Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Grand Army’s Anthony Ippolito

Rising actor Anthony Ippolito is knocking it out of the park with his breakout performance in Netflix’s Grand Army. This new must-see drama follows a group of high school students as they struggle to become who they’re meant to be. It premiered in October and quickly became one of the top new shows of the fall.

Pop Culturalist had the pleasure of chatting with Anthony about discovering his passion for storytelling, what attracted him to Grand Army, and what it’s like playing a character who’s so different from who he is.

Career

PC: How did you discover your passion for acting?
Anthony: When I was younger, I was on a bunch of news shows for baseball, and I got hooked up with an agent through that. Certain films and TV shows had really resonated with me growing up, and I always loved immersing myself in the stories being told, so I eventually really started pursuing it as a career.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Anthony: So many things—it takes a village. My mother pursued acting back in the day and always looks back on the memories she made on stage so fondly. My coach, Lynette Sheldon, has been a huge mentor for me on this journey and I’m forever grateful to her. Also, just the brilliant actors of the past and present whose work touch and motivate me in a profound way.

Grand Army

PC: Tell us about Grand Army and what drew you to this project.
Anthony: Grand Army is a real look into the challenges of life for teens in 2020; it’s a tough time to grow up. Grand Army follows teens during this pivotal time in their lives as they struggle to be who they want to be.

Katie Cappiello’s writing and vision made me want to do this. I could tell she was committed to authenticity and truth. In an industry where so much of the contrary exists, I felt so grateful to be a part of this.

PC: You’re the complete opposite of your character, George. For you as an actor, is that more or less challenging?
Anthony: Every character has its own challenges, I think, whether they are like you or not. In some ways, it’s less challenging and quite freeing because I don’t identify with so much about him.

PC: This is your first role as a series regular. Did that bring any pressure to the role? What was the biggest takeaway from the experience?
Anthony: A little bit, but I felt so strongly about the material that it was more of an excited energy than a nervous one. The biggest takeaway for me was the true value in being an ensemble member. All of us put our all into telling this story and it was such a good feeling to be a part of something big.

PC: If you had to describe the first season in one sentence, what would it be?
Anthony: A heartbreakingly raw mirror of high school life that makes you think about things.

PC: With the series out now, what do you hope audiences take away?
Anthony: I hope audiences start having more conversations about the issues portrayed in the show. That’s the start to how changes are made. There are certain flaws in our social fabric that this show is exposing. These issues have been glossed over for far too long.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Anthony: Game of Thrones.

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Anthony: The Notebook.

PC: Favorite book?
Anthony: The Four Agreements.

PC: Favorite play or musical?
Anthony: Porgy and Bess.

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Anthony: Alejandro Aranda (scarypoolparty).

PC: Who would play you in the story of your life?
Anthony: Milo Ventimiglia.

To keep up with Anthony, follow him on Instagram. Binge-watch Season 1 of Grand Army on Netflix today.