THE DUALITY OF MAN

PAUL BAKER BECAME A HOUSEHOLD NAME. SO MUCH SO THAT OUT OF THE FIVE-PERSON CAST OF FX’S ADULTS, HE'S THE ONLY NAME THAT'S ALWAYS SAID IN FULL. EVEN DURING OUR INTERVIEW, JACK INNANEN, THE MAN BEHIND THE CHARACTER, REFERS TO HIM ACCORDINGLY. THE CHARACTER QUICKLY BECAME A FAN FAVOURITE FOR JACK'S ABILITY TO PLAY PAUL BAKER'S DIFFERENT SIDES, FROM ‘FRUITCAKE’ TO BRO, WITH EASE, PARTLY BECAUSE HE HIMSELF CONTAINS MULTITUDES: AN ASTROPHYSICS STUDENT TURNED MINECRAFT YOUTUBER TURNED TIKTOK SKETCH STAR TURNED FULL-FLEDGED COMEDY ACTOR. WITH THE ON-SCREEN HIMBO HEARTTHROB RETURNING FOR THE SHOW'S SECOND INSTALMENT, A ROLE IN NETFLIX'S BIG MISTAKES, AND EVEN A MISSED OPPORTUNITY ON THE SECOND SEASON OF HEATED RIVALRY DUE TO SCHEDULING, THE CANADIAN IS NOT SLOWING DOWN ANYTIME SOON.

We're both Aries, only three days apart. Do you believe in astrology, or are you more into astrophysics?

What people attribute to astrology, I attribute to sibling order. When people are like, “Oh, that person's a Virgo, this person's a Scorpio. I don't know if they're gonna get along.” I think: is that person the youngest or the second oldest? I like to entertain the astrology. I don't put too much weight on it. It's almost like the afterlife or something. Who knows?

Congratulations on the second season of Adults! How was it going back into it this time?

It felt like going into grade ten instead of grade nine. We knew all the teachers; we all knew each other. We were able to just really be. Knowing that [the show] resonated with other people allowed us to be confident in what we were doing. We had a whole year of friendship under our belt, so it just felt more natural on set. If we could go back another year, I would absolutely love that.

Is it as fun for you guys to film it as it is for us to watch it?

It’s a blast. The house set is inside a studio, and those hours when we reach the last few scenes of the day, and we're all a little delusional, and it's 4 am, but it's been daylight for us for 12 hours – those are some of my favourite memories on set. It's like when you're at a sleepover with friends, and you get the giggles.

What do you think Paul Baker brings to the group?

He’s easy-going, almost to the point of being oblivious. When they first described Paul Baker to me, it was like: he can fit into any room, and everyone walks away like, "I like that guy." There's an effortlessness to him that, say, Billie doesn't have. She's very in her own way. Anton's a friend slut, but he's got some duck feet whirling under the water. Samir’s a bit of a fuck-up. Issa's far more easy-going. And Paul Baker's just smooth, fun, a good hang. A chiller, to a degree. But he brings this puppy dog-esque energy that makes him easy to love and be around.

T-shirt **FM 669**, jacket and pants **Erl**, gloves **Emporio Armani,** shoes **Prada**

We get to see a lot more of him this season, including his douchey bro side. What's your douchiest quality?

I can bro out. If you put four beers in me, I'll start being like a fun bro. Not in a bad way, but I can get a little rowdy. I can chop it up with the boys. That's probably the douchiest part of me. Besides my douchey actor qualities, for sure. Those are a different type of douchiness.

Do you resonate with those different sides?

A lot of this season was weirdly therapeutic. The creators sat us down and told us our general story arc before we got the script. And we all sat there like, “That's pertinent. I guess I do have this kind of duality that I'm ashamed of.” I have this Paul Baker side of me, this very polite and forward-facing side, and I have a bro side. That's the beauty of man. That is the duality of Paul Baker.

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