Ben Mehl – You

By starrymag | January 6, 2022

By: Alejandra Gil M.

 

 

Q) You play Dante in the series developed by Sera Gamble and Greg Berlanti. A former war veteran now working as a librarian alongside Marienne (played by Tati Gabrielle), who tries to dedicate his time to his partner. Was there anything in particular about the character or the show that made you want to be a part of “You?”

 

A) When I watched the show, I loved the dark sense of humor it has. And with Dante, I knew I would have a lot of fun with his humor. I thought the writing was smart and funny, the performances were fantastic, and it was such a huge success already on Netflix. It was a no brainer for me. Of course, I wanted the chance to get to play with such talented writers and actors on that set.

 

Q) In what ways do you relate to your character and how are you different?

 

A) I feel like I was able to bring my own personality to the character in many ways. While I think Dante has a bit of a tougher exterior than I do, we are both honest, caring people. I have some Canadian politeness about me that Dante can do without.  Dante has two step kids and I have twin daughters. Also, importantly, like Dante I have had the experience of vision loss. While Dante lost all of his sight, I lost only my central vision. I have a form of macular degeneration called Stargardt’s Disease. And also like Dante, I have found ways to adapt my life to continue to do and pursue what I love to do independently, but also can ask for help when I need it.

 

Q) Were there certain aspects or layers of him that you were most looking forward to portraying?

 

A) The thing that hooked me on Dante from the start was his sense of humor. He has such a pure heart, but his humor can also have a bite. He is also someone who is very honest. He is confident in himself as he is and can express vulnerability, too. It was truly a gift to get to play a character like Dante.

 

Q) Do you have a particular episode you were excited for fans to see this season of “You?”

 

A) I love the way Dante gets introduced in episode 3. And, honestly, I had fun in one way or another with every moment I had from there on out. I loved getting to talk about my sexuality and also my struggle to adopt a child and I loved getting to play in a sand box with Henry.

 

Q) Has there been any feedback that has stood out the most about your character?

 

A) There are a couple that stand out. I heard from people in the blind and low vision community how much they loved Dante representing them on the show. And I also heard from someone who is homosexual and living in a homophobic environment who told me how much he wishes to have a friend like Dante, and that seeing him brought him great happiness. These comments mean the world to me. I am very proud to know that I could help bring a character to life who represents something so meaningful for people.

 

Q) I really like Dante´s ability to politely shade people when they enter the room and his relationship with Marienne, there is unbelievable chemistry there. It must have been wonderful to have that naturally. What were some of your favorite moments or most memorable moments from filming?

 

A) Working with Tati Gabrielle was a dream. She could not be more lovely and more of a joy to work with. I looked forward to every moment of filming. Right from the first day we found it so easy to talk to each other, even though we had never met before we starting filming. There was a moment in episode 3 that we improvised together after I meet Joe (Penn Badgley) where she says, “Dante, kill me now.” And I reply, “Is he cute?” I loved finding that moment together off-the-cuff and I’m so glad it made it into the final cut.

 

Q) Something big happens in the finale that kind of merges Dante´s path with Joe´s, as he´s the only one he trusts to take care of Henry after all the events that go down. What do you think is next for Dante and Lansing (played by Noel Arthur) after having a baby delivered to their door?

 

A) Well, I don’t get to write what happens next, but if I did I know Dante and Lansing would be absolutely loving and devoted parents to Henry. They would cherish every moment they have together as a loving family. We had been wanting to adopt for a long time and suddenly a child who needs us appears at our doorstep – literally.

 

Q) Social media is such a huge part of fandoms and television shows, being part of social media yourself. What is it like to get on there and see such instant feedback from the fans after the season was released?

 

A) I hate to admit it, but I have always cared about what other people say about me. When I hear that someone loved my portrayal of Dante, it means so much. To me, everything I’m doing is for the audience in the end. So, as much as I simply to do my best work and let that be enough, it really doesn’t feel complete to me until I hear how people are receiving it. Receiving all the Instagram love really made me feel proud and happy about my work on the show. Usually I’m performing on stage, so I’m used to being able to feel how the audience is feeling, either by the haha’s I get or by the tense silences in dramatic moments. That is instantly gratifying, and I am acutely aware of this while performing. Sometimes I use this and sometimes I try to ignore it, depending on whether I am engaging the audience or creating a separate world. But, either way, I feel it. With TV, I feel in the dark just hoping it went well, waiting months to finally hear how people were reacting to it. So, it was a very gratifying relief to get such positive responses.

 

Q) What would you like to say to fans and supporters of you and your work?

 

A) I appreciate you! Thank you for all the love and support. It truly means a lot to me. You can follow me on Instagram @benmehl. Stay safe out there and follow your joy!