Being an actor is not an easy profession. When you’re a Canadian actor, it becomes increasingly more difficult as the market in the States is much larger. Many of our greatest Canadian actors have decided to go to the US to pursue their dreams. Glamorous star Graham Parkhurst might find himself taking the same path. We spoke with Graham about why the move may be necessary, his current role in Glamorous, and some of his other projects.
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Cross-Border
Ask an aspiring Canadian actor whether a move to the US is necessary and you get a mixed bag of answers. Having Canadian talent stay in the North would be fantastic, but there are too few resources for now. “We need to build more of a star system here that nurtures our talent and provides more large-scale opportunities,” notes Parkhurst.
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Streaming on Netflix: Glamorous
Belleville, Ontario-raised Graham is starring in the popular Netflix series Glamorous alongside legend Kim Cattrall. In this dramedy created by Jordon Nardino, Graham plays Parker, a self-proclaimed jock. Graham’s character symbolizes gay male perfection, and a chance encounter with Marco Mejia (Miss Benny) leads to a hilarious game of pursuit. The ten-episode series was released on Netflix on June 22, 2023.
Parker is an eccentric character, and Graham Parkhurst is much the same. “We both love to be social and stay active,” he mentioned as he compared the two, “and we [both] tend to approach situations with a bit too much caution at times.” Graham used to proceed cautiously regarding auditions, but like anything, he got used to the constant rejection. “Becoming friends with people in casting and seeing the casting process made me realize how many factors outside of the audition come into play.” What he used to stress about has become commonplace, and he doesn’t let it affect him or his work’s quality.
By the looks of it, you wouldn’t expect Graham to have many cheat meals, but he admitted that candy is his kryptonite. He attributes his physique to his strict workout regimen of lifting weights, biking, and dodgeball. Graham is happy that summer is here. He acknowledged that playing the “hunk” can be draining because of the heavy focus on physical appearance. “The pressure to stay fit is very present,” he said. Being a fan of carbs, he’s excited not to have to turn down any bread or pasta this summer. This summer will be calming for Graham because “as a gay actor who is often judged solely on appearance, [there’s] no immediate deadline to look a certain way.” He is relieved to be more relaxed with his routine.
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What’s next for Parkhurst?
Sometimes it’s all about being in the right place and time. Graham mentioned that is precisely how he got into the short film Happy For You. “I was at a party one day, and this random person approached me about a short film he was writing and producing. Now that person is one of my great friends!” A few of Graham’s other television credits include Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, The Umbrella Academy, and Titans. He has also appeared in the Hallmark movie Boyfriends of Christmas Past. Happy For You was released in March 2023.
* This interview was conducted before the SAG strike *
Hero photo: Colin Gaudet
