Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Helstrom’s Trevor Roberts

Trevor Roberts is bringing the mystery and scares as Father Joshua Crow in Hulu’s latest hit series, Helstrom. Based off the popular Marvel Comics, Helstrom follows the lives of siblings Daimon (Tom Austen) and Ana Helstrom (Sydney Lemmon) as they chase down the worst of humanity—each with their own attitude and skills.

Trevor is a standout as Father Joshua Crow, a character who’s more than meets the eye.

Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to catch up with Trevor to chat about his career, Helstrom, and what it means to him to join the Marvel Universe.

Career

PC: How did you discover your passion for the arts?
Trevor: From a very young age, I was obsessed with television and movies. If I was into a movie, like Stand By Me, I’d watch it on repeat for six months. I started studying film and performances from an early age. Like a lot of kids, I did theater in high school and the bug bit me hard. As soon as I could, I was touring in shows with local youth theater companies and began dipping my toes into film and TV work.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Trevor: Wow. That’s a big one. I’ve been an acting instructor for kids and teens for over twenty years. My mentor, Carole Tarlington, is a huge influence on me, both as an instructor and an actor. There’s something so instructive to you as an actor when you help break something down for a teenager and are there to witness the lightbulb going off in their head moment. It’s joyful.

But, broader than that, I have to admit to being a child of ’80s television influenced me. I consumed everything…I might want to talk to my therapist about that one. I think taking in so much media and pop culture in a lifetime enables you to read a script and take the pulse of the project more quickly. You’re like, “Oh, yeah. I get what they’re doing here.”

PC: In addition to acting, you’re also a producer and writer. How has your work behind the scenes made you a stronger actor and vice versa?
Trevor: I think when you write and produce things, there’s so much refining of the story and script before it gets into anyone’s hands, so it makes me hyper-aware of how intentional and important everything on the page is. The writers toil over word choice and even punctuation. It’s all information as an actor, so it’s a respect thing if I can boil it down that way.

As for the other direction, the acting background helps with the musicality of a script, mostly in the dialogue. Some of my favorite stuff to write is quick-witted, jokes-flying-over-your-head-so-quickly-type comedies. Taking on one character’s side as you write and switching back and forth when you’re in the zone—it’s electric.

Helstrom

PC: Tell us about Helstrom, your character, and what drew you to this project.
Trevor: Helstrom comes to you as a horror series, born of comic books with a dark, supernatural thread through the story, but you quickly find out that it’s so much more relatable than you’d think. It’s about a family many years after they’ve been torn apart by their serial killer father. It’s about who Daimon and Ana Helstrom are now, how that pain has affected them each differently, and how they’ll come together to fight the most evil parts of humanity. It’s a really wonderful story.

I play Father Joshua Crow, a Catholic Priest who’s a confidant of Gabriella Rossetti. She goes to him for advice and guidance as she tries to navigate this world of exorcisms and possession, but within seconds of meeting Father Crow, you realize that this guy isn’t the priest we think he is. Wait, what did he just say? That’s not a spoiler…just watch. [laughs]

When I read the audition material that we were given for Helstrom, it was just so rich with potential for depth. The circumstances were so inhumane and unrelatable that you kind of had to ground yourself so deep in something real and truthful and let the situations play out and speak for themselves. It was really a fun audition process, but there were some tears.

PC: Did you feel any pressure heading into this project given that the series is based on a popular comic book franchise and you’re now a part of the Marvel family?
Trevor: I wouldn’t call it pressure so much as…yeah, there was pressure. [laughs] It’s a Marvel TV show! I think everyone involved—cast and crew, top to bottom—really wanted to make the best product for the fans as possible. You feel a real sense of honor hearing, “You’re part of the Marvel Universe,” so you want to do your part and make it as badass as possible. I remember going through these “OMFG” moments right after being brought on board, but quickly, you just get to work.

PC: Your character is described as “a priest who is more than meets the eye.” For you as an actor, how did you find that balance?
Trevor: I’ll keep it spoiler-free, but all the sides of Father Crow that I got to play show you that everyone, no matter how they seem from the outside looking in, or even how you see them through their actions, they all need love, acceptance, and their place at the table. So much of Father Crow’s story is framed by wanting to do good in the eyes of those whose approval he seeks. When things don’t always work out to play, dark things come up.

PC: What can you tease about Father Crow’s arc in Season 1?
Trevor: You’re going to see Father Crow used and abused. He takes it on the chin a little bit, gets tossed around like a bit of rag doll, but he always gets back up. Dude’s got resolve. I hope audiences get a kick out of the action, the approval-seeking, and even the darker sides of his personality.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Trevor: Survivor. Go ahead…come at me.

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Trevor: 50 First Dates.

PC: Favorite book?
Trevor: The Stand by Stephen King.

PC: Favorite play or musical?
Trevor: Damn you…just one? [laughs] The Who’s Tommy.

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Trevor: The Tragically Hip.

PC: Who would play you in the story of your life?
Trevor: Probably Jack Black or Tyler Labine.

To keep up with Trevor, follow him on Twitter and Instagram. Binge-watch Season 1 of Helstrom today.

Photo Credit: The Portrait Sessions