It’s no secret — Guillermo del Toro is one of the most innovative auteurs of our time. His creativity and artistic stamp influence every cinematic work he touches. This fall, we were treated to Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities, a terrifying new anthology horror series featuring standalone stories from directors and writers hand-picked by the filmmaker himself.
Recently, I had the privilege of chatting with actor Jonathan Neil Alexander, who appears in Cabinet of Curiosities. His episode, “Pickman’s Model,” is inspired by the H.P. Lovecraft short story of the same name and stars Ben Barnes as William Thurber and Crispin Glover as Richard Pickman.
I chatted with Jonathan about how he got the role of Doyle in “Pickman’s Model,” why he loves Guillermo del Toro, what it was like working alongside Ben and Crispin and more.
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This interview is condensed for length and clarity.
Melody McCune: We at GGA love a good origin story. What’s your origin story? How did you get involved with acting?
Jonathan Neil Alexander: I had a babysitter who I loved dearly. I thought the world revolved around her. When I was eight years old, we were in my backyard playing. She thought it would be funny if I recited a speech the Miss Universe pageant winners would often recite, like wishing for world peace. Then, she directed this little scene. I don’t know why it is a core memory of mine, but it struck a chord.
MM: Let’s talk about Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities. Can you tell me what it’s about and how you got involved with the project?
JNA: I got the audition. Robin D. Cook has this incredible casting company based in Toronto. They send you the breakdown, and it’ll say who’s directing and writing — if you’re lucky, a little synopsis of your character or notes about it. I saw his name and was like, “Ah, I need this job.” In that way, that was fun. This story is based on an H.P. Lovecraft short story. The entire series is an anthology series. Each episode is entirely different, with a diverse cast, crew and director.
Guillermo del Toro hand-picked the stories. He wrote some of them and hand-selected directors he was inspired by to work on these projects. He let them act as showrunners with their own stories. This story, in particular, follows a character named William Thurber, played by Ben Barnes, and his journey as an art student at Miskatonic University, a fictionalized university in H.P. Lovecraft stories.
I play Doyle, and we’re all part of the same friend group at this university. Crispin Glover plays Richard Pickman. The episode is called “Pickman’s Model.” He turns the world upside down, and this perfectly cast story is of Guillermo del Toro’s sense of creativity.
MM: How does Doyle fit into this narrative?
JNA: I talked with Keith Thomas (the director) for an hour and a half when I got the job about the world and where I fit in because Doyle’s a quieter dude. We had an interesting conversation about privilege and art and how this university cared a lot about the classics, standards and traditions. That theme runs consistently through the episode and is part of how Crispin’s character affects everyone and their world.
Doyle isn’t from that world, but he works diligently to fit in that world. That was fun to play because there’s this level of awareness of it, as the character has, that they need to push themselves in ways other kids don’t.
MM: Describe “Pickman’s Model” using three words.
JNA: Unexpected, engaging and perfectly-Guillermo-del-Toro.
MM: What can audiences expect when watching your episode?
JNA: Expect the unexpected. I love Guillermo del Toro’s work because he always has a real heart in his stories. He goes further than I think many other shows, creatives and directors tend to go. He is so willing to get to the crux of the story. It’s true to form for his style of work. He’s one of the greatest directors of the 21st century. I’m obsessed with him.
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MM: Did you get a chance to interact with him?
JNA: He’s such a busy dude, so we didn’t meet personally. But I talked to Keith, our director, and he told me Guillermo was watching every single one of the dailies. He would watch every scene we would shoot and give a thumbs up or a plan B. At that point, we were early in the process, and Keith said the boss guy was happy, so that was a vote of confidence.
MM: What was it like working alongside Crispin Glover and Ben Barnes?
JNA: Really incredible. Those guys are consummate professionals. It was a treat. Crispin does exceptional work in this. I used to watch Charlie’s Angels, and I know everyone knows him for so many other jobs, but Charlie’s Angels, I’ve seen that movie maybe 200 times. That was cool. Ben is an awesome guy, a friend of mine now, I would say. He’s great at listening and being present. Super grateful.
MM: Are you a fan of horror? Is this a genre you would like to continue exploring as an actor?
JNA: I love horror with — I don’t want to say substance, but for example, Hereditary is one of my favorite movies. I love a good sleepover movie, like the ’90s I Know What You Did Last Summer vibe. But I think there’s something to be said about the lengths this genre can go that others don’t, that I love. I love it when it’s character-driven. I want to play in that genre for as long as I can.
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MM: What else is on the horizon for you, career-wise?
JNA: I’m early on in my career. I want to play with range as much as possible, so my rule right now is that the next job I do has to be different from the last one. So, I’ll be appearing in a Hallmark Christmas original film.
MM: That’s a little different.
JNA: It’s as different as you can get, and it was a blast. I got to play this happy-go-lucky dude. That’s out this December.
MM: Have you watched anything interesting lately?
JNA: I saw Tár. Cate Blanchett is always riveting for me. I’m very excited about Triangle of Sadness. I’m ready for that movie.
MM: Name your top five favorite films.
JNA: Home Alone. Hereditary. Now and Then. La Pianiste with Isabelle Huppert. The Family Stone. These are all standouts for me.
MM: Thank you so much for chatting with me, Jonathan!
JNA: Thank you, Melody!
You can follow Jonathan on Instagram (@jonathanneilalexander). Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities is now streaming on Netflix.
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What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events.
Who I am: Before moving to Los Angeles after studying theater in college, I was born and raised in Amish country, Ohio. No, I am not Amish, even if I sometimes sport a modest bonnet.
Bylines in: Tell-Tale TV, Culturess, Sideshow Collectibles, and inkMend on Medium.
Critic: Rotten Tomatoes, CherryPicks, and the Hollywood Creative Alliance.
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