Actor Grant Alexander Hall Talks About His Roles In ‘Grown-Ish’ And Upcoming Film ‘Trigger’

This actor is actually a double threat!

Between acting and modeling, Grant Alexander Hall is quickly becoming someone to know in the entertainment industry. He recently rose to fame after starring in the hit Freeform series ‘Grown-ish’.

We had the amazing honor of talking with Grant about Abercrombie & Fitch, on-screen diversity, and more!

When did you first realize you wanted to pursue a career in entertainment? 

G: “I think I’ve always known unconsciously that I wanted to pursue a career in this business. I grew up watching my father play professional baseball in front of large crowds, and I fell in love with the idea of performing for the masses. And, despite performing for all my classmates throughout my years of schooling, I always thought that my path in the entertainment industry would be through sports, mainly because of my father’s influence. But, it was in the second semester of my first year in college that I realized my path in the entertainment world was going to be through acting rather than athletics. And I realized this when an acting teacher at the school kind of “discovered me” and informed me that she thought I’d be a good actor. Which at the time absolutely blew my mind considering that I’d never really given acting a thought before.”

We love your character Kyle in ‘Grown-ish’! What was your experience working on the show? 

G: “Thank you! Despite his flaws, I really enjoy playing Kyle (laughs). Being a part of this show has been my first venture into the mainstream network TV world. And it’s certainly been an interesting but incredible ride! I’ve met so many great people and made friends that will last a lifetime. Being that Grown-Ish is a very popular show, it’s given me a larger platform to be able to express my art/craft. Which I’m incredibly grateful for, to say the least.”

Do you think you have anything in common with Kyle (Hopefully not, but maybe his fashion sense!) 

G: “Yes, I do like his fashion sense, actually. (Laughs). The wardrobe department does an amazing job of putting together great outfits for Kyle. But I don’t think Kyle and I are very similar, mainly due to the fact that I actually molded and shaped the character based on someone I’ve known in my lifetime. So I purposely tried to shape the character as someone that was outside of myself.”

Can you tease what your fans can expect from your upcoming role in ‘Trigger’

G: “They can definitely expect to see me playing a whole new character than they’ve seen before. Being that this movie is somewhat of a heart-wrenching dramatic film, I really had to go to a deep emotional place while shooting certain scenes. But with that being said, there are also some very funny comedic moments that help to bring some levity to the film. So, hopefully, my fans will get to enjoy some of the best work that I’ve done yet to date. I’m very excited for people to watch the film.”

You are also an incredible model! What has been your favorite campaign you have been a part of so far, and why? 

G: “Thank you! I’d have to say that my favorite has been my first campaign with Abercrombie & Fitch. Mainly because it was my first globally widespread campaign, and it kind of altered the trajectory of my career. It was the first time in my life that people were seeing my face all over the world, and I was getting tons of love from people in different countries. Not to mention, the campaign was also shown in my hometown (Toledo, OH), and it made all my friends and family that I’ve grown up around super excited, so that was very special to me.”

How important do you think diversity is on-screen? 

G: “I believe it’s incredibly important, and thankfully, I think we’re seeing much more of it as of late. For example, I recently saw The Little Mermaid starring Halle Bailey as Ariel, and I couldn’t help but be wowed at the fact that Hollywood had taken the chance of allowing a black woman to play a historically known white character. And, of course, Halle is absolutely phenomenal in the role, which definitely serves us tremendously in our push for more diversity on the screen. With every success of these projects in which Hollywood takes diversity risks will lead to seeing many more people of color in prominent roles.”

What advice can you give to young black men who want to pursue an acting career? 

G: “I would advise them to definitely study the craft of acting and see if they truly enjoy it. And if so, I’d recommend that they really take the learning process seriously and not rush it. So when they do make that jump into the industry, they’re consummate professionals, and they’re ready for whatever may be thrown at them. But, in general, I would strongly encourage them to join the industry because I believe we need more black men and women in this industry in order to tell our stories that relate to our rich history and culture.”  

Where can we follow your amazing journey? 

G: “The best place to follow me is on Instagram: (@thegranthall). That’s where I post the most. But I do have Twitter as well (@thegranthalll).”

Make sure to tune in to watch the final season of ‘Grown-ish’, set to premiere on June 28 on Hulu!

Photo Credits: Photographer: Audrey Sliger @audreysliger | Stylist: Celine Ashford @celinethestylist | Grooming: @christophermilesmakeup

Je’Kayla Crawford– Founder and Director– Je’Kayla has been a journalist for years and decided to start a publication of her own, New Scene. When not helping her team and working on the monthly issues, you can find her watching a movie on Netflix or baking using a viral Tasty recipe.