Carson MacCormac’s name is one that you’ll not only be hearing now, but for many years to come.
The 23-year-old Canadian-born actor can currently be seen as young “Dean” in the Mila Kunis-led Netflix blockbuster, Luckiest Girl Alive, which is now available to watch on the streaming platform.
Luckiest Girl Alive centers on Ani FaNelli (Kunis), a sharp-tongued New Yorker who appears to have it all: a sought-after position at a glossy magazine, a killer wardrobe, and a dream Nantucket wedding on the horizon. But when the director of a crime documentary invites her to tell her side of the shocking incident that took place when she was a teenager at the prestigious Brentley School, Ani is forced to confront a dark truth that threatens to unravel her meticulously crafted life.
Aside from Kunis, the film also stars Connie Britton and Finn Wittrock. Britton is known for her role as “Sharon Gaines” on the NBC hit, “Friday Night Lights,” and MacCormac is a massive fan of the show, so he is very thankful to have the opportunity to be part of the same cast as her.
The movie is filled with much suspense and drama as MacCormac’s character is a bully that has traumatized the life of Kunis’ character.
“Dean is, for a lack of better term, the worst person ever,” Carson tells Celeb Secrets. “He’s entitled, territorial, and toxic in every sense of the word. It was a daunting role to take on at first, especially given the heavy material surrounding my character, but I the first thing I wanted to ensure with playing Dean is that he was as clear cut a villain as possible.”
“Serving the story and how Dean fit into it meant that I had to do a lot of digging into the psyche of entitled, borderline animalistic men. The book was my largest resource of inspiration when coming up with the characters’ qualities, mannerisms and most importantly, bully tactics.”
Before his acting days, MacCormac was a baseball player and credits the competitive nature of the sport to his constantly wanting to improve as an actor. It is great to see that MacCormac utilizes the competitive side of sports as a positive in his life rather than using it violently as other athletes do.
MacCormac has not only had success in movies but also in shows, such as the Netflix hit, “Locke and Key,” in which he portrayed the character of “Benjamin Locke.” Up next, MacCormac will reprise his role as “Brett Breyer” in the DC Comics hit movie Shazam! sequel, “Shazam! Fury of the Gods”, which will hit theatres on June 2, 2023.
The up-and-coming Canadian actor sat down with Celeb Secrets to let us in on what it was like working on Luckiest Girl Alive, both Shazam films, and his love for baseball before acting!
Read the full Q&A below and let us know your thoughts on Carson MacCormac and what you want to see from him next! You can connect with Carson by giving him a follow on Instagram @carson_maccormac.
Celebrity Secrets: What was it like to be in a cast with star-studded names like Mila Kunis, Finn Wittrock, and Connie Britton?
Carson MaCormac: “Quite surreal to say the least. Friday Night Lights is one of my favourite TV shows and to be cast in a movie with Connie Britton was definitely a defining moment for me. Mila and Finn are such incredibly talented renown actors and they just bring the film to another level. I’m so proud to be a part of cast of Luckiest Girl Alive and being able to work on this project with them was incredibly exciting.”
CS: Can you tell us more about your character Dean, and what it was like playing this role?
CM: “Dean is, for a lack of better term, the worst person ever. He’s entitled, territorial, and toxic in every sense of the word. It was a daunting role to take on at first, especially given the heavy material surrounding my character, but I the first thing I wanted to ensure with playing Dean is that he was as clear cut a villain as possible. Serving the story and how Dean fit into it meant that I had to do a lot of digging into the psyche of entitled, borderline animalistic men. The book was my largest resource of inspiration when coming up with the characters’ qualities, mannerisms and most importantly, bully tactics.”
CS: What’s one thing you learned from working with Mila, Finn and Connie on Luckiest Girl Alive?
CM: “I didn’t have the chance to work with any of them in person but above all I noticed that the environment on set was heavily influenced by their personalities. The set was so comforting and supportive and I think that was largely due to the happy energy brought on by all of the actors, our incredible director Mike Barker, as well as our powerhouse writer, Jessica Knoll and producing team at Made Up Stories led by Bruna Papandrea.”
CS: Do you have any behind-the-scenes secrets from set that you can share from filming Luckiest Girl Alive?
CM: “One of the days on set we had a night shoot in the school. The green room, where all of the actors would hang out between shots, had a working electronic white board in it. Somewhere in that school, there are about a hundred different tabs open from the younger cast playing an incredibly intense, very poorly drawn game of Pictionary.”
CS: Additionally, you are reprising your role as Brett for Shazam! Fury Of The Gods! How exciting was it to get back on set with your castmates?
CM: “The original film was such a blast to work on and working with director David Sandberg is the real deal. He’s so authentic and kind to all the actors on set. The set was such a blast! Reconnecting with the cast and seeing old friends was such a treat.”
CS: What can fans expect from Brett in this film?
CM: “You’re going to have to watch the film to see. I can’t disclose anything about the movie. All I can say is it will be a must see for all audiences.”
CS: How would you say Brett has changed from the previous film to Fury of the Gods?
CM: “Again, I can’t disclose anything. I would just urge everyone to go see the film on its opening weekend. The original cast and new villains brought into this film are amazing. It’s going to be phenomenal!”
CS: Have you changed as an actor at all since the previous film? If yes, how so?
CM: “I definitely think I’ve changed a lot. It’s tough to say how, but experience and time spent on set is just something that I think all actors can attest to being invaluable as you continue growing in this industry. All around I think I am just more comfortable and grounded than I was when the first Shazam! film came out. That and a drive to always get better at my craft through continually educating myself and growing personally brings new life experiences to every role. I also always learn a great deal from being able to be part of a set with such talented actors. I loved working with Kevin Durand in “Locke and Key” and learned a great deal about the industry and prep for roles through our conversations between takes. I’ve been so fortunate to be able to work with incredibly generous actors.”
CS: What’s one thing you can’t wait for viewers to see in Shazam! Fury of the Gods?
CM: “I can’t disclose anything but with the return of the incredible producing team and director David Sandberg at the helm, I think fans of the first film will be thrilled to see all of those familiar, fun elements back again in a bigger and better way!”
CS: You had a passion early on for baseball- what was it like transitioning from sports to acting?
CM: “Baseball was my favourite sport to play growing up, and I think that competitive environment has been one of my largest assets when transitioning to acting. The constant drive to improve, and the internal competition that fuels a lot of my scene work really brings out the joy of acting for me. There is no better feeling for me than at the end of a tricky scene that I know I’ve nailed it. I think it’s that drive and satisfaction can be tied closely to my history of competitive baseball and channeling the same instincts for improvement that I honed during my time as a player.”
CS: From horror to science fiction, what has been your favorite genre to act in and why?
CM: “I think science fiction because the stunt work for any fantasy/ sci-fi shows are always so unique and fun to perform. Stunt work is one of my favourtie aspects of acting in films like Shazam! I also had a blast on the Netflix tv series “Locke and Key” doing a little stunt work, as much as they will allow you to on set with the professional stunt performers showing me what to do. I think it’s the athletic aspect of getting to do something out of the ordinary is challenging and exciting as an actor.”
CS: Since we’re Celeb Secrets, what’s a secret (fun fact) about yourself that we wouldn’t know just by scrolling on your Instagram?
CM: “I used to be a ski instructor and when I was in middle school, I sang in a choir that won Canada’s National competition!”
