IN CONVERSATION WITH CHACE CRAWFORD

interview by JANA LETONJA

Chace Crawford has spent the past decade evolving far beyond his breakout role as Nate Archibald in ‘Gossip Girl’, establishing himself as one of television’s most compelling and versatile actors. He found a bold new chapter with his fan-favorite performance as The Deep in Amazon Prime’s hit series ‘The Boys’, blending sharp comedy with unexpected depth in one of the show’s most unpredictable characters. As the series heads toward its highly anticipated fifth and final season, premiering on 8th April, Chace continues to expand his range with upcoming projects including Hulu’s ‘The Land’ and the feature film ‘Super Troopers 3’. With a career that spans cult television, studio films, and offbeat comedies, Chace remains an actor unafraid to reinvent himself.

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‘The Boys’ is heading into its final season. How are you feeling as you say goodbye to The Deep?

I’m feeling old, for one thing. It feels like we just started yesterday. The first season went by so quickly. I knew right away when I read the script that it was a really interesting character and a great opportunity for me to show range, to do something darker but also comedically funny. I’m on a new show now, a Hulu series, and it’s definitely different playing a grounded adult versus showing up in a wetsuit and just getting to be ridiculous. I guess it was time to grow up a little. But it’s hard to describe a run like that and then have to put it to rest.
It’s bittersweet. I went through all the emotions last summer, July 4th was my last day, and I won’t give anything away, but it was emotional. Now it belongs to the fans. I still get stopped on the street by people who love the show. It’s exciting to see Eric Kripke close out the final season the way he wanted. It definitely goes out with a bang.

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The Deep has become one of the most unexpected fan-favorite characters. What do you think makes him so compelling?

I'm happy it turned out that way, because after the first episode I really didn’t know if he was going to be accepted or not. I think we got away with anything because it's a satire, so the audience got it right away. The superhero genre is a bit oversaturated and I think it was a really refreshing, funny take on it. I felt so much freedom, to be able to play with the body language and be ridiculous. The writing is fantastic, but there’s also room for comedy within all the intensity. The show is dramatic and often very dark, so having that comedic relief helps.

At the core, he’s such a ridiculous character, a deeply insecure guy whose only power is talking to fish. It’s such a great premise. I was surprised by how much people connected with him. He became very memeable. I just wish I could’ve explored more of his backstory. I’m definitely going to miss him.

The show blends satire, comedy, and dark drama. How do you approach balancing those tones in your performance?

A lot of it is in the writing. Sometimes he’s pathetic, he’s constantly trying to please Homelander, but then he can turn angry or reactive out of insecurity.

Moments like the end of season one, where he’s drunk and has a breakdown, say so much about the character. My job was really to bring those layers to life and find little moments to elevate.

The strength of the show comes from the writing, but also from the cast. Everyone fully commits and brings something unique. It’s such a strong ensemble, and that’s what makes it work.

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shirt PAUL SMITH
shoes GRENSON
sunglasses OAKLEY

Looking back, is there a particular moment or storyline with The Deep that stands out to you the most?

The octopus storyline is definitely up there. But honestly, my favorite memories are from season one, because everything felt so new. I remember one day we were shooting in a warehouse. On one side, there’s this intense airplane rescue scene with Homelander and Maeve, and on the other side, I’m in a van with an animatronic dolphin, spraying it with water and talking to it while they shake the van. I could hear people laughing at video village, and I just remember thinking, “I love this job.” That was the moment I realized how wild and fun the show really was.

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Your role as Nate Archibald in ‘Gossip Girl’ defined an era of television. How do you reflect on that period now?

I’m honestly amazed it still finds new audiences. I still get recognized all the time, and it blows my mind. And makes me feel old. It’s been almost 20 years. It was very much of its time, but also ahead of its time in terms of social media and that whole world. At the time, people thought it was provocative, but now compared to shows like ‘Euphoria’, it feels pretty tame.

Career-wise, it was a double-edged sword. It gave me recognition, but it also put me in a box. It was hard to break out of that “CW guy” perception. That’s why ‘The Boys’ was such a gift. It allowed me to show a completely different side.

