Nico Tortorella: ‘Younger was cute but I get to act again for real on TWD’ (Interview)

Nico Tortorella told The Natural Aristocrat that while ‘playing a version of myself’ as Josh on Younger was “cute” & “fun”, ‘I wasn’t being challenged as an actor’ like as Felix on the upcoming The Walking Dead: World Beyond. Embracing the darkness of Felix’s backstory, the horror genre is where Nico feels most comfortable as an actor.

The following question was asked by The Natural Aristocrat® during a press roundtable for The Walking Dead: World Beyond with Nico Tortorella, Annet Mahendru, and Julia Ormond.

Interview with Nico Tortorella:

The Natural Aristocrat [Nir Regev]: Nico, I watched you portray Josh on Younger, so I have to say the darkness of Felix’s backstory and your lines in The Walking Dead: World Beyond are quite a jarring departure.

On yesterday’s press day, Alexa Mansour (Hope) mentioned you’re always saying that ‘you’re the Rick Grimes of World Beyond’. What is it like going from romance as Josh on Younger to the brutal darkness of Felix on World Beyond? It’s quite a transition. I mean from MILF Hunter to Zombie Hunter!

Annet Mahendru: (laughs hard)

Nico Tortorella: MILF Hunter to Zombie Hunter! (laughs) Well, I’m actually more familiar with this genre than I am with the rom-com genre. I have been on Younger for a long time but that’s a 22-minute show with eight series regulars and I only work maybe one day a week, for a couple months of the year. But I mean if we’re talking Scream 4, Odd Thomas, The Following, I’m more used to the darkness.

As a person, I have no problem stepping into the darkness. I spend a lot of time there. I can face it quite regularly. This actually feels like a more comfortable genre for me than the rom-com. The rom-com was like a relief when it came because I’d been working in heavy material for so long.

It was like, ‘I don’t want to have to kill anyone or I don’t want to worry about being killed.’ Let me just go and be sweet & cute for a little bit… But as an actor that only goes so far! I’m not really challenged on Younger, I’m playing a version of myself and it’s fun, it’s cute but this… It’s like okay, I get to act again you know, for real!

I get to step into the darkness, and it’s somewhere where I’m actually comfortable.

Annet Mahendru as Huck, Nico Tortorella as Felix, Aliyah Royale as Iris – The Walking Dead: World Beyond _ Season 1, Episode 1 – Photo Credit: Zach Dilgard/AMC

Thanks Nico!

Thank you!

Annet Mahendru as Huck, Nico Tortorella as Felix, Julia Ormond as Elizabeth – The Walking Dead: World Beyond _ Season 1, Episode 1 – Photo Credit: Zach Dilgard/AMC

Be sure to watch Nico Tortorella as Felix on The Walking Dead: World Beyond series premiere over at AMC on Sunday, October 4 at 10 p.m. ET (9 PM Central).

– TWD fans, read a non-spoiler review of The Walking Dead Season 10 Finale and test out your trivia knowledge with Who wants to be a Carollionaire? – Carol Peletier Quiz and How well do you know Melissa McBride? Trivia Quiz

– Younger fans, be sure to read Will Liza say ‘I Do’ on Younger Season 7? on The Natural Aristocrat®!