Noah Guthrie – Glee

By starrymag | January 17, 2015

By: Lisa Steinberg

 

 

Q) Your character seems very shy, not so confident guy. You seem quite the opposite in real life. How has it been portraying this new version of you?

A) It hasn’t been such a big change for me because I’m less shy than Roderick. I’m still kind of a shy guy until I get to know you. The writers kind of write based off of your personality so it is easier to play when you reacting the way you would. It’s been a great experience for me and I’ve never done acting or anything like this before. So, it is good to just get out of my music comfort zone and try something new. I’ve learned that you have to just go for it. You really just have to commit to what you are doing, whether you look stupid or not. Eventually, you are not going to look stupid. It’s been a cool experience.

Q) How was Roderick originally described to you and how has he evolved?

A) When I first got the role, they basically said he is the shy, chubby underdog who finds himself in the Glee club. When he gets in, he kind of opens up and can really let loose in front of these people because they are not going to judge him as much as someone else would. There is still a little bit of judging sometimes…But it has held pretty true to what they said it was going to be like. I have my moments where he gets to break out and do his thing. He is still pretty shy and sometimes he is the guy who is a little afraid of the opportunity, but then he gets into it.

Q) Being a new actor and coming in to an already established show, how was it being welcomed into the “Glee” family?

A) It’s been great and everyone has been so welcoming. Everyone has been working with each other for six years and you are a little scared when you first come in I had no idea what the people were like, if I would do well and if they were going to like me. The whole cast and crew is one big family and they have it down. They know it runs very smoothly. It is very hectic, but once in place it runs very smoothly. They are all very welcoming and the crew is never going to make you look stupid, which is good! I was a little worried with the first episode and I got together with the other new cast members to watch it. We were like, “Okay, at least we know they aren’t going to make us look dumb. At least we know if we’ve done something dumb, they aren’t going to use it.” They have been great!

Q) What were some of your first scenes you filmed?

A) My first day of shooting was pretty much the entire senior cast and I. I think I was the first new person to really get going. In the first episode, there is a scene where I’m in the library singing and they are trying to find who is singing. That was the first scene I ever shot. They were like, “The whole cast is going to be looking for you.” I was like, “Oh, the whole cast…Everyone is going to be coming and surrounding me?” They said, “Yeah, it’ll be great.” I was like, “Oh. That’s not going to be intimidating at all…” My first time ever acting is in front of all the people who have been acting together for seven years! I don’t know. It was a little nerve wracking for me, but they were great. They were nothing, but supportive. They asked where I was from and everyone was awesome.

Q) Were you a fan of the show before being on?

A) I was definitely a fan of the show. I remember I watched the first and second and then I kind of dropped off a little. Then, I had to catch up when I got the show. I was a fan and I always liked the stuff Mercedes (Amber Riley) did and I always liked Blaine. Darren [Criss] is a performer and he’s very, very good at it. He can sell pretty much anything. I was a big fan of the show and I liked all the takes they were doing on songs and turning them on their ear and putting their own spin on it. That is kind of what I was used to from doing covers on YouTube.

Q) During “Mustang Sally,” the background scenes of the Unholy Trinity showed them missing a few steps. Were you aware of what was happening as you were performing?

A) I knew that they were going to be dancing with me, but I didn’t really realize what that meant. It was fun! Being a twenty-three year old guy, you can’t really ask for more than three gorgeous women backing you up dancing on your first musical number on the show. They made it great and it was a lot of fun. They helped me get into the groove of that song because you have to have a little bit of grit and have a certain attitude for the song. That helped me get into that feeling. They told me they would be there behind me, but I never knew what steps they would be doing or how much interaction they would have with me.

Q) Watching back, what did you think of the scene?

A) I enjoyed it! I watched the episode twice. The first time I watched it there was fear of what I would see on the screen. It was fun. I’m always going to be my worst critic. All I can think about is, “Oh, I should have made this face there” or “Oh, I should have done that step there.” I’m always going to be that way. The second time I enjoyed it a little bit more. You have to kind of let go and have fun with it. I think as soon as you do that everyone else will kind of believe it. He’s still kind of shy at that moment so it is almost as if he’s snapped into this other personality during the song. He takes on this attitude and if you notice as soon as the song is over and he says he’s in, he is instantly back into this shy guy. I think it was a cool moment for his character.

Q) What is going through your mind when you are performing on the show?

A) I think it depends on the character on how much you need to improvise. I don’t have to as much because my character isn’t really the punch-line character. I have a few things here and there that are funny, but they are written in a way that it is not something I’d have to do multiple takes of. I can do that, but I just don’t really find that I need to because the writers are fantastic and they write funny stuff. Every now and then we will change things where we say, “What if we use this word, which will be a funnier.” Laura Dreyfus is great at improv and she is great at coming up with different hilarious phrases. Her and her ‘twin” Mason (Billy Lewis, Jr.) have some scenes where they are riffing off each other and it’s so funny to watch. I do get a little jealous, but then I remember, “You’re not very good at improvising.” So, it wouldn’t be as cool.

Q) How do you balance the busy schedule that comes with the show?

A) You don’t. I go where they tell me at what time they tell me to go. I realize that is reality. That is what I’m doing. It’s weird sometimes because you will get done shooting for eight hours and then they’ll say, “Let’s go to the studio and sing for a bit.” It honestly just blurs together and you have to remember to eat and drink water in between. I think at the end of the day, I sleep good because I’m worn out. I’m sleeping better than I have in a while. Once you have a printed out schedule it is not as crazy. Then, as soon as you are in a rhythm they change it and then it kind of sucks.

Q) Was there anyone from the cast that you didn’t film much with that you had hoped for more scenes with?

A) I think I had a good amount with everyone. I think it is just being in the room with those people, even if the scene is not about me and that person. I’ve met everybody and gotten to work with them and hang out with them. Really, I didn’t change much. Dot  [Marie Jones] is great. Because I’m not on any athletic team I don’t really have many scenes with her. She’s fantastic! I guess her and I am starting to get scenes with Jane [Lynch]. I’m pretty happy with who I have been working with.

Q) What have you learned from your experience working on the show?

A) Honestly, get over yourself. For me, it’s one of those things where dancing is completely new to me and acting is completely new to me. Those kind of things would be things I would be scared about or timid. Now, I’m kind of realizing you just have to do it. One, you don’t have a choice. You have to do it. Then, two, you just have to get into that mindset that, “I’m going to screw up a few times, but it’s okay because I’m going to nail it at some point.” It’s given me a better work ethic. When I first heard they wanted me to audition for the show, I was like, “Eh, I don’t really do that kind of thing.” But that’s just it, I don’t really do that kind of thing. So, I just had to do it. I’m not as scared of things anymore. It’s kind of opening me up and I kind of feel like Roderick does. I guess it is a blessing in disguise.

Q) You are a part of social media. Have you been enjoying the instant fan feedback you receive when episodes premiere?

A) It’s been great! It’s honestly amazing to be able to say that I’m on the show and post things from the show. It’s so long that we all couldn’t say anything so it has been great to let it out and release it. Knowing from fans instantly is kind of frightening at the same time because if you do something they hate then you will know immediately from them on Twitter. It is cool because they take their sides and they are on those sides forever. I’ve enjoyed it so far and have gotten lots of positive feedback.

Q) What do you think the legacy of “Glee” will be?

A) I think maybe being yourself. If you’re a freak then be a free. If you’re not, then you’re not. Just be who you are. It sounds so cheesy, but that’s honestly what the show is about. It’s people coming together, even though they are all different. They have their own drama and their own thing going on. It’s just you doing you and then seeing how you can contribute. I enjoyed the overall message of the show.

Q) Is there anything can tease that is to come this season with Roderick?

A) I can’t say much. I know that they have given me lots of really cool music to sing. In the next episode and a few episodes coming up, it’s not as much about my character. During the middle of the season I get really good songs and do some cool things. Be on the look out for some awesome tunes. There are some good old ones in there and some newer ones in there. It should be fun!

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

A) I just want to say thanks if you are watching the show or have been a fan of the show for a while. Also, if you have been a fan of me for a while with my stuff on YouTube, social media and my album that was out last year it’s been great. I’ve gotten so much support and love coming from all over. I toured all over last year and I’m seeing fans that were at my shows saying how proud they are and giving their unconditional love. it really is awesome. Just a huge thank you to everyone who is watching and will watch later.