interview by JANA LETONJA
With a natural screen presence, an instinct for storytelling, and creative ambitions that extend beyond acting, Peter Dager is emerging as an exciting talent to watch in Hollywood. Starring opposite Owen Wilson in Apple TV+‘s hit series Stick, he returns for the show’s highly anticipated second season on November 4, continuing a journey that has introduced him to audiences around the world. His growing film career also includes the upcoming THUMB. Beyond the screen, Peter is developing new music, exploring another dimension of his artistic identity and establishing himself as part of a new generation of performers unwilling to be defined by a single creative discipline.
full look GIORGIO ARMANI
boots FLORSHEIM
scarf SOHO SCARVES
Your career is entering an exciting new chapter with the success of Stick and several projects on the horizon. Looking back, what first inspired you to pursue acting, and when did you realize it was something you wanted to dedicate yourself to?
What inspired me was the experience of receiving the energy that art can provide. I was mesmerized by that feeling and when I realized I could be a performer, and maybe give that feeling, I jumped at it. I realized when I was 16 that I could dedicate myself to it, and I hadn’t known at that time that acting was a job. I thought it was a magic trick. So, when I found out it was a profession, I knew I had to do it.
Every actor has a different relationship with their craft. What draws you to a particular character or story, and what do you look for when deciding whether a project feels right for you?
I’m really still not in a position where I get to decide or choose. That’s the great thing about Stick, it opened many doors for me, but its not making things easy per se. I still got to go and fight for these roles, and that process is a difficult one, but one I greatly cherish. It makes being cast in something feel that much more special, because you know they saw others, and you know they chose you. As to what draws me to a character, if I see a bit of myself in him, typically I’m interested.
You’ve had the opportunity to work alongside some incredibly established performers. What is the most valuable lesson you’ve learned from observing other actors on set?
That everyone's process is different. And that’s a beautiful thing.
Stick has become an important project in your career. What initially attracted you to the series, and what made you connect with your character when you first read the script?
What attracted me was the chance at a job first and foremost. I just really wanted to work. I never assumed I was going to get this, so at first, it just felt like an incredible opportunity. Then, once I read the pilot, and made my first audition tapes, I started to see a lot of myself in Santi. It was almost an immediate connection. I felt I understood him in a weird, untypical kind of way. With every audition, I connected with him more, and related to him stronger. But it all felt natural. Nothing really made me connect, I just did.
jacket and pants PAUL SMITH
shirt UNIQLO
boots FLORSHEIM
You star opposite Owen Wilson, whose career spans some of the most recognizable comedies and dramas of recent decades. What has it been like developing your on-screen dynamic with him, and what have you learned from working together?
So much of it is unsaid, but it’s always been easy acting with Owen. It’s always felt pretty effortless, and yet it has developed with every new scene, or anytime we now see each other. There’s just a bit less pressure, every time. But man, it felt pretty damn good from jump. He’s humble, inventive, curious, sure of himself, and smart. He’s one of one. We work differently, but understanding his approach has opened my eyes in ways I never could’ve imagined. I can’t say enough good things about the guy. I hope he knows that, I think he does.
With the second season, how has your character evolved since audiences first met him? What new emotional layers or challenges are you particularly excited to explore?
Temptation is the word in question. Santi didn’t have to deal with it throughout season 1, he was riddled by other demons. But this season, he’s managing temptation. What comes when people expect things from you now? What happens when dreams become reality? What then? Where do you go? What do you do? All of these things are what Santi has to figure out this season. The emotional layer I was excited to explore, amongst others, was helplessness. Watching life move around you while feeling like you don’t know what to do, and like you don’t have the answer. Rarely do we let ourselves feel that.
Stick explores the relationships that shape us, particularly the influence of people who recognize our potential. Have you had mentors or important figures in your own life who encouraged you to believe in yourself?
I wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t. And I’m grateful to them. Like Drake says, “It’s hard to do these things alone.”
blazer and pants AMI PARIS
plaid shirt RALPH LAUREN
black silk shirt ETON
cummerbund OTAA
You’re also appearing in the upcoming film THUMB, alongside Milly Alcock, Awkwafina, Sofía Vergara, and Kate McKinnon. What drew you to the project, and what can you share about your character and the story?
I love this film. I really can't wait to see it. What drew me to the film was the script. It is still one of the best scripts I’ve ever read. It felt new, like a movie I hadn’t seen before. And when I realized who the director behind it was, I knew it’d be good. I’m just happy it went my way, because working on it was short, yet fulfilling. I don’t think I can share much, but it is a complete departure from Stick. It’s a character that scared me. I faced the possibility of making a fool out of myself, and explored the “wrong” choices as an actor. It’s a character that allowed me to be free in a new kind of way. I think it’ll be a lot of fun, that's for sure.
As your filmography continues to grow, are you consciously looking to explore different genres and characters, or do you prefer to follow projects that instinctively excite you?
I’ve come to learn I can't plan a thing, all I can do is prepare and be ready. I’m open to almost everything as an actor, I don’t intend on limiting myself.
Alongside acting, you’re actively developing your own music. What role has music played in your life, and what inspired you to begin exploring it as another form of creative expression?
My love of music actually came before my love of acting. That’s thanks to my father. He played me the greats before I could speak, Elvis, Little Richard, the Beatles, the Stones, etc. I was spoiled, and I’ve retained my love of it throughout my whole life. So, when I realized I enjoyed and then loved too write, I just kept writing. And I haven’t stopped really. It keeps me honest and engaged. It’s a more immediate form of release for me compared to acting.
jacket WANGDA
sweater DSQUARED2
tank UNIQLO
pants NN07
shoes ZARA
scarf SOHO SCARVES
jewellery TALENT’S OWN
How would you describe the sound and emotional world of the music you’re creating? Are there particular artists, genres, or personal experiences influencing your direction?
I hope the sound comes across as familiar, but new, and I hope the emotional world comes across as honest. But music is even tricker than acting. You never know what someone will get. I just hope to give a feeling, any feeling. Furthermore yes, there are many artists, genres, and personal experiences influencing my music, and they change constantly.
As someone pursuing both acting and music, how do you navigate the pressure to define yourself within a single industry? What does creative freedom mean to you at this stage of your life?
I let that pressure intimidate me for many months, maybe even years. I consciously have faced that concern, and realized it was just my fear of things. So now, I don’t really allow myself to feel that pressure. Why would I fear a thing that hasn’t happened yet? Why would I worry about a thing I haven’t done? As for creative freedom, it’s essential to me. I don’t know how good I’d be at creating any other way. But maybe that could change, I don’t know. We shall see.
With Stick, THUMB, and your music marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter, what would you most like audiences to discover about you over the next few years, both as an artist and as a person?
I hope they discover what they discover, and learn what they learn. I’m just grateful to anyone who gives me their time, even if it's just for a couple of minutes.
full look MANKIND
boots FLORSHEIM
TEAM CREDITS:
talent PETER DAGER
photography DAVID URBANKE
styling BRODIE REARDON at THE WALL GROUP
grooming ANNA BERNABE at KALPANA
stylist assistant ALEX OBER
editor TIMI LETONJA
editorial director and interview JANA LETONJA
