IN CONVERSATION WITH JOSHUA SUITER

interview by JANA LETONJA

Joshua Suiter is entering a defining moment in his career with roles in two major series that place him firmly among Hollywood’s emerging talents. This September, he joined Netflix’s highly anticipated A Different World revival, introducing a new generation to Hillman College while honoring the cultural legacy of the original series. At the same time, he also returns as Elijah Greene for the second season of Ryan Murphy’s All’s Fair, sharing the screen with Niecy Nash-Betts, Glenn Close, Sarah Paulson, Naomi Watts and Kim Kardashian. A North Carolina A&T State University graduate who began acting at just seven years old, Joshua’s journey brings together theatre, athletics, HBCU culture and an increasingly ambitious screen career.

photography by DAMAR LITTLE

You have two major series arriving at an important moment in your career. Does this feel like a turning point for you?
This definitely feels like a turning point to me. I’ve been reflecting heavily on how much has taken shape within the past couple of  years. I finally got to introduce myself to the world and the industry with All’s Fair. We audition so much as actors to get that “yes” and it being on such a huge show was big. Fast forward to now being able to experience returning to a beloved character and continuing Elijah’s story, while preparing to introduce the world to a new one in A Different World as Andre, I’m living answered prayers. I want to continue building on this momentum because I know I have another gear I can shift to. There’s only one direction from here and that’s up.

You started acting in theatre when you were only seven. What do you remember about the first moment performing became something more than a childhood interest?
There was something so pure about that first experience on stage. Really it started in a black box because that’s where we rehearsed leading up to the shows. I began at a musical theatre summer camp and the show that year was Aladdin. I instantly fell in love with acting, singing, and dancing. I was already in sports so I knew what it felt like to love something I did. So when I felt that same love for the stage, I knew it would be something I’d stick to. I played the Sultan, Princess Jasmine’s father. I felt so cool being 7 and having lines. Once we got our costumes, it was game time. I felt like the man you couldn’t tell me anything. I cried in the car riding home after the final performance. I was heartbroken that it was over and that I'd have to wait until next summer to experience the world of theatre again. That was where the love for it all began.

You’ve joined A Different World, a series with an enormous cultural legacy. What went through your mind when you learned you’d become part of this new chapter?
Where do I even start? A Different World is one of my favorite shows of all time. I literally watched it in my dorm as a Sophomore at North Carolina A&T in 2019. I used to say “If i was alive back then or if they ever made something like this now, I’d be in it. I know I would”. Throughout the waiting period after the audition, I would just dream about being a part of the show. I couldn’t let it go. So you have to know that by the time I found out I booked the role, I was speechless. I had to be reminded to say words after my team broke the news to me. The thing that kept running through my mind was “Thank you God.” Once I heard “Congratulations,” I knew a dream just turned to reality in real time.

Having attended North Carolina A&T yourself, how personal did stepping into the world of Hillman College feel?
Stepping onto Hillman as a proud alum of the greatest HBCU in history was and will always be personal. I have immense pride for HBCU’s, what they stand for, and what attending one did for my life. I remember having conversations with other creatives on campus and discussing how we were going to make sure we were in the room and being a part of the charge when it comes to HBCU stories being told in Hollywood. Hillman is real and there really is a pulse you feel on set. The day to day life at an HBCU and the endless amounts of memories, opportunities, and family that you leave with is something that all alumni hold near and dear to their heart. Now we get to do it on screen and I take it very personally that we represent that to the fullest at Hillman.

The original A Different World showed HBCU life to audiences who may never have experienced it themselves. What do you hope this new generation of the series captures about that culture today?
I want the new generation to capture the importance of education. Understanding that the education and community at an HBCU is top notch across so many fields. I also want them to see all the different shades and variety we as black people have to offer. Oftentimes we’re boxed in, but in this show you are going to see it all. Us in different studies, extra curricular activities, and different personalities. There’s no better time to be young, Black, and educated, and I pray that is a huge takeaway from the new kids on the block at Hillman.

The revival brings back Kadeem Hardison, Jasmine Guy, Cree Summer and Darryl M. Bell. What has it been like working alongside actors who helped create the world you’re now inheriting?
It’s been nothing but an honor and a true joy to work alongside the actors that influenced me so much in my college years. The best thing is that they are genuinely beautiful people. Of course on the outside, but internally too. They shared stories from their times on set and shared plenty of love and knowledge to the rest of the cast. My favorite moments were the times when everyone’s just sitting around together sharing a laugh and a fun conversation. You turn the right song on, and you best believe you’ll be meeting some of them on the dance floor too. It’s always a blessing when you finally meet actors you’ve always wanted to meet and they’re who you were hoping they’d be.

There’s always a delicate balance when revisiting something beloved. Did you feel a responsibility to the original audience, or did you try to free yourself from that pressure?
I completely freed myself from that pressure. I chose to be present in the world we were creating and do my best to show up fully in the work. I never try to add any more pressure than what is already required. It takes a lot to do what we do, and I know that as long as I give my all and leave it all on the floor, that passion will show when it’s all said and done. 

You’re also returning to All’s Fair as Elijah Greene. How does stepping into Ryan Murphy’s heightened, glamorous universe challenge you differently as an actor?
You never know what you’re going to get with this show. I’ve had plenty of times where I get the sides and have to just hit the triplets group chat and make sure they are just as surprised as I am. We had a wild ride in season 1 and they made sure to up the ante this season. I love it though, I can’t even lie to you. You have to keep your mind open and stay flexible. We’re stepping into a scenario I feel like nobody but Ryan Murphy can even think of. We have to make it real and honest, and stay sharp because there are audibles being called on set and you have to make sure you’re keeping up with it. Whether it’s a cue from the director, a quip from Ma Niecy during a take, or whatever crazy idea that just jumps out of us as triplets as we go through the day. All’s Fair challenges me to stay fluid and how to live in a heightened glam world like this one. It’s a great skill to have. I'm adding a new element or show style to my bag. You’ve got to be able to play and let loose, but also be prepared to really plant your feet and deliver when the scene calls for it.

All’s Fair features an extraordinary ensemble, from Glenn Close and Sarah Paulson to Naomi Watts and Kim Kardashian. Was there a moment on set when you found yourself thinking, “This is really my job now”?
The first day of Season 1 was a huge “This is really my job” moment for sure. It was almost like the colors around me were more vibrant. The air smelled different. I just had to really soak it all in that I’m here. My lips are sealed when it comes to details on Season 2, but there was definitely a moment during a specific episode where I just looked around and couldn’t do anything but smile. It was a nice confirmation that I'm on the right path.

You balanced acting with competitive sports growing up. What did athletics teach you about discipline, rejection and performance that you still use today?
Sports gave me the heart and the grind that I have. Those battles on the court, on the field, on the track show you who you really are. So when I find myself having to push through rejection, exhaustion, or any other obstacle that may arise, I know the resilient warrior I am and it traces back to my days as an athlete. I also learned the true meaning of operating as a team. That’s golden these days because an ensemble works the same way. We have to come together to achieve a common goal and everybody has a role to play in it. I’d also say, while it shows up differently now, I am still very competitive. I think healthy competition is good. When I see someone really showing out and giving a great performance, I get hyped. It turns my fire up twenty notches and motivates me to reach higher. 

Fashion and presentation were already part of your public life during college. How has your relationship with personal style evolved as your career has grown?
As I grow personally and career wise, my love for fashion and developing my style grows as well. Deion Sanders has a great quote. “If you look good, you feel good. You feel good, you play good. You play good, they pay good.” I couldn’t agree more. I’m 26 now and I can feel the styles I like evolving and changing, and it’s been a fun journey finding pieces to elevate my style and express who I am in this moment. I’m also doing my due diligence to know how to articulate the clothes, the shoes, the accessories that make me feel the best, so I can communicate things properly to the professionals that I work with in those departments weather that’s on set for a show, a film, a play, the runway, a red carpet, anywhere. Consistency is key, so no matter where you see me, I want to always look up to par.

With momentum building quickly, how do you stay focused on becoming a better actor rather than becoming distracted by the idea of becoming a “breakout star”?
For me, I understand that I am on a journey predestined by God. He chose me for this exact moment at this specific time to do what he put me on Earth to do. The glory is his, not mine. That forever keeps me humble. I love my life and I’m just glad he chose me to walk this path out. I also have an amazing support system that I want to make proud. I understand clearly that this is bigger than me. I’m just the vessel. My job is to have the utmost faith in God and his plans and do the work. I’m not chasing fame and fortune, I’m chasing purpose. Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well”. That’s my mindset.