Seven years playingAtlantas most wayward character has brought the actor a transformative clarity.
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Van was this very broken version of that.
And yetAtlantas final season opens with Van still facing her identity crisis.
After a pretty vulnerable conversation, she reciprocates.
They never had the opportunity to explore each other without that.
Also, they both feel like theyre different.
In my audition forAtlanta, I remember thinking,Damn, Im notAtlantaenough.
Feeling like I wasnt representing the city or the vibe enough.
I found out years later that that was the reason I was cast.
Donald felt Earn was different, too, so hed probably date somebody who also felt like an outcast.
But they enjoy each other.
They make each other laugh if theres no conflict.
Hes actually showing up verbally and physically in a way he didnt in the past.
Ultimately, hes working on himself and Van is working on herself too.
I dont think their relationship is actively dysfunctional.
Weve all grown as people doing the show.
Donald has a family, and that did come into play.
I want a family.
As you get older, you realize the love element is stronger than pride.
Earn is the one who puts his guard down first, I guess.
But we got older and its nice to have a family.
Theres so many things we call cliche.
Like, Paris is romantic.
Its a cliche for a reason cause its nice.
And I think people want love.
So its kind of punk rock to choose love.
Not feeling like I have to build a very clear arc.
Though with season three, we talked a lot about making sure Vans arc was clear.
Not in a way thats like,I dont know when Im Van or when I wasnt.
I havent done anything Method.
Okay, great, cause Im really not tryna have that conversation [Laughs.
The classic 20s dilemma.
Particularly for season three, exploring Vans vulnerability, I felt very connected.
I resonate so profoundly with this feeling of wanting to run away.
I dont ever want that to be compromised by anything or anyone.
Van was this very broken version of that.
I think of her as this ephemeral child Ive been tasked to take care of.
I have a necklace with her name on it.
I just wanna feel close.
The character is a part of my transformation in my life.
I was having my own insecurities and feeling like I dont deserve this, which colors the whole experience.
Yeah, you seem like you keep that stuff at a safe distance.
The real superstar is much harder to come across.
Its odd to be a part of something youve watched.
Working red carpets is almost dissociative: a mix of awe and recognizing the humanity of it.
I think a lot of people feel this way.
I think a lot of people just wanted to see more of Van, you know?
Like to really understand her.In some ways, I dont know if Im in the center of that conversation.
Its more a conversation with the creators of the show.
Alfred particularly embodies a lot of the anxieties Donald is experiencing.
Van is just an element of that.
But ultimately, this is Donalds exploration of his psyche.
And he is gonna write what he knows.
How did yall keep each other here?We have a very active, very no-holds-barred group chat.
We all experienced this big life shift in unison.
That created a bond around navigating this new life, and it was a blessing.
Brian and I would always be each others partners on carpets, holding hands together and being nervous.
And with Keith talking about authenticity in the industry, we all just see each other.
We know each others secrets.
Im sad to leave that experience behind.
We keep realizing theAtlantaset vibe was a special thing.
I mean, Ive heard of shows meeting group therapists because people are struggling.
We didnt have any kind of active animosity.
It was a very comfortable, friendly, supportive set, and with each season it became more so.
I miss that camaraderie.
Youre like,Im not gonna fire me.
They cant fire me now.
Yo, true, I bet that shit feels nice.If it doesnt work, it doesnt work.
That feels very different if you dont have that familiarity and active security.
Even now Im on a project, like,All right, here it goes.
Its first day of school every time.
But we finished shooting a year ago, so we had a year to prepare.
We were able to say our good-byes and relish in each other before the end.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
