Interview by Carol Wright | Photographer: Stephen Tracey
We got to chat with actor Samer Salem who plays Josep in the hit-series The Expanse. He talked to NYOTA about booking the role and his advice for aspiring actors.
Growing up in Canada, was there a prominent art scene that got you interested in acting?
I grew up in Calgary and wasn’t really involved in any sort of art scene there. I’m sure it existed but I didn’t seek it out while I was younger. It was predominantly the Hollywood films I’d see that really piqued my interest in acting.
You are open to working on different projects, from The Expanse, The Handmaid’s Tale, to My Fake Boyfriend. How do you go about choosing which projects to audition for?
If I see a script for a character and it makes me nervous or scared to tackle it, then I definitely want to do it. I’m also always excited to try new things that I haven’t done before. And if there are phenomenal actors already attached to a project, that’s always a motivator.
Your character Josep comes into The Expanse later down the line. How did it feel to be cast and be in a series that has gotten such a loyal viewership?
I was over the moon when I found out I got the part. I hadn’t actually watched the show before auditioning, but I knew it was a big deal. I started reading the books after I booked the gig, and it made it all that much more surreal to be playing the role of Josep. Also, the fans of the show are incredible. The reception of the last couple of seasons I’ve been in has been amazing, the fans really love these characters. It feels very rewarding to be a part of it all.
What do you do to step into Josep’s shoes in the series?
When I first got the job, I did a bunch of work on what I thought were Josep’s core values, what his history might have been like stuff like that. The circumstances of his past, and also what he’s going through at the moment. And just went over it all a bunch of times to let it sink in. I also made a ‘Josep’ Playlist that I thought would help me get in the zone.
The final season of The Expanse has already started. Is there anything you can share about what viewers can expect as the last episodes begin to air?
They’re amazing. Action-packed.
What advice do you have for aspiring actors?
Get into a class, study with a bunch of different teachers.