IN CONVERSATION WITH MAXWELL ACEE DONOVAN

interview by JANA LETONJA

Actor and producer Maxwell Acee Donovan currently stars alongside Jessica Biel and Elizabeth Banks in ‘The Better Sister’, the Prime Video hit that’s taken the world by storm—landing in the global Top 10 and racking up over 1.8 billion views. Known to many from his role on Netflix’s ‘That ’90s Show’, Maxwell is also making waves behind the scenes. His latest producing venture, ‘Road to Healing’, a powerful and timely limited series, has just wrapped production. Beyond the screen, he is driving real-world change as the founder of Nature’s Negotiators, a nonprofit dedicated to youth-led climate solutions.

‘The Better Sister’ has taken off globally, with over 1.8 billion views. What has it been like to be part of such a breakout hit? 

It’s been pretty surreal. From the first audition, I was hooked on the show. I received the first five episodes, and I stayed up way too late reading them all. I couldn’t put the scripts down. Fast forward to shooting, and I had the best time of my life. And now that it’s out there, I’m finally not afraid to talk about spoilers. I’ve been hearing from friends and family all around the globe about the series, and have had a couple of fun interactions out in the world. My favorite was a guy biking past me asking if I did it. All in all, it’s been one big pinch-me moment.

You share the screen with powerhouses like Jessica Biel and Elizabeth Banks. What did you learn from working alongside them? 

They are both such masters of their craft, along with the rest of my incredible castmates. Both of my on-screen mothers took me under their wing instantly and made me feel like family, and also provided an environment on set that encouraged experimentation with character, something I might not have had the confidence to do without their guidance. I think many areas of my craft improved throughout the season, and that’s in large part due to just being able to watch the two of them do their thing. I also learned how to play Padel like nobody’s business. 

Many people recognize you from ‘That ’90s Show’. How has your experience on a Netflix sitcom shaped your craft compared to dramatic roles like ‘The Better Sister’?

‘That '90s Show’ was so much fun, and you're spot on in pointing out how incredibly different the two shows were. I was surprised that my initial breakdown of the script was kind of the same acting-process wise. I think I expected to have to shift more than I did on the pre-production side, but the shift came more during the shoot. In ‘That '90s Show’, we would rehearse on Mondays and Wednesdays, and then shoot certain scenes on Thursdays. We would also do a big audience show on Fridays, where the bulk of our show was taped. For 'The Better Sister', it's shot single-cam, which means each scene gets a lot more dynamic coverage, and as a huge film/TV geek, I was enthralled. It actually meant memorizing fewer lines, and I was able to delve deeply into Ethan's psychology, finding what made him tick in each scene, which was extremely enjoyable. Both were such a blast, replete with master actors.

You’re not just acting, you’re producing too. What inspired you to step behind the camera?

From the moment I could sit still, my parents have taken me to the movies. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized a lot of my memories are tied to what movies were out at the time, so the more I think about this question, the more I realize it was always something I’d kind of dreamt about. I attended the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts (LACHSA) for their Cinematic Arts program, and when I was filming ‘Gabby Duran’, I got really into the directing/producing side of things. The team on that was kind enough to let me shadow them for the run of the series, which deepened the hope that I might one day be able to step into those shoes. I also attended the Directing program T DePaul University, and between all that, I finally felt equipped to try my luck. I hope to mimic the careers of greats like George Clooney or Ben Affleck, who have juggled both acting and directing/producing so deftly. Fingers crossed.

Your limited series ‘Road to Healing’ just wrapped production. What drew you to that story, and what can you tell us about the project? 

I’m so excited about ‘Road to Healing’, as it marks not only the first time that I’m getting to try out directing, but the first official collaboration between my sister Clare and me as a sibling team. Without giving too much away, it’s a short comedy series about the highs and lows of driving instructors. It was a great opportunity to stretch our comedic muscles again. I am deeply grateful to the incredible team that stepped up to make it happen, and I’m thrilled to see it out in the world soon. 

How does producing change the way you see acting? Do you approach roles differently now? 

Seeing how the production side of things ticks is pretty incredible, and it has added a super fun layer to my on-set experience. I always have something to do, but in a good way. It has definitely affected how I approach my role as an actor, as I want to ensure I am doing my part to keep things running smoothly while not sacrificing the quality of my work. This sometimes involves preparing a couple of versions of lines so I have a plan going in. On ‘Road to Healing’, I was co-directing and acting simultaneously, so I definitely needed to have everything planned out, or I would’ve fallen apart. It was a great challenge, and was basically an experiment to see if I even could do it. I think it went well, so here’s to doing that again.

What kind of stories are you most passionate about telling, whether in front of or behind the camera? 

I do love a positive message, but I also think that sometimes all we need is an escape from the media, so honestly, it differs from project to project. I’m very proud to have been on a couple of comedy shows that, hopefully, provided people with a brief moment of fun in the sometimes overwhelming world. ‘The Better Sister’ had a real message to drive home, which felt very purposeful. It was also incredibly inspiring to be on a set surrounded by and run by incredibly powerful women, which is something my family and I aim to elevate in our future productions. My Big Greek family is defined by our Matriarchs, and we hope to elevate stories like theirs. I am obsessed with the ability this industry has to reach so many people, and I want to be sure that, in any of my productions, we aren’t litigating, but rather elevating. 

You founded Nature’s Negotiators, a nonprofit focused on youth-driven climate solutions. What sparked your passion for climate activism? 

My mom. From a young age, she instilled in my sister and me a love of the natural world. Growing up in Colorado, she also demonstrated the importance of bringing people together and considering all sides of an issue. Ultimately, this defines our mission at Nature’s Negotiators. We strive to bring all voices to the table, enabling a sustainable solution that ideally benefits both the local community and the natural world. Our partners, the Jane Goodall Institute, have been making incredible change at the grassroots level for years, so it is easy to find inspiration all around the globe.

How do you balance the demands of acting, producing, and leading a nonprofit at the same time? 

I am very lucky to have a great support system surrounding me. My family and friends keep me lifted up. So much of what I do is a collaboration, and thus I’m fortunate that I don’t bear the brunt of a lot of it, but I certainly reap all the fun benefits. I also make sure to fill my time outside of work with things that fulfill me, such as learning how to work on old cars. I've been having a lot of fun with that lately. And of course, I watch a ton of movies, so that’s always relaxing and inspiring.

What can you share with us about your upcoming projects? 

We just wrapped up shooting on ‘Road to Healing’ and are knee-deep in editing. As we complete the post-production on that, we have a few more projects in the late stages of development/pitching that I wish I could share more details on. Keep an eye out. Other than that, I’m manifesting my superhero role.

CREDITS
photography BEN COPE