MAKING HIS TV DEBUT ON OUR SCREENS AS HARLAN BRIGGS, IN THE SUPERNATURAL DRAMA, WOLF PACK, TYLER LAWRENCE GRAY HAS ALREADY EARNED HIMSELF A PACK OF FANS HUNGRY LIKE THE WOLF (PUN INTENDED), FOR MORE OF THIS TEEN BEAST FAVOURITE!

WE CAUGHT UP WITH HIM TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT HIS CHARACTER IN THE SERIES, WHICH COMBINES TEEN ANGST, POLICE INVESTIGATIONS AND WEREWOLVES IN ONE PRETTY PACKAGE. AWOOOOOL!

You’re a newcomer to the industry but have been crazy popular on TikTok creating entertaining and relatable content for your audience. So how was it making your TV series debut in Wolf Pack, and did the social media interaction help your confidence with the way you engaged on screen and on set with the cast?
I definitely think that it helped prepare me for what the outcome of the show would feel like, having that attention from people whether it’s positive or negative, and having to be okay with either. It also led me on a path to more creativity and critical thinking when it comes to entertainment. However, I had been studying and training acting before I started social media, so I really consider it more of a way to showcase your personality and talents.

Left top **Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello**

Well, you’re showcasing your acting ability to play diverse and interesting characters, like Harlan Briggs in Wolf Pack, as he’s a gay student who moonlights as a werewolf! What was your approach in portraying a LGBTQ character?
One of the things that I love the most about acting is that it challenges you to get out of your comfort zone, to portray someone or something that is unique. Harlan Briggs’ sexual orientation is different than mine, along with his appearance after a full moon! So, although I don’t share some of these qualities with the character whose portrayal is a gay werewolf, I was excited to embody this kind of role. Whenever I’m bringing a character to life, I don’t let any mental barriers get in the way. I’ve been inspired by so many actors and quickly realised that my all-time favourites can separate their own personas and egos from a character they’re playing. The true art of acting is to live in your characters shoes and tell their story. It was an honour to play Harlan alongside the cast on this show, and to be able to represent the LGBTQ community with such a fun, charismatic character.

What’s the fans’ reaction been to Harlan, and do you love all this new attention coming your way?
I really couldn’t have had a more positive reaction to Harlan’s character! When you do projects that are going to be seen by a large audience, you have to be prepared for all kinds of thoughts and reactions from viewers. The positive almost completely outweighed the negative feedback for me, and I really couldn’t be more thankful to all the supporters of the show. The feeling of not only embodying a character, but having people tell you how much they enjoyed watching him, is truly an incredible feeling.

There’s a bit (a lot) of skin and a more adult tone to this series. When you booked the role, were you nervous about your butt also making its debut on screen?!
It did make me nervous at first, especially for my family and friends to see it! But at the same time, it was kind of funny to me. The more I realised it’s no big deal, the more I was okay with it. Also, I’ve always been into body building and aesthetics and whenever I see those people on stage, they’re not scared to expose most of their bodies, as they’re passionate about what they do. I’m passionate about acting and how actors will often stretch to the extremes for the love of their craft and work.

What were the biggest challenges for you then with this being your first major project, and what were the best bits about being on set?
The biggest challenge was getting over my nerves and how high the stakes were regarding the production and the level of talent all around me. Chloe, who plays Luna in the show, gave me great advice, and helped me realise that I was there for a reason, and to just let go and have fun. The best part about being on set was meeting and getting along with the entire cast and crew, they become your family for the entire time the project shoots, and it’s a very wholesome thing. It was great to watch all our characters in the show grow and change as each episode progressed.

The series is from writer / producer Jeff Davis who created the Teen Wolf drama. Did you ever see that show, and what kind of research or preparation did you have to do for this role? Like, did you have to learn all about the behaviour of wolves, or practising how to make the ‘awooo’ sound?!
Yes, I’ve seen a lot of Teen Wolf and I obviously watched even more of it when I booked this role. I did research how wolves interacted with each other in a pack because I wanted to have that knowledge, and Jeff is a brilliant writer who integrated those behaviours into all our characters, even when we were in human form speaking to one another. When it came to the growls and noises, we practised different variations of sounds, and Jeff chose the ones he thought were the most unique!

The series also marks the return of TV sci-fi royalty, Sarah Michelle Gellar too! As part of the new generation of teenage sci-fi stars, did you understand the gravitas of sharing a storyline with the Buffy the Vampire Slayer?
For sure! I remember the first thing that myself, Chloe, Bella, and Armani did was watch Cruel Intentions. It was a little intimidating, but it also gave us the reassurance that this show was going to be even cooler than we anticipated it might be. Sarah is an icon and just being able to talk to her, and then get to work with her too, was unreal!

What did you learn from being on set with her and working with other seasoned professionals, are you an observer, taking it all in to apply to your next acting projects?
Working with actors like Sarah, Rodrigo and Lanny was so special. They have decades of life and acting experience which made me nervous, yet eager to pick their brains and learn from them. They all have extremely different approaches. Sarah was always cracking jokes and gave me great advice on what my goals should be, and how not to get distracted in an industry like this. Rodrigo had such a deep passion for acting which I found so beautiful to watch. Having the opportunity to be part of the show with them, and build relationships with them, and even some of their family members, has truly been a blessing.

Left Top **Isabel Marant**
Right Sweater **R13**, shorts **Ron Dorff**

So, what’s in store for Harlan… will there be another season and what do you hope for him?
I hope there will be another season considering where we left off with him and everyone else in season one. Harlan needs to get out of jail and save his romance with Cyrus, but he also needs to find the rest of his pack and family to make sure they are all safe. He’ll have a lot of emotional ups and downs once he finds out who his real family are. I’m sure whoever watches the show is already imagining the possibilities, which are endless!

The show tells a story about finding your pack. Who are the people in your own life who have shaped the person you are today?
My family, who I thank for everything. My brother, sister, mom, and dad all deserve the best that this world has to offer. They are the most trustworthy and genuine people in my life, and I will always stay very close with them. Some of the cast members from Wolf Pack have also become my best friends because we shared such a special experience together. I look for people that help me to work my hardest and stay focused on my goals in life.

Each of the wolves in the Wolf Pack has a different ability, with Harlan and your twin Luna having enhanced senses of hearing and smell. If you could have an enhanced sense in real life, what would it be, and what would you use it to do?
As much as flying or a super strength would be fun, I would choose the ability to time travel. Being able to experience moments so deep in the past or so far in the future would be beyond profound! To relive some of the smallest but greatest moments of my life would bring tears to my eyes. An ability like that is almost too overwhelming to even fathom, so maybe I would just stick with super strength or speed, something fun haha!

Was acting always on the cards for you? You mentioned your passion for bodybuilding, and we can see that on your social media. So, perhaps your next role could be a big action hero or lead in a physically demanding movie, maybe a Marvel sci-fi adventure is next…?
I didn’t even consider studying acting until I was about 16. Which coincidentally was around the same time I lost a lot of weight and started getting into the gym and taking it seriously. I’ve always had a creative mind and enjoyed many forms of art including sketching and sports… yes, I do think sports are an art form, haha! I gained confidence in the gym, which I guess has carried over into acting, and it would be a dream to combine both my passions and play a superhero, soldier, athlete, or villain – any role that could also showcase my physique. I also love dinosaurs and was a huge fan of all the Jurassic Park movies when I was younger, so a dinosaur-themed movie or about a sci-fi creature would be really cool as well!

Finally, the last line of your IG bio reads, ‘Just trying to spread a message’. What’s that message then? And do you have a special one for your fans and our readers?
I want to spread my empathetic values and insight on how I feel about people and the world we live in. What I mean by this, is showing people that you can be whoever you want to be in this life, and that you should never take anything for granted. Anything you think about doing or achieving is possible if you don’t let mental barriers and people hold you back. To my fans and anyone reading this, please don’t compare yourself or your life to others! From someone who has suffered from severe dysmorphia with my appearance, there are no expectations for you or your appearance. Live your life the way you dream of and push yourself in the process!

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Discover the full story in our FW23 FANTASY Issue.

Interview by Kate Lawson

Photography by Hadar Pitchon

Fashion by Gorge Villalpando

Casting by ImageMachine cs

Grooming by Joanna Faivre