Interview with ‘Helstrom’ Actor Hamza Fouad

I was lucky enough to interview Hamza Fouad, who is in Hulu’s Helstrom. The series was created by Paul Zbyszewski and centers around Daimon and Ana Helstrom, who are are the son and daughter of a mysterious and powerful serial killer. The siblings have a complicated dynamic as they track down the terrorizing worst of humanity. Learn more about Hamza’s passion for acting, his role in Helstrom, upcoming projects, and more.

PopHorror – It’s great to talk with you Hamza. What is your favorite thing about acting?

Hamza Fouad – Great to talk with you as well, and thank you kindly for the time! My favorite thing about acting would be the fact that you never stop learning. There is always a different technique, or book that engages you, or instructor that captivates you, that can help add to your “toolbox”. Besides that, I’d say the immense joy I feel whenever I get to put myself into a character’s shoes and help tell their story.

PopHorror – That’s cool. What was the first project you ever worked on?

Hamza Fouad – The first project I’ve ever worked on was a SyFy show called, Blood Ties. I played a character named Ti-Jon that was the right-hand man to the “bad guy” of the episode. He was into voodoo and made me throw up a snake. Before you ask, yes it was a real snake. It was actually my first audition as well, which is kind of a cool fact. I took it as a sign that I was in the right line of work.

PopHorror – Wow that’s crazy! You’ve worked on several TV series throughout the years including Blood Ties, Designated Survivor, The Expanse, Supernatural, Arrow, 100, and more. What is your favorite thing about working on a series versus a film?

Hamza Fouad – What I love about working on a series versus a film would be the already built-in audience. When you join a cast for however many episodes, you know there are a massive amount of people tuning in each week to get their fix. Besides that, I’d say I really enjoy being able to join a team that’s been working together for a while. They’re like a well-oiled machine that’s put their trust in me being a member for a bit.

PopHorror – That’s true! Although you’ve done a lot of television, would you like to do more feature films in the future?

Hamza Fouad – I’d absolutely love to do more feature films in the future! You get to take more time with films which is really nice. I also find that you can have more of a say in all regards as a result of working so closely with not only your director but the entire team. There is this family dynamic that builds over the weeks while filming a movie that is second to none, and as a performer that’s definitely something I look forward to.

PopHorror – One of your newest roles is on Marvel’s Helstrom. How did that role come about for you?

Hamza Fouad – That role came about, just like all of my others. My team came across the audition and sent it my way. I instantly connected with my character’s description and motivations, which made the audition process a lot of fun. We put the tape down with local casting and sent it off to the “powers that be”, and the rest is history.

PopHorror – That’s great! Can you tell us about this series?

Hamza Fouad – The series is based on the popular Marvel comic book and follows Daimon and Ana Helstrom. The son and daughter of a mysterious and powerful serial killer. They have a complicated dynamic as they track down the terrorizing worst of humanity.

PopHorror – I loved it! Can you tell us about your character and can you relate to him at all?

Hamza Fouad – Without giving too much away, I play the role of Derek Jackson, and I’m a San Francisco police officer that has a long standing relationship with one of the characters. He is very loyal and has a big heart. Those are qualities I take a lot of pride in having myself, so I found connecting to this character to be quite smooth.

PopHorror – That’s awesome. Are you looking forward to how fans react to this show?

Hamza Fouad – I’m HYPED to see how the fans will react to this show! It is Marvel’s first foray into horror, and as we know, they don’t do anything half-assed. This series will be a very grounded, action-packed thriller I think fans will really love.

PopHorror – Me too! Out of all the characters you’ve played, which one is your favorite?

Hamza Fouad – Honestly, my favorite character is whatever character I’m currently working on. I got love for all of them, but they all take a back seat to whatever’s next. At least that’s how I feel about it today.

PopHorror – That’s a great way to be. In your bio, I read that you love Greek mythology. Would you love to do a film that centers around that or play a character from Greek mythology?

Hamza Fouad – I’d love that! I believe stories about heroes, good vs evil, are as old as time itself. Our version of hero stories being told today are The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man, The Incredible Hulk, and the Captain Marvels. I think playing a character from that time period particularly would be amazing because I grew up fascinated with those times. I have yet to visit Greece, but it is number one on my travel list the second the world gets back to normal.

PopHorror – I hope you get to! I also saw that you have a role in the upcoming season of Jordan Peele’s The Twilight Zone. What was that experience like?

Hamza Fouad – Working on The Twilight Zone was a trip. I grew up watching the original series when I was young, and actually getting to have a small part in the newest instalment was a dream.

PopHorror – That’s exciting! Any other upcoming projects you’d like to talk about?

Hamza Fouad – I am currently working on a film called, Accused and on the Run. It stars Cindy Busby and is directed by Troy Scott. I get to play a quirky computer hacker for the first time, which has been a blast. This will be my second time working with both Cindy and Troy, and not only are they both immensely talented, but they’re both a ton of fun to be with onset.

Thanks again for your time Tori!

PopHorror – Thank you, Hamza! I look forward to all of your future projects!