HE LOVES ME… HE LOVES ME NOT… HE LOVES ME… WHEN IT COMES TO COREY FOGELMANIS AND JAYLAN EVANS, THERE’S NO DOUBT — THE LOVE IS UNDENIABLE. AFTER PORTRAYING A ROMANTIC DUO ON THE HIT NETFLIX SHOW MY LIFE WITH THE WALTER BOYS, THE ACTORS CREATED AN UNBREAKABLE BOND. FROM THE MOMENT THEY SAW EACH OTHER, A GENUINE FRIENDSHIP DEVELOPED BETWEEN THE TWO. NOW, THE PALS SIT DOWN WITH BEHIND THE BLINDS TO SHARE THEIR FAVOURITE MEMORY TOGETHER, THE PECULIAR STRESS OF CANDY HEARTS, AND THE VALUE OF RED FLAGS.
COREY FOGELMANIS: Do you remember when we first met?
JAYLAN EVANS: Yeah… We were at a Covid testing soundstage, right? We had our masks on and everything.
CF: I think that was the first time we met, but I’d seen you before when we were doing a table read on Zoom. You were on this huge screen and your voice just filled the room. What was the first thing you noticed about me?
JE: Well…
CF: Did I not stand out? [Laughs]
JE: [Laughs] No, no, I’m trying to remember, it’s hard, it feels like it was so long ago. I think it was how soft-spoken you are. You have music in your voice…
CF: I think it was the same for me. Maybe it’s because of my theatre training, but your diction really struck me. You don’t hear it often in film actors. But then, when we met in person, I noticed your eyes, they have a doe quality to them.
JE: That’s funny, when you asked, I thought of the Zoom call, not the first time being together. But when I saw you on that soundstage, I saw your eyes. My favourite colour is blue so yours just stayed in my memory.
CF: What’s funny about that is that we were both wearing masks, no wonder we remember each other's eyes, there’s not much else to remember. It’s funny that we didn’t meet on the first day since you had some complications getting to where we were. Where were you when we were doing that first table read?
JE: I was home, back in North Carolina. I was leaving for New York at the time but had to fly back to get everything I needed to travel internationally. I was at my grandma’s house when we had that first table read. Which is crazy to me because I spent my childhood there. To think I would be one day there for my first day on a Netflix series is crazy.
CF: How did your grandma feel about it?
JE: It was endearing. She always just wants the best for me. Even though she has some technology issues [Laughs]. I’m so family-oriented so it was lovely to be able to do it at her place. I’m so grateful that I can always count on her opening her doors to me whenever I go home. So, we’ve talked about our first memory together, what would you say is your favourite out of all the ones we’ve made?
CF: I think this might be an obvious answer. Going to see the Renaissance tour with your sisters. It felt like a one-in-a-lifetime experience, not only to be there but to be together with all of you. What would you say is yours?
JE: It might seem superficial but watching Uncoupled with you. It’s just such a comforting, good show. It made me so warm and fuzzy on the inside.
CF: I agree. It came out at the right time, just as we were wrapping up filming season one of My Life with the Walter Boys. We were this family that had been building for five months and it was coming to an end. That show gave us all some comfort, I think.
JE: It’s true. I mean, I don’t even watch TV all that much but that felt different. Speaking of this family we built, would you consider friendship a form of love?
CF: Of course. I feel like friendship can almost be the purest form of love because it’s voluntary. I find it to be very easy to lose myself in romantic relationships. Friendship feels safer in that way.
JE: I agree. The way I carry my friendships is like a form of relationship. I think your friends help you understand your morals, values, and character. It usually definitely feels like a fairer playground.
CF: Do you value romantic love or friendship more?
JE: It changes for me. Friendships are everything to me when I’m not romantically involved with someone but, the minute I’m in a relationship, they become my world. You’re my everything, above everything else. Maybe that’s just the way I love, but they automatically get the number one spot. I’m a sucker for romance, I think commitment is beautiful. It’s a choice that is so intimate, vulnerable and difficult but ultimately is so rewarding. What about you?
CF: I feel I’m the complete opposite. At least at this point in my life. I struggle with the idea of giving myself to someone. Maybe I’m waiting to become sturdy enough for it. I think I value friendships more these days because it’s more on par with how I’m living my life right now.
JE: We’re all different, I think it’s only a matter of being on another person’s wavelength.
CF: Exactly. So, even though I think I know the answer, do you have any plans for Valentine’s Day?
JE: To be honest, I’ve never celebrated it romantically. When I was a kid, my mom would give me a gift and some extra love. I think that’s where my appreciation for the holiday comes from, the love my mom made sure to give to my siblings and me. I also used to love the candy hearts they gave out in elementary school. I never got that many, but I loved to give them to all my crushes.
CF: It’s shocking that you didn’t have many, maybe they were just too afraid to approach you. [Laughs]
JE: What about you? Do you celebrate?
CF: I don’t really. I think it always depends on whether I’m seeing someone or not. But I much prefer Halloween as a concept. I even make spooky playlists every year. Redirecting the conversation away from fear and back to love, what did you love most about playing Skylar on My Life with the Walter Boys?
JE: I guess I see myself in him a lot. But, besides that, I admire how much he puts others before himself. Even when he opens up romantically, it’s something I strive to do, to be. He’s also involved with everyone. I feel he’s so in his community.
CF: You’re right, when I was watching it for the first time, I realized he does have his hand in multiple different stuff. In my case, Nathan is just a little boy. He sits in a corner, he’s gay and he plays the guitar…
JE: What’s your favourite part of Nathan? Besides being gay and playing a guitar. [Laughs]
CF: [Laughs] When I was watching it back, my perception shifted. I saw a kid trying to find himself. He has no idea how to conduct himself with people, he comes off a little too strong, but he’s trying to figure out how to express himself.
JE: I think that’s the best part about all these characters, there’s so much growth to be done. Which ultimately is so relatable and fitting, especially at the age they’re on. I find that so charming. Every person has their red and green flags, I feel like it’s an authentic depiction of growth.
CF: [Laughs] Everyone has red flags, everyone is flawed. I think depicting anything else is unreasonable, honestly. Well, having said that, it was lovely being able to talk to you again. I missed you.
JE: Me too. We’ll talk soon!
Facilitated by Pedro Vasconcelos
Photography by Hadar Pitchon