Looking back now, I’m just really grateful. I loved that experience, that time in New York, and those people. It was really special.

Your upcoming project’ The Land’ explores the world of the NFL. What can you share about that role?

I’m really excited about it. I’ve seen a few episodes, and it’s fantastic. I got the script right after finishing ‘The Boys’, and when I heard it was Dan Fogelman doing a show about the NFL, I immediately wanted in.

I play the general manager of a team, and while it looks like a big sports show, it’s really about family and relationships within this football dynasty. It explores ownership, players trying to make the team, the stars, all of it.

It looks incredible and feels very cinematic, but at its core it’s emotional storytelling, which is what Dan does best. I think audiences are really going to love it.

You’re also appearing in ‘Super Troopers 3’. What was it like stepping into a well-loved comedy franchise?

The moment it was announced, I had friends from high school texting me. That movie was so iconic for us growing up.

Walking onto set was surreal. I remember pulling up and seeing all of them in uniform, just staring at me through their aviators, and I completely blanked on my lines. I started laughing, it was just one of those moments.

It’s not a huge role, but it was such a fun experience getting to play in that world. Those guys are hilarious, and we had a great time.

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watch CARTIER

Over the years, you’ve taken on a wide range of roles. What draws you to a project at this stage in your career?

People think actors get to pick everything, but it’s still very competitive. I still audition, and I’m grateful just to get in the room sometimes, in front of these incredible casting directors. And I've been in situations where you read for another part that you really want, and they see you're perfect for this other thing and it works out.

That said, I love variety. I still want to do comedy, to be able to play, improvise, and have fun, but I’m also enjoying stepping into more grounded, adult roles like ‘The Land’.

Now it’s also about lifestyle, where it shoots, how long I’m away. But ultimately, if it’s a great project, I’m in.

How do you continue to challenge yourself as an actor after achieving such early success?

There’s always something new. I still get nervous on the first week on set, starting a new job. I don’t want to get complacent. Even in smaller moments, I try to find ways to make a scene interesting. I learned with The Deep that even just walking into a room can be memorable.

But honestly, the biggest challenge is dealing with uncertainty when you’re not working. That’s something every actor faces, learning resilience in those moments is probably the hardest part.

The entertainment industry has changed a lot since ‘Gossip Girl’. How have you adapted to that evolution?

It’s changed massively. Streaming, AI, everything. As long as I'm working, the only thing that's consistent is change. You just have to adapt, you can't resist too much. Life's too short. 

I’ve been lucky with timing. ‘Gossip Girl’ carried me through the recession, and ‘The Boys’ carried me through the pandemic. Having work during those times was huge.

I’m optimistic about the future. Technology will evolve, but I still think human storytelling, real emotion and nuance, is hard to replicate. That’s what people connect to.

What does make me sad is seeing the decline of the movie theater experience. That communal aspect of watching a film is really special, and I hope it finds a way to survive.

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shoes VALENTINO

Outside of acting, what creative areas you’re interested in exploring further?

I developed a lot of hobbies. I like to cook, I do photography on the side. Honestly, I like to be active. I like to bike in my hills up here in Los Angeles, and I'm always active in the gym. That sort of keeps me sane. And I think it's just being social, keeping up with friends. There's no better feeling than being on a movie set, being communal with people and having that connection to people and a common goal of creating something. 

I am always trying to stay creative. I've actually gotten into trying to create opportunities for myself and my friends. We've sold a couple ideas here and there, and those are sort of in development. Even if it’s an uphill battle to get something made, it’s fun to shape stories, find characters, and build something with people you enjoy working with.

I think that's been really good to do in my downtime, like reading books, trying to option stories, that kind of a thing. So that's been like new for me in a sense.

TEAM CREDITS:

talent CHACE CRAWFORD
photography TYLER PATRICK KENNY
styling ANASTASYA K
producer JAY SIVAYAVIROJNA
groomer CHRISTINE NELLI at FORWARD ARTISTS
styling assistant HANNAH LOEWEN
location VISION STUDIO LA
studio host PAOLO RICARTTI
editor TIMI LETONJA
editorial director & interview JANA LETONJA
cover design ARTHUR ROELOFFZEN