of animals, you have to care about the entire ecosystem. I've always had a strong pull towards protecting the environment because I grew up in a swamp in Florida, and that is my happy place: being on a boat with mosquitoes everywhere [laugh]. A lot of that is disappearing because of climate change. The whole balance of the ecosystem is so screwed up. We still have time to save our planet, but we must act and take bold steps to stabilize our climate.

  Photography Kevin Sinclair, Stylist Newheart Z. Ohanian, Interview Violeta Nicola, Grooming Adam Maclay, Fashion Assistant Jack Ransom,Talent Owen Teague (Advantage PR)