WITH his last MOVIE, THE SON, 20-YEAR-OLD ACTOR ZEN MCGRATH WILL CONTINUE HIS RISE AS ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING ACTORS HAILING FROM HIS NATIVE AUSTRALIA. IN THE FILM DIRECTED BY FLORIAN ZELLER, WHICH TACKLES ONE FAMILY’S TURBULENT DYNAMIC, MCGRATH PLAYS SEVENTEEN-YEAR-OLD NICHOLAS, DEALING WITH CONTINUED FEELINGS OF ABANDONMENT AND NEGLECT A FEW YEARS ON FROM HIS PARENTS’ DIVORCE.
THE FILM BRINGS US CLOSER TO THIS YOUNG TALENT, FULL OF CHARISMA AND PASSION FOR HIS CRAFT, MARKING HIS SECOND BIG SCREEN OUTING SINCE THE 2014 DRAMA MOVIE, ALOFT, IN WHICH HE STARRED ON SCREEN ALONGSIDE HIS YOUNGER BROTHER WINTA. HERE HE TALKS TO US ABOUT HEROES, STYLE AND SCIENCE.

Do you have any Australian acting heroes who have influenced you in your own work?

Well, I think I'd get in trouble If I didn't say Hugh Jackman! All jokes aside, he is the most wonderful human being and inspires me every day, not only in his craft and body of work, but in how he remains generous and humble towards everyone he meets. It excites me to see how many Australian actors/actresses have become so prominent in this industry, that there are opportunities in productions for us far away Aussies.

From your first auditions, have you developed more confidence on screen, or found a deeper love for the craft and storytelling?

I've always felt lucky because I was able to grow up on sets of films that my older brother worked on such as Dark Shadows or Lincoln. I believe this made me more comfortable being in those types of high-pressure environments. As I've progressed, I've definitely developed a deeper love for storytelling. This is compounded by the fact that I have other passions in the same industry. Through acting, I discovered other things I enjoyed such as making my own films, or learning how to use VFX programs, which all filter back to a wider storytelling passion.

Your role as Nicholas in The Son is really a breakout moment for you. When you read the script for the first time, were you hooked in from the beginning?

Absolutely, I remember the first time I read the lines for the self-tape audition. I felt a frog in my throat, especially when reading the scene where Nicholas confesses to his mother that he is in constant pain. There was an emotional resonance I felt early on in the auditioning process that made me feel confident and comfortable with the role. Getting to read the whole script before the call back only reinforced that feeling.

Left Top and pants **Prada**, jewellery **Emanuele Bicocchi**
Right Jacket **Solid Homme**

How did you prepare for the emotional intensity of playing someone with clinical depression day after day?

When I was cast, we had approximately three months before we started shooting. Being cast over zoom was a very surreal experience, as I didn't meet anyone in person who was involved in the project until a week or so before the shoot. Preparation was very much virtual out of necessity because of COVID. I began with accent training several times a week and I would have a weekly meeting with Florian over Zoom to have conversations about Nicholas. I think having in-depth conversations about the subject matter with everyone around me, including my friends and crew, was the most helpful thing because you never know where the most useful bit of information might come from. It seemed like everyone involved either went through their own version of Nicholas or knew someone close to them who had suffered.

It must have been quite challenging, as it focuses heavily on the importance of male mental health…

Leading up to the shoot, I remember the excitement of the role being replaced by an immense sense of duty to embody the mental health topic, particularly male mental health where men are more closed off and less willing to share when something is wrong. The disconnect between Peter [Hugh Jackman] and Nicholas, and not being able to tell what’s causing Nicholas’ pain, begins to make more sense once we see how Nicholas’ grandfather [Anthony Hopkins] treats Peter. You realise it’s a generational trauma with Anthony telling his son Peter to "just f***ing get over it," highlighting how Peter subconsciously treats Nicholas.

Left Shirt and suit **Alexander McQueen**, jewellery **Emanuele Bicocchi**
Right Shirt and pants **Solid Homme**, shoes and socks stylist’s own, jewellery **Emanuele Bicocchi**

How did you remove yourself from that headspace after shooting or between takes?

For how dark the subject matter of the film was, there was a lot of fun in between takes. I think Hugh and I messed around the most! We liked the scene where we were throwing cereal at one another because with each take, we tried to one-up each other. Starting with maybe one flake of cereal and ending up throwing handfuls, to the detriment of the props department who had to clean up every time! I also loved to inspect all the props such as the manufactured family photos, Nicholas's videogames, and model kits, some of which I was able to keep after filming wrapped.

I remember trying to keep my time off work very light-hearted, occupying myself with activities such as watching The Office (American) or playing video games online with my friends back home. There were definitely times when it was hard to not be in the moment, but I tried reminding myself (as cliche as it sounds) that it wasn't about me, and that I had a responsibility to do my absolute best to authentically portray the widespread issue of depression and/or anxiety.

Do you listen to music to help inform a character, and do you make playlists?

Despite enjoying music and playing violin and piano, I've never really used music to assist in my acting, though maybe one day I'll do a full 180 and change my mind! I didn't use it to get inside Nicholas's head for The Son, that said, I do love Hans Zimmer's soundtrack for the film, and I was ecstatic when I learned he would be joining the project.

Speaking of heavyweight industry creatives, how was it working alongside Hugh Jackman, Anthony Hopkins, and Laura Dern, were there any pinch-me moments and memories you’ll keep with you forever?

I remember feeling intimidated up until the moment I met them, as Laura, Hugh and everyone else were so accommodating and lovely toward me. They made me feel comfortable and looked after me and are genuinely some of the nicest people I've ever met. One pinch-me moment was when I was reading through a scene with Laura and Hugh in a parked trailer before our day's work. It felt very surreal as, in all other circumstances, there were always many people running around us, but this moment was just us working a scene. Anthony was a very cool and funny man. I only met him in New York for a day, but I felt very honoured as he put on his best Australian accent for me and Hugh! They’re all wonderful human beings and I wouldn't have changed a thing.

Let’s talk fashion, as I noted on your Instagram that you were dressed by Kim Jones when promoting the movie at the 79th Venice film festival. Was that your first big style outing in front of the cameras so to speak, and do you love the fame and fashion side that comes with being in the public eye?

I was super excited and grateful to be dressed by Dior. I've never felt as stylish or (for lack of a better word) as cool than when I was on the carpet in Venice in Dior. They were incredibly generous and lovely people that I worked with that day. So far, I don't mind being in the public eye, though I still have plenty to learn about exposure. But I have to say, my favourite part about the carpet and premiere was going to the crowd barricade and meeting, signing, and talking to all the people there!

Left Cardigan and pants **Dior Men x ERL**, tanktop **Calvin Klein**, shoes stylist’s own, jewellery **Emanuele Bicocchi**
Right Shirt and suit **Alexander McQueen**, jewellery **Emanuele Bicocchi**

You grew up in Melbourne and are still based in Australia. Would you like to make more movies there, and perhaps tell different stories that haven’t been captured about the culture yet?

I would love to help Australian productions grow. I was lucky enough to do some VFX work on a film being made in Melbourne called Better Man with the amazing Australian and Melbourne-born director Michael Gracey. I think there is plenty of work to be done here and I'm excited to see how the industry here can grow. There were recently some new very large studios built here in Melbourne, so I believe things will begin to expand.

I read that you deferred a science degree at Melbourne University, when the audition for The Son came along. So, what’s the next big plan, taking over Hollywood in a big sci-fi role?

I love acting and would love to work on more high-quality projects in Hollywood. It would be a dream to work on something like Dune or if they need to cast a Jedi, bounty hunter, or anything in Star Wars, I will happily fill in! I have always loved these stories of foreign worlds and would be honoured to be even considered to be part of one of them. I think they excite me the most, not that I don't love stories that are more grounded in reality, I just have a particular passion for these otherworldly projects.