Hayden Byerly – The Fosters

By: Lisa Steinberg

Q) How has being on the show helped with your growth as an actor and as a young man?

A) I think that being on such an amazing show at such a young age and starting out so early on in my career that being on a show with a cast as amazing as this one and having such wonderful surroundings and really being around people who are mature, kind and good heart only helped me with maturing. Also, it helps improving my acting skills. Being on such a great show with such great people is something that I’m very lucky to be able to have and I’m very thankful for that.

Q) Jude has been working on becoming more comfortable with how he wants to identify, where do we pick up with Connor and Jude tonight?

A) I think that something is kind of funny to me that happened a couple days ago was that I was at the TCA’s where I did an interview and someone asked me a similar question. The only answer I gave them about Jonnor was what happens to them is heartbreaking, but at the same time good. I think that with the upcoming episode what we see with Jude and Connor is heartbreaking for the two of them, but in the long run (in the future) will be better for at least one of them. I think that the storyline has always done very well. I think no one should ever jump too quickly. I think everyone should wait and watch the show because “The Fosters” has always thrown us into a mindset and completely contradicted everything we thought about certain scenarios beforehand. I’m very excited for the episode and I’m excited to film again on this next season.

Q) We saw Jude having some concern for the issues between Stef and Lena. Are we going to see how that struggle continues to effect Jude?

A) I think that because Jude knows (or at least Callie told him) that going to marriage counseling and having issues is not abnormal for a family. I think that he will be a little more comfortable and relaxed, not so worried about what is happening between his moms. I think he’ll know that everything is okay and good between the two of them. They are just having “mom stuff.” I think Jude is still a little worried about them and about them possibly not being together, but I think that Callie telling him how everything works made him a lot more secure and comfortable.

Q) Now that Callie has decided to share the recording, how will that effect her relationship with Jude?

A) Jude doesn’t necessarily find out about a lot of stuff that goes on with Callie (Maia Mitchell). It’s a very interesting finale with Callie and all of the things happening in her life. Jude is still a little on his own. I think he is still having his relationship with Connor (Gavin MacIntosh) and focusing a lot on that. He’s also focusing on himself as a person. I think that because of all of this happening and all of these things going on that he is only going to be a little more shocked when he actually hears about what is going on and with Callie. No matter what, I think they will always have a very close brother-sister relationship between the two of them.

Q) Jesus is gone and Brandon seems to be occupied with Idyllwild. So, it doesn’t seem like Jude has a male figure in his life at the moment. Will he be looking to someone else or trying to open up to Brandon more?

A) He might! I’m not sure what will happen in Season 3B. At the end of the finale, not so much. With the upcoming second half of the season, Jude may very well look toward another male figure or someone else in his life who can help him as he grows up and gets older and becomes a young man. I think that he may look to someone, but I’m not sure.

Q) The Jonnor relationship has catapulted since the kiss and pinky crossover. Now, they are being included in polls more often in media outlets. How does that make you feel about their integration into social media and now being on cannonship polls?

A) I think it is a great relationship! I think the majority of people love their relationship and they love this portrayal of two young kids who are both gay and figuring it out at such a young age, becoming more comfortable and for the most part having good surroundings. So, I think that people love these characters and I love that people are so attached to them ad they find so much comfort in this storyline. I think that’s amazing!

Q) Will Jude be joining more clubs or any LGBT groups in the future?

A) I don’t know if Jude will necessarily join an LGBT club or any clubs along those lines. I think he has come to terms with being gay and calling himself gay, but I don’t think he is going to go all out by going to every single LGBT event and doing everything he can for the community. I think he is still figuring things out about himself, even just continuing forward with that is a lot for him. I don’t think he’s necessarily going to hop on the train of all of a sudden going to all of these events and stuff, but he could go to another event. We saw him go to the LGBT prom so he very well could go to another event close to him that is LGBT related.

Q) The show continues such great underlying messages. What do you hope fans are taking away from watching the show?

A) I think that as our Fosters motto that we have always said, “DNA doesn’t make a family, love does.” And I think that is, in itself, something we have tried to push for so long and I think it is the main idea of the show. It’s not DNA that makes a family. If you love someone, that is all that matters. That is all that is important in a family, that you love one another. You don’t have to be the same blood or come from the same family tree. As long as you have a deep love for someone you can have a family, you can be together and be happy. I think that’s the main idea of the show where there are two lesbian moms raising a bunch of foster  kids and one biological son. It’s a great big family and I think that’s the main idea they have tried to portray.

Q) Since we haven’t seen Jude the last few episodes, can you tease what is in store for him?

A) I don’t know too much about 3B and I can’t even say the majority of the stuff I know for the finale. Just always stay tuned for “The Fosters.” I think one of the main reasons that Jude has kind of been a little bit absent as it relates to the story is that he could be off doing other things. He could be going over and maybe one day going over to hang out at Connor’s house because we usually see them at Stef and Lena’s. Maybe he is out doing something somewhere else? I think that Jude may kind of have a life and may do stuff that is not shown on camera. It’s just whatever you want, whatever you think he is doing. He could be at his school surfing and shredding waves. Whatever you want to think is totally acceptable because it is kind of that filled space. It’s jut whatever you want to put there, whatever you imagine Jude is doing. I know for a fact we will have some episodes this next half season where we won’t see Jude, but of course he’ll always be there and he’ll always be a big part of the family. Just  because he disappears for a bit doesn’t mean that he is not important anymore.

Q) Talk a little bit about working with Maia Mitchell and the bond you two have developed offscreen as well as onscreen.

A) Maia is a great girl! She is awesome! She feels just like a sister to me. I feel ever since the beginning she has taken on the sisterly role when I first showed up and was still fairly new. She took that sisterly role and tried to protect me and help me throughout our acting and doing better handling certain situations. She just taught me the basics to being on a set and on a show, which was awesome! It is still very cool to have Maia play that sisterly role. She’s very protective and very fun. She’s a very cool and kind person. It’s amazing that she is so friendly, kind and open. She has a real younger brother and we always likes to joke that when he’s not here (because her family lives in Australia) I take over his role. I’ll be her brother and then when Charlie comes out, she’ll be in sister mode already.

Q) Are there moments when you’re watching the show that surprise you or still make you anxious for the fans to see?

A) There are a lot of different moments that I have. Being excited for fans to see the episodes is always something that I feel. With every episode I have seen there are always storylines that I’m excited for people to watch because it is awesome and amazing. I think the show is amazing in general, but there are moments in episodes that I think are so exciting and cool. So, I always have that kind of mindset. Watching it back, there are those moments where I think, “That was an interesting scene!” I think every actor critiques themselves when watching themselves on screen. It is just a habit  and I kind of do that as well. I just try and enjoy the show and hope everyone else does as well.

Q) Is there anything else you want to be sure fans know about what is to come in the summer finale?

A) I just hope that everyone gets to watch it and that everyone loves it! I think it is going to be a great episode and a really good finale. I hope that everyone is excited to see it.