Exclusive Interview - Cody Christian

Bello

Do you remember how you felt when you first heard the news that you got the part of Theo?

I wish I could say it was an overwhelming feeling, but when I first auditioned for Theo, the character was supposed to be in-and-out in three episodes. My team and I went for it because it fit perfectly into my schedule. So when I first got the news, we celebrated of course -- you have to celebrate the little wins in an industry like this -- but then the character started to blossom. Then three episodes turned into thirty, and two and a half years of my life.

What do you think it is about TEEN WOLF that makes it resonate so strongly with its audience?

I think when TEEN WOLF really started to hit, around season two and three, it really started to discover its own unique way of embracing the sense of humanity within its supernatural realm. Regardless of werewolves trying to kill each other, or a dark entity trying to take over the town, it still focuses on what everyone is really going through as developing adolescents. This is what allowed people to connect with the show on a deeper level because they saw a reflection of themselves within the show. And just as in life, we're all in a state of, not 'finding' ourselves, but discovering ourselves. The show puts its characters in situations where they are forced to make decisions about who they are. We see our alpha character become the leader that he is -- not the leader that he was destined to be -- but the leader that he needed to be. I'm very, very grateful to have been a part of this show. It means a lot to me, and I know for a fact that wherever I go from here, this show in particular will have a very special place in my heart. It opened me up to so much more in the industry, both personally and artistically.

Talk about what acting means to you as an artist.

I sincerely believe that acting is about the fine art of being alive. As an actor, through a performance I get to captivate an audience and allow them to feel something wholly and truthfully. I think that idea behind the art form is what inspired me to realize that acting is so much bigger than I had ever thought it was. It made me realize the potential you have as an actor to inspire others and show them 'this is life -- now go out and live it.' I also get to exercise my empathy muscle, and put myself in somebody else's shoes to be able to understand what separates us and what brings us together. Being an actor has made navigating through life so much easier because it allows you to see so many different perspectives.

You're in amazing shape. Describe your attitude when it comes to your training and health regimen, and how you stay motivated.

A healthy body is one of those things in life that you can't have without putting the work in. You can't buy a physique. If it's not a daily thing, you lose it. It's something you constantly have to be putting your energy, focus, dedication and time into. And once you start following a regimen like that, you start practicing this idea of making yourself accountable. If you want that, you have to do the work, you have to do the cardio, you have to stay on your diet. There's no way you can be training and eat anything you want and still get the physique you want to have. It doesn't work like that. The gym is my place to focus and grow mentally. In the gym, what you're able to do, is you're really able to face resistance. The goal is to endure this resistance so you can grow and be better. It's a constant state of being challenged, discovering your boundaries and then surpassing them.

When you're not working, what is your #1 favorite pastime?

I love gaming, especially first-person shooters. I'm very specific about what I like, but HALO is my favorite. It's the first game I played on my Xbox when I was eight-years-old, and I went through HALO 1, HALO 2, HALO 3, HALO Reach, HALO 4, HALO 5 -- I played all of them.

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