The conversation
For someone discovering you for the first time, how did acting first enter your life? Was there a moment when you realized this was something you wanted to pursue professionally?
Well, funny enough, my debut in show business happened when I was 2 years old. I was the voice of Baby Ike in a South Park episode. I swear, Season 9, Episode 1. Check it out. My real start was in 2024. I had just signed with a modeling agency, and the first job they booked for me was as a featured extra on Dr. Odyssey, a Ryan Murphy show. I was on set for three days and fell in love with it. From those few days, I knew I wanted to pursue this as a full-time career. Then, out of nowhere, I got a message from my modeling agent saying that the producers of the show loved my look and wanted me to audition for a role in their next show. That was All’s Fair, and the rest is history.
You also work as a model. Which came first, and how has one career influenced the other?
Well, I guess modeling came first. I was originally scouted to model back in 2022 in LA. I did a couple of jobs but ended up moving to England to pursue professional soccer and put modeling on pause. Then, when I came back to the States in 2024, that’s when I started up again.
This editorial was inspired by Fight Club, which was actually your suggestion. What is it about that film that resonates with you?
Well, on top of being one of my favorite films aesthetically, the deep meanings in the film are endless. Feeling something in a numbed-out world, anti-consumerism, as well as its take on masculinity. The film has sort of had a rebirth in pop culture because of all these things, and I really thought it would be relevant to do an editorial that touched on this. Also, I get compared a lot to Brad Pitt, so this is me paying homage to one of the modern greats, in my opinion.
Are there other films, actors, or performances that have shaped the way you think about acting and storytelling?
Well, some of my favorite films are Goodfellas, Pulp Fiction, The Departed, etc., because of their sort of nonlinear or unconventional ways of storytelling. I love films that explore the different perspectives of the different characters in the same film. It’s more like actual life that way. There are always two sides to the story, or more. Think about it like this: in most cases, the film’s antagonist doesn’t think of themselves as the so-called antagonist.
Breaking into this industry isn’t easy. What’s been the biggest challenge you’ve faced so far as an actor, and what has kept you going?
Honestly, going from professional sports to acting was a pretty smooth transition. I draw a lot of similarities between the two careers, which has been a great help for me as I pursue acting. I’d say the hardest thing has just been wanting to be seen as an actual artist who appreciates the art form, and not just as a model.
You’ve had the opportunity to work on a major television production recently. Without sharing anything you can’t talk about yet, what has that experience meant to you at this stage of your career?
It’s been everything for me. To be involved in the show and working side by side with people that I, along with my friends and family, have watched on TV for years is honestly crazy. I have to pinch myself when I’m on set sometimes to make sure it’s really happening. But in all honesty, it’s been such a blessing, and I’m so grateful that I have been able to be a part of such a big production.
When you think back to your childhood, is there a memory or experience that you believe still influences the person or artist you are today?
Well, everyone in my family is an artist, so I think it was sort of written for me. My dad works in visual effects and animation for movies and is one of the best artists I’ve ever seen. My mom is an interior designer and home stager, and she also used to be a theater actress. All of my grandparents were artists as well. I used to spend a lot of time with my grandma growing up, and she would give me various art assignments every time I came over. Sometimes drawing, sometimes painting, and sometimes performing skits. This period of time, I think, has had the greatest influence on me as an artist, 100%.
If you could play any character from any film, book, or play, who would it be, and why?
Well, if The Odyssey hadn’t just come out, I’d say Odysseus because I grew up loving Greek mythology, especially Homer’s Odyssey. I definitely want to be in a Greek mythological production of some sort, maybe playing a warrior. I definitely also want to play a cowboy on screen and ride horses. That’s like my alter ego.
When you’re not working, who is Hayden? What keeps you inspired or grounded outside of acting and modeling?
When I’m not working, I’m trying to learn. Mainly about life and people from all different backgrounds. Different philosophies, religions, politics. Just wanting to gain life experience in general. Not only does it help me become a more well-rounded actor, but also a more well-rounded person.
When people watch your work ten years from now, what do you hope they’ll say about you as an actor?
Well, in ten years I hope I won’t have hit my prime in acting yet, and people will say, ‘Damn, he was a pretty good actor back then, but he’s way better now.’