IN CONVERSATION WITH JUSTIN SINTIC

interview by JANA LETONJA

Justin Sintic is stepping into the spotlight with his role as Fred in the highly anticipated new season of Euphoria on HBO. An actor, writer, and producer raised in New Jersey, he has studied under renowned coaches, the late Sandra Seacat, Greta Seacat, and Jocelyn Jones,  while also earning a Master’s degree in Journalism from Quinnipiac University. With previous appearances in projects like High Potential and Jessica Jones, alongside a strong foundation in theatre, Justin is carving out a dynamic path, one that blends discipline, curiosity, and a deep commitment to storytelling.

Euphoria is such a closely guarded project. What initially drew you to the role of Fred?

I wish I were so in demand that I could have a say in playing Fred this season. The truth is, I auditioned for Euphoria probably five or six times over the course of the first two seasons and for two different characters in the third season, and then the stars just aligned, and I was cast to play him. I’ve always joked that I would work craft services on Euphoria. I just love Sam Levinson’s work so much, and I think he’s such a visionary. I would think about Euphoria randomly throughout the course of a day, and I was always hopeful I would get an opportunity to be part of this world, and I got lucky. Or I manifested it? I don’t know. That word is thrown out a lot, but truly, I would always find myself thinking about the show and saying, “Man, I want in on that,” so maybe I did manifest it.

How would you describe your character without giving too much away?

To me, Fred is a big finance guy who probably went to an East Coast Ivy League school or big party school, loves hanging around with the “in crowd,” and whose worth is reflected by how much money he has. I know a lot of these guys, and at the same time, they’re all about money, they are also family men, and I think they just want to set up their lives and their kids’ lives to enjoy the finer things. A lot of his backstory that I created in my imagination is pretty far from who I am personally, so I tried to make sure I didn’t judge the character. My hope was to add a little likability to Fred, an earnestness, and Sam was extremely helpful during the process, just reminding me that Fred and my wife Heather, played by the wonderful Jessica Blair Herman, offer some comedic relief in the midst of all of the madness. I mean, it’s hard not to get wrapped up in the allure of Nate and Cassie, who are our new friends, you know what I mean? So I think we get real excited about them, and then the wheels start to fall off a little along the way.

What was your first reaction when you found out you’d be joining the show?

I shit my pants. Kidding. It would be an understatement to say I was over the moon. I think I can just leave that right there.

How did you prepare for stepping into such an intense and visually distinct world?

I really didn’t have a lot of time to prepare. It all happened pretty fast. I had about an hour to get the audition tape in, and I think I ended up doing it in twenty minutes or so. Didn’t really have too much time to overthink it, which I learned was a good thing for me. I’m one of those actors who loves to prepare. I love rehearsal and the process of turning over all of these rocks to discover more and more about the story and my character. But with this one, casting needed it quickly, and then there wasn’t a whole lot of time after I heard I got the job to be on set. And then you get there, and the storylines are so under wraps, so for me, I just trusted Sam. You know, he is just such an incredible guy and so open as a director, while at the same time knowing exactly what he wants, so he offers you this magical playground to explore while you’re in your scenes. It’s an actor’s dream. He would always say, “Let’s just see what happens,” which I think allowed me to stay really relaxed and available, rather than aiming for some sort of result. It was a trust exercise. So, I think in terms of being prepared, I guess I was more prepared after 20+ years of being a student to this craft than I thought I was. And I mean, it doesn’t hurt that I was working across from Jacob Elordi, Sydney Sweeney and Jessica Blair Herman, and their give is just tremendous. You sort of just leap, and the net appears.

What has it been like working within a series that has such a passionate global fanbase?

I don’t know if that’s really hit me. I just know that being an actor is a huge responsibility to the greater good, and Euphoria has a massive, dedicated fan base whose lives have changed from the connection to these characters and storylines. I think I’m just proud to be a small part of it and thankful for the ability to spend time collaborating with incredible artists and humans.

You also have a background in journalism. How does that influence the way you approach storytelling?

Getting my Master's in journalism really helped solidify a discipline of maintaining a curiosity in everything, asking questions and being a better communicator. Part of the shared human experience is that we all have a story, and I found that I like asking the questions to learn more about people’s stories. And as an actor, it activates my imagination when I say to myself, “What’s the pathology of this character?” It’s not necessarily written on the page. I get to ask myself a lot of questions to figure out what the truth is underneath the lines that are written. I was young when I got that degree, but I can see how it helped inform me over the years. In both journalism and acting, there is a responsibility to ask questions and to tell the truth.

You were a competitive ice hockey player. How has that athletic discipline translated into acting?

Hockey is probably my first love. I just wasn’t good enough or had it between the ears, so to speak, to keep that dream alive. At the very least, I can say I was the captain of my High School State Championship team in New Jersey, my senior year. And that not only means a lot to me, but it reminds me of the value of being part of a team and winning at a high-ish level, which translates to acting, making a television show or a movie. Both worlds require you to be dedicated to a craft, and even when you’re not playing or working, taking care of your mind and your body, and always thinking about opportunities to get better. It definitely teaches you how to put your ego aside and work with others, regardless of personal differences. Creatives can be prickly. I also find so many similarities between being on the ice and playing hockey, and being on stage and doing a play or being in front of the camera. It’s all so moment-to-moment. I love that feeling when that voice in your head quiets, and you’re in flow and don’t know what’s going to happen next.

What role does creativity, like photography, play in your life outside of acting?

It’s one of my favourite hobbies. It’s a meditation. To grab my not-so-trusty Canon AE-1 film camera and my dog Eliot, and just go wander without my phone and really pay attention to the mundane that the world offers. I tend to just get lost, not only emotionally, but physically. I am terrible with directions. 

It’s crucial to my happiness and brings me a lot of joy, which I feel informs the rest of my life. It’s all about joy. Acting is hard. The industry is hard. Life is hard. Like playing hockey, film photography extends an olive branch towards joy for me, and it’s so necessary to keep me feeling creative and grounded amidst all of the noise and uncertainty in the world.

What kinds of roles or stories are you hoping to explore next?

If we’re playing the manifestation game again, I am calling in some troubled detectives. I love Dominic West’s portrayal of McNulty in The Wire and the great Gene Hackman as Popeye Doyle in The French Connection. I also love broad comedy. Kevin Kline’s performance in A Fish Called Wanda is one I will never forget. I’m in awe of him. And for fun, I’ll throw in any Paul Newman remakes - The Hustler, Hud, Nobody’s Fool. I’d also love to get back on stage and do a play before the end of the year. Dreaming big.

TEAM CREDITS

talent JUSTIN SINTIC
photography ANTONIA POLLAK
editorial director and interview JANA LETONJA