I think The Magicians takes these conventional ideas from this Christian literature of good vs. evil and it sort of shakes it up and asks a deeper, darker question about the nature of not just humanity in the face of good vs. evil, but the challenges of everyday life. And I think there's something incredibly timely about that and incredibly relatable to anyone who's growing up. Because we're all growing up. We're all constantly evolving.

Hale Appleman

Categorized in : Thinking Christian Growing Up

I grew up loving fantasy, adventure, and children's book series. At the time, I was in a place in LA where I wasn't working and I kind of thought to myself, "What do I really want to do? Like, what kind of role would be really exciting for me?" And I sort of thought about being in an adventurous, magical, fantastical world and a character that was powerful and sophisticated and perhaps even a dandy, that might have even passed in my head, and then I got an audition for the show ["The Magicians"] shortly after.

Hale Appleman

powerful book children

My intention is always to honor the character that Lev [Grossman] created in the books and my greatest concern, honestly, is that the fans of the books will embrace me as this character that they've imagined in their heads.

Hale Appleman

honor character book

I think with The Magicians, the Harry Potter and Narnia influences are obviously there.

Hale Appleman

potters narnia thinking

I think for Lev [Grossman], C. S. Lewis was a huge inspiration from his childhood. I know that Brideshead Revisited is a book that he's incredibly found of and he took certain structural influences from that book that he brought into The Magicians.

Hale Appleman

inspiration book thinking

The Pandora's box of unholiness is attempting to sing anything that Freddie Mercury ever sang.

Hale Appleman

ever sing box anything

I don't actually think I could be happy on one coast all year round. California is a sweeter lifestyle, but I need the energy of New York to keep me on my toes.

Hale Appleman

be-happy think me happy

I grew up doing a lot of theatre, plays, dramas, musicals.

Hale Appleman

musicals doing up theatre

Some day, I'm in a horror movie, and some days I'm in, like, a sweet, independent feature about relationship.

Hale Appleman

day like sweet relationship

Great direction, great acting partner, great character backstory - these are all rare luxuries to have in the room.

Hale Appleman

direction partner great character

I spend a part of the year in New York when based in L.A. and vice versa. It's the only way I feel balanced. Outside of theater and my community of friends out there, my family is still in N.Y., so I have a lot of reasons to spend time out there as well. I guess I'm bi-coastal.

Hale Appleman

friends family community time

Our fans are really passionate and really protective of the characters on the show. That's just a testament to them, that kind of reaction.

Hale Appleman

reaction just passionate fans

We need new stories, but I am looking forward to 'The Dark Crystal'.

Hale Appleman

i-am looking looking-forward dark

Born in the Village. My mom still lives on Bleeker Street. I went to the performing arts high school.

Hale Appleman

street village mom school

From about ten, I knew I wanted to be an actor, and I started doing vocal shows and stuff.

Hale Appleman

actor started about doing

I think actors are meant to have crises of faith; I think it's part of the job. I think it makes you a stronger person and a stronger actor.

Hale Appleman

job think you faith

I went to Carnegie Mellon for a year and a month or two, and then I dropped out because I got a movie. I didn't anticipate ever leaving school - I was a really serious drama student - and then that happened, and my life sort of took a turn.

Hale Appleman

my-life serious life school

I always loved magic and fantasy/adventure series as a kid.

Hale Appleman

loved kid always magic

My first audition for 'The Magicians' came up in conversation with a close friend who, right then, handed me the first book.

Hale Appleman

friend me conversation book

I started reading and fell in love with the worlds and characters Lev Grossman created. I'm taken with his exploration of an idealized childhood fantasy through the lens of adulthood, or coming into adulthood.

Hale Appleman

fantasy childhood reading love

Shooting a new story out of order every week is a fundamentally different beast than stage work, where you tell the same story every night from beginning to end.

Hale Appleman

beginning you work night