Pop Culture Planet Podcast: Raymond Ablack Talks Love In The Villa and If He Would Return To Degrassi
In a brand new episode of the Pop Culture Planet podcast, Kristen Maldonado is joined by Raymond Ablack — an Indo-Guyanese Canadian actor — best known for Degrassi: The Next Generation, Ginny and Georgia, Maid, and his new rom-com Love In The Villa. He talks about changing the mold when it comes to how Brown men are represented, preparing for that cowboy scene in Maid, and if he would return to Degrassi.
Episode Quotes
Raymond Ablack on the comedy in Love In The Villa: “[It’s] fast-paced comedy and there's so many different brands and styles of how people can hit their punches. On this one, we all had compatible comedies.”
Ablack on the 10-page dinner scene: “When I first read the script that was one of the scenes that I thought, oh, this could be one of the more memorable moments of the whole movie. You know, when you look back on this movie in 10 years like that's going to be the scene that all of us are the most proud of.”
Ablack on how he got into acting: “In Canada, and certainly in Toronto, such a big part of young boys lives is hockey. I grew up playing hockey […] but this whole other world, this theater world, opened up to me. I thought, wow, this is somewhere I fit in a bit better than certainly in a hockey dressing room, which can be pretty racist and extreme. But this other world was so inviting and accepting and diverse and so that's where I caught the bug for acting, for performance.”
Ablack on bringing his background to his roles: “It's innate because it's who I a> You’re just automatically bringing who you are, my Indo-Guyanese culture, to whatever role I’m cast in. So there are all those characters, all those people, [who] are going to have some element of that because I can’t not give that.”
Ablack on being a favorite Netflix heartthrob: “It's an honor. It's a little daunting, it's a little scary, for sure. I don't know that I even do carry all of what it means for everyone on my shoulders. I just trying to do and be honest to myself in my work. If that happens to be congruent with helping create a new stereotype about Brown men, then I'm very happy to be a part of that.”
Ablack if he would return to the role of Sav in HBO Max’s new Degrassi: “Of course. I grew up there and that was such a foundational and great experience for me. I would do that for free. I also want to see it. I’m very happy that it’s coming back. It’s just a great story.”
Ablack on Ginny and Georgia season 2: “It’s very good and I do love sliding down a mountain, do you know what I’m saying? I do love that slippery [slope] of trying your best and not… Everyone is trying their best and the plot thickens.”
Ablack on documentary aspirations: “I would love to produce some stories that I think are interesting. Maybe in the documentary world.”
Ablack on Maid: “Oh man, really that was the hardest. I tried so hard there. I really gave my most honest effort in terms of diet and working out for that one scene. […] So it was really living in the hotel, going to the gym and eating super clean, and devoting all my attention to this one project. It was truly the hardest and most sincere effort I ever gave to anything. I’m very proud of that.”
Ablack on his love for Ginny and Georgia: “Another foundational, like, just such an important thing in my life. When I look back, I really think that’ll be one of the things I’m the most proud of. Ginny and Georgia and the people that I’ve met there and this story. […] I’m proud of it and I’m also invested in it and I care about where this story is going.”
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Hosted by TV and film critic Kristen Maldonado, Pop Culture Planet is a video podcast featuring analytical pop culture discussions and interviews with diverse voices in the entertainment space. Watch episodes on youtube.com/kaymaldo or listen on your favorite podcast platforms, from Spotify to Apple Podcasts and beyond.
