PopHorror Let's Get Scared
Recently I talked with actor Trevor Roberts about his new role in Hulu’s Helstrom. The series was created by Paul Zbyszewski and centers around Daimon and Ana Helstrom, who 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 Trevor’s enthusiasm about all things filmmaking, his role as Father Crow in Helstrom, upcoming projects, and more.
PopHorror – It’s great to talk with you, Trevor. What inspired you to get into the acting and filmmaking business?
Trevor Roberts – Great to talk with you as well! As a young child…probably 4 or 5, I was putting on plays in the backyard with the other kids. And MAN was I a tyrannical director!
I always knew that acting and filmmaking was what I wanted to pursue, but it wasn’t until I started doing theatre, when I started high school, that I was 100% certain. If it’s work on stage, in musicals, film, or television, there’s beautiful magic that happens when storytellers come together to “take their audience away”. It’s a tough business, but when you’re smack dab in the middle of it, there’s nothing better.
PopHorror – I bet it’s magical. What was the first role/project you ever did?
Trevor Roberts – Haha! I was waiting for this! I had JUST gotten my first agent, I think I’d just turned 16. Robert DeNiro, Ellen Barkin, and Leonardo DiCaprio were coming to Vancouver to shoot This Boy’s Life, directed by Michael Caton-Jones. Since I was brand new, my agent worked with me for a few hours for my first pre-screen. Every teenage boy in the city was seen for this film. I kept getting called back, 3 or 4 times in a month. I was like, “Is this normal? (shrug) Okay!” I ended up getting cast as …wait for it… “Pimply Faced Boy Scout”. I mean, c’mon?? Best first role/character name ever? I think one of my lines was even to tell Leo to grab me inappropriately!
Leo was still doing network tv at the time and was very cool to hang with. I met Robert DeNiro on my first day on a film set and I thought, “I’m killin’ it.” I spent the next 6 months talking incessantly about the role before a friend encouraged me to shut the hell up and be humble. And I later learned a great lesson… Make sure you survive the edit before you tell anyone you’re in something. Editing room floor, baby. Priceless.
PopHorror – First of all, I love that movie. Second of all, that’s a crazy and wild experience! Thanks for sharing with us! You’ve done a variety of television series and films over the years, do you prefer one over the other?
Trevor Roberts – I’ve had a lot of really fun roles in my career. Some of the ones that were the most memorable were the ones in which I also had to “perfect” some kind of skill. One of the ones that was the MOST fun was when I got to play a drummer in the band that opened Woodstock, in a VH1 Movie called Sweetwater. I’d picked up the drums as a bit of a hobby a few months before, so the timing was pretty serendipitous. The hippy wigs, bellbottoms, and playing the drums in front of 100’s of dancing hippy background actors…it was a trip, pun intended.
And, oddly enough, I did a movie with Robert Vince, who is behind all the Air Bud movies. But my movie was with a hockey skating chimp, 3 of them actually. That was MVP: Most Valuable Primate. Some would say “cheesy”, but it was a great family film, kids love it, and…skating chimps on set!
PopHorror – That’s amazing! Your recent role is in Marvel’s Helstrom. How did that role come about for you?
Trevor Roberts – It was an interesting journey. I’d read for a great role that was set to appear in episodes 1 and 2. I went in to meet the director and the producers, had a great read, but I felt like I just missed the mark for that character. I went about my way, spent some time the next month recording my first audiobook, and then got the call that Helstrom wanted me to put myself on tape for a different role. Well, truth be told, at that time, the word ‘Helstrom’ was NOWHERE to be seen on anything. The project was shrouded in secrecy. I looked at the audition scene they wanted me to read and thought, “I know this guy. I’ve met this guy. I LOATHE this guy…this’ll be fun.” Something great happens as an actor when you realize that what you bring to the role doesn’t have to be “right”, it’s just your take on it. With that kind of freedom, I just went for it, and …played. We sent the tape off and within a few days, I was on board as Father Crow.
PopHorror – Sometimes things do happen for a reason! Can you tell us about your character?
Trevor Roberts – There’s not a lot about Father Crow that I can tell you that isn’t super spoilery…. But, he’s a Catholic priest, a man of ideals, and of strong faith. But…he’s got some secrets and surprises up his sleeve too. He’s a confidant of Arianna Guerra’s character, “Gabriella”, and their journey through season 1 is somewhat intertwined. And I couldn’t have been luckier in who I got to work so much with onset. A.G.’s my GIRL!
A character like Father Crow, being thrust into a story like Helstrom…there’s lots of room to explore. There’s so much darkness in this story, I think fans will take some joy away from how my character is utilized.
PopHorror – I loved your character! Any memorable scenes or moments on set?
Trevor Roberts – I’m gonna have to be super vague here… But there are some things that happen later in the season, episode 8/9/10 I think, where, as an actor, I just got to do some really cool stuff. I mean, I can’t bring them up specifically at all…but…you know, Marvel comic/action stuff….just wait for it. One thing I can speak about, generally, is my stunt double Stu Cooke, I have to stop and laugh, that guy, such a pro. Dropped, thrown around, you name it… he and I really had to sell certain moments on screen together.
PopHorror – Gotta love and appreciate stunt doubles! Out of all the characters you’ve played which one has been your favorite?
Trevor Roberts – “Asshole” on Imposters. The role was fun enough, and the cast and crew were awesome. But when you stroll up to your trailer, and the name tag they’ve placed on it that day, for you, reads Assshole. Or the call sheet… ‘ASSHOLE: Trevor Roberts’, well that’s the kind of character every actor DREAMS of playing, right??
Going WAY back… an early/fond memory was playing a small supporting character in the original Scary Movie. The Wayan’s family were great to work with, the movie was a smash, and getting the gif of yourself sent to you, at least a dozen times a year saying “WAAAAZZZZZZUUUUUP???” it still makes me smile.
PopHorror – OMG I CAN’T BELIEVE THAT WAS YOU! You’ve worked with a lot of people of over the years, is there anyone you would love to work with in the future?
Trevor Roberts – If I could ever work with Regina King, I think I could die happy. She can do no wrong. She is absolutely amazing. I also dream of working in some kind of ensemble comedy, a la Schitt’s Creek that would be a fun way to go to work every day.
PopHorror – YES! Is there any type of genre or type of film you’d like to do that you haven’t done yet?
Trevor Roberts – I’m big into Sci-Fi. If there’s a project that’s high stakes, lots of danger, with good heart…AND it’s sci-fi, SIGN. ME. UP.
PopHorror – Any other upcoming projects you’d like to talk about?
Trevor Roberts – While there are no project names I can drop just yet for even more spoiler related reason… there are some great scripts I’ve been reading lately, and a number of great pilots I’ve read for that I’m really excited about. Beyond that, I’ve got a couple of writing projects that I’m working on….still tinkering around with a few character arcs, but yeah, I’m pretty excited about the year ahead!
PopHorror – It’s been an absolute pleasure chatting with you, Trevor. I look forward to all your future projects!
