Round seven years in the past, actor Callum Blue took an excellent have a look at his life and determined he wanted a break from present enterprise. After starring in widespread tv collection and movies together with Useless Like Me, Smallville, and The Princess Diaries 2, Blue set out on the highway not sure if he’d ever return to Hollywood. Then a visitor position in Season 8 of ABC’s hit procedural 9-1-1 got here alongside and altered every little thing.
“I simply had a seven-year sabbatical from performing. I used to be on a TV present and a film on the similar time, and I checked out my life and myself and determined I wasn’t very comfortable, though I had this success and cash round me. I informed my brokers that I used to be happening a highway journey and I by no means got here again,” Blue informed Decider over Zoom. “I’ve had bits and items right here and there over time that have been simply straight affords. However 9-1-1 is my first job again from that sabbatical… and it has actually made me fall in love with performing once more.”
Blue made his 9-1-1 debut within the Season 8 premiere as actor Brad Torrence, the star of Hotshots, a firefighter present the place Peter Krause’s Bobby now works on as a technical advisor. Although most of Blue’s scenes within the first 4 episode have been filmed on the Hotshots set, he additionally acquired a front-row seat to the conclusion of Season 8’s large premiere emergency in Episode 3.
Episode 4 ends with Bobby returning to the 118 and Brian Thompson’s Captain Gerrard taking his place on set, however Blue assures us followers haven’t seen the final of his character or the Hotshots storyline simply but. For extra 9-1-1 Season 8 teases, heartwarming on-set experiences, and behind-the-scenes insights, learn our full interview with Blue under.
DECIDER: Earlier than we dive into Season 8, inform me a bit about the way you joined the present.
CALLUM BLUE: I really simply had a six or seven-year sabbatical from performing. About seven years in the past, I used to be on a TV present and a film on the similar time, and I checked out my life and I checked out myself and determined I wasn’t very comfortable, though I had this success and cash round me. So I informed my brokers that I used to be happening a highway journey and I by no means got here again. [Laughs] I’ve had bits and items right here and there over time that have been simply straight affords. However that is my first job again from that sabbatical, so I didn’t even have any brokers or managers. A buddy of mine from 20 years in the past, who produced certainly one of my first films, grew to become a supervisor and she or he was like, “Don’t you need to come again into the enterprise?” I used to be like, “I’m not too positive, to be trustworthy. I’m actually loving simply sitting on a mountain in Palm Springs and meditating.” And he or she mentioned, “I’m going to ship auditions your manner.” And I mentioned, “OK, we’ll see what occurs.” After which this audition got here up and it has actually made me fall in love with performing once more.
Oh my gosh! 9-1-1‘s energy.
Yeah. I’m having such an excellent time and being on set once more in any case these years. And being round these excessive vibrational individuals and actors — it’s simply such a dream come true. So yeah, it was simply an audition. She despatched me a number of auditions my manner, and I put in on tape, after which instantly I used to be on set.
Effectively Hotshots is hilarious. I really like the way it’s each extraordinarily meta and provides you the chance to do that layered performing as Brad Torrence and as Captain Race Banner. Followers have been loving it, it seems to be such as you’re having a blast, and I do know Peter Krause is an enormous fan of Hotshots. What was it like working so carefully on that?
It’s so superb. I imply, I’ve been a fan of his since Six Toes Beneath. It’s so humorous, I informed him the opposite day that I used to be in a TV present referred to as Useless Like Me on Showtime on the similar time he was on Six Toes Beneath on HBO, and I might do these press conferences for Useless Like Me. And since it was all about demise, they might ask me concerning the comparisons. I might spend extra time speaking about Six Toes Beneath than my present, and the individuals at Showtime could be like, “Come on, you’ve acquired to speak about our present extra.” I’ve at all times been a fan, so working with him was so superb. His pleasure about this side of the storyline is simply so contagious. He offers a lot, there’s a lot vitality there, and we’re simply having enjoyable with it.
Aw, I really like that. 9-1-1 is thought for its catastrophe episodes and you bought a entrance row seat the this large-scale premiere emergency. What was that wish to behold?
Initially, I had no thought the dimensions of this present. After I turned up on set and so they simply off-the-cuff informed me they have been going to close the freeway down with downtown within the background, I used to be like, “What sort of cash do we have now right here?!” [Laughs] It was such a superb expertise. And once more, particularly after having such a very long time off — to be in that environment the place the price range permits them to play, and go large, and use their imaginations…being round that vitality and the bigness of it, the dimensions of it, is so overwhelming and so superb. I simply really feel very, very blessed to have been there particularly on at the moment after we shut the entire freeway down. It was so enjoyable.
You additionally acquired to share a scene within the stolen 119 truck with Peter and Oliver Stark. I liked the joke about your accent. How was it performing along with your fellow Brit, Oliver? I noticed he took a beautiful photograph of you on set, so I think about you two hit it off.
We hit it off right away. It have to be the Brit factor. However instantly we have been like, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. He jokingly mentioned at one level, “It’s in my contract that there’s no different British individuals on the present.” [Laughs] So we laughed about that after which simply hit it off. He’s such a tremendous, lovely individual. And it’s nerve-wracking coming right into a forged that has been collectively for eight years. You’re making an attempt to slot in, and making an attempt to lift your stage of performing and your vibration to them. I acquired a bit nervous at one level, and Oliver despatched me essentially the most lovely textual content saying, “You’re doing a terrific job. It’s regular being nervous.” It’s such a giving forged, however particularly me and him hit it off right away. And that image was so lovely. He carries round this classic digital camera and is snapping away, capturing essentially the most lovely moments on set. I didn’t even know he was taking that image, so it’s an actual candid.
His images this season has been such successful. It’s so beneficiant of him to share and I hope we see extra of it. I’m glad you two acquired to share that scene collectively, and I’m glad Brad acquired to say his catchphrase, “Let’s saddle up, boys!”
[Laughs] I’m not going to provide an excessive amount of away, however I get to say that slightly bit extra. I’m going to attempt to make that work. I attempt to make that catch on.
So we haven’t seen the final of Brad and Hotshots but? I do know earlier within the season Peter mentioned Tim Minear liked the present inside a present a lot that he deliberate to take advantage of it for some time.
Yeah. What they’ve run with by way of Hotshots goes to blow your thoughts. It’s so enjoyable, so neat, and so they’re actually exploring this entire present inside a present.
I hope we see Brad go to the 118. Possibly he will get his dream weekend hanging with the firefighters. Possibly there’s a Hotshots emergency that the 118 responds to. Or we get to go see the play he co-wrote. [Laughs]
I’m the identical manner. I can see so many prospects with this storyline.
Effectively Brian Thomson’s Captain Gerrard has a really problematic previous on the present, but it surely looks like he could also be making an attempt to show over a brand new leaf since Buck saved his life. After he helps Hen nail Councilwoