THE SPOOKY SEXY AND TALENTED JOSH SEGARRA
We may be six months away from Halloween and spooky season, but thanks to the recent debut of Scream VI, viewers were treated to the introduction of Danny portrayed by Josh Segarra. If he doesn’t sound familiar, look him up! Josh Segarra is a talented actor who has been making waves in the entertainment industry in recent years. His impressive range and charisma have earned him critical acclaim and a loyal fan following. Currently, he is starring in the Amazon Prime series “The Big Door Prize,” which has been receiving widespread attention for its thought-provoking storyline and strong ensemble cast. Other recent projects include HBO’s “The Other Two” and Disney +’s “She-Hulk”.
Segarra’s success as an actor is not limited to his current role on “The Big Door Prize.” He has had a prolific career in both television and theater, showcasing his versatility and talent in a wide range of projects. Some of his most notable roles include Adrian Chase / Prometheus in “Arrow,” Billie Holiday’s husband Louis McKay in “Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill,” and Emilio Estefan in the Broadway musical “On Your Feet!” He is a passionate advocate for social justice causes and has used his platform to raise awareness and support for organizations such as the Black Lives Matter movement and the Hispanic Federation. With his captivating performances and dedication to meaningful storytelling, Josh Segarra is undoubtedly a rising star in the entertainment industry. If there is one flaw to point out about Josh Segarra, is he was born a Gemini, but we’ll just chalk it up to him being one of the sexy good ones.
BELLO: What initially drew you to the role of Giorgio in “The Big Door Prize”?
JOSH: First and foremost, Giorgio is a New York Ranger. Go Rangers! To play a professional athlete was definitely on my bucket list of roles I’ve wanted to play. And I get to play him at an interesting point in his life. His career was ended early by an injury (deadlifting 785 lbs, although that number may change every time he recounts the story), so we meet him in his next chapter of life. He’s that guy who shows his love in an interesting way, let’s call it. He sometimes may speak too loud, he sometimes may embarrass his friends and himself and he sometimes will force you to relive the “glory days,” usually when no one wants to or needs to. But I hope that as the audience gets to know him, they’ll begin to understand why is so beloved by his friends in Deerfield: because just like all of us, he’s trying his best. He just wants to be told he’s doing ok. He just wants to be told he’s enough. And that he’s loved. He’s a specific portrait of someone we all have in our lives. And he made me laugh so many times while reading the script. I knew I had to play him.
BELLO: What was it like working with Courtney Cox, Jenna Ortega, and Melissa Barrera on the set of “Scream 6”?
JOSH: Working alongside Melissa was such a pleasure. I knew her work prior to signing onto Scream. She was stellar in In The Heights. That is my favorite musical on Broadway. I saw it at least 10 times. She was an incredible partner and because an even better friend. Jenna is a powerhouse. A real gangster. A genius. I think she may just be the smarter person I know. I can’t wait to get to a trivia night one day with her because with her on my team, we are winning hands down. And Courtney was the legend that I hoped she would be. She couldn’t have been funnier, cooler, nicer and kinder. She has such a warm energy and was so welcoming. She answered every silly question I had for her. I was pretty nervous meeting her, considering I’ve watched every episode of Friends, and she put me right at ease. A true legend.
BELLO: Can you share any behind-the-scenes moments from your time on the set of “She-Hulk”?
JOSH: We had a ball working on She Hulk. There’s a video somewhere out there showing us having a full on dance party while shooting the finale. Those dance parties were usually sparked by my dear friend Ginger. She’s the best party starter around. I think she started playing some music on her phone, or maybe even started signing a boo of some sort, and then started dancing, and then of course me and Tat had to join in. Tat was in full CGI suit and make up. It was always so fun and hilarious. And I’m pretty sure you can see Mark and Tim discussing their scene in the background of said dance party. (Don’t worry, we weren’t being rude. It was necessary for the action of the scene!)
BELLO: What was your experience like originating the role of Emilio Estefan in the Broadway musical “On Your Feet”?
JOSH: Every night we took a trip back to Miami. The 305. The energy from our audiences was always felt on stage. Knowing that we had an opportunity to take folks back to their childhoods, back down memory lane, it was a real thrill. You could hear the audience singing along with us. You could see their smiles. You could see them grabbing the person next to them when they heard “their song.” I loved it. Also, there’s no experience like playing someone on stage while they are sitting maybe 15 feet away from you. I’m lucky that the man I was bringing to life was the kindest man on the planet. Emilio treated me like his own son. He treated our whole cast like his kids. Him and Gloria were such great energies to have around. They were with us every step of the way. We shared many laughs. I’ll forever remember the chats we had. He’s an inspiration to me to this day. The bond we share is something I’ll forever be grateful for.
BELLO: How did you approach playing the complex character of Mick in “Lysistrata Jones”?
JOSH: Lysistrata Jones was a special time in my life. It gave me, along with many others in that cast, my Broadway debut. And you’ll always remember your debut. I dreamt of it as a kid. And now here I was, playing basketball on a Broadway stage every night (that I didn’t account for in my dream, that was just an added plus!) hoping that I didn’t mess up and toss one of the balls into the crowd. But on the few off chances I or one of my cast mates did, there was always a happy audience member ready to pass it right back to us on stage. Thanks to those who did that! I appreciate you! I learned so much during that run. I cherish those memories. I hold them near.
BELLO: How did you prepare for your role as Adrian Chase/Prometheus in “Arrow”?
JOSH: Who doesn’t like playing the bad guy??! You’re telling me I go full crazy? Oh hell yeah! I’ve been preparing for Prometheus my whole life. I grew up on pro wrestling and the Ninja Turtles. There’s a little bit of both in him. Bringing to life a comic book character was something I was always looking forward to — although yes for my comic book heads, we know the version I portrayed was not a direct rip from the page. I got to play with ninja stars, swords, work fight choreography, do some of my own stunts, wear a full villain suit, and all with my own MASK! I get to take on the Green Arrow himself??! A real dream come to life. All while getting to act alongside the likes of Stephen Amell, Paul Blackthorne, and a guy I truly have admired my whole career in Rick Gonzales. It was an incredible experience.
BELLO: What do you think sets “The Other Two” apart from other comedy series currently on television?
JOSH: The Other Two was created by two geniuses in Chris Kelly and Sarah Schneider. Geniuses. That show makes me laugh out loud, cry like a baby, cringe, and scream “noooo” at the screen all at the same time. It takes this family that loves each other so much, that comes from a normal background, and puts them right smack dab in the middle of this hilarious world called Showbiz. It toes that line perfectly between too much and just enough. All with a clever and wit like no other. It pushes the envelope. And I get to live inside od Lance Arroyo. Maybe the sweetest, warmest, full hearted guy around. He sees the best in everyone and in every situation. He is such a fun character to live inside while working. I always try my best to bring a little of Lance into my real life. The Other Two tells no lies, and I love it. Even if I wasn’t on it, I’d still love it. No bias here. Okay, okay, maybe just a little bias.
BELLO: How did you get into acting, and when did you realize that you wanted to pursue it as a career?
JOSH: I started acting in church plays as a kid. I always wanted to play the devil because he just seemed like the more interesting character. More nuanced, you know? He seemed like a pretty layered guy! And if I was playing Jesus, well, I wanted to make him funny. Then when I got high school, I had a couple teachers that changed my life and really showed me what the theatre really was. High school was where I fell in love with the craft and found my people: theatre people. I was hooked. I visited New York City and quickly realized that’s where I belonged. I went to NYU and studied acting, and that’s when my education really began on the business side of this world. Getting an agent, a manager, those necessary thing. I saw classmates dropping out to go shoot movies. Friends down the hall in my dorm were off starting their journey. That showed me it was possible. It gave me a path. And well, I thought, If they could do it, so could I. And where we are. Now I’m talking to you. Pretty damn cool.
BELLO: How do you balance your work on stage and on screen, and do you have a preference between the two mediums?
JOSH: I love both mediums. They’ve each provided me with a specific set of tools. They’ve both been equally as essential in my growth as an artist. I’ll be dancing back and forth between the two for the rest of my life. A piece of me would always miss the other if I wasn’t afforded that opportunity to do so.
Photography Aleksanda Tomovic @alekandsteph
Styling Michael Fusco @mikeystyles
Grooming Paige Davenport @paige_davenport for Exclusive Artists using Matrix
Editing Luka Ukropina @luka_ukropina
Production Maison Privée x BELLO Media Group @maisonpriveepr_la @bellomediagroup
FASHION LIST
GUSTAVO MOSCOSO // SAINT IVVY // ABERCROMBIE & FITCH // VEGANOLOGIE // XIVI
WEISHENG PARIS // MELI // MARRIN COSTELLO // TELL THE TRUTH // BUCK MASON
STETSON // SUIT SUPPLY // JEAN-BAPTISTE RAUTUREAU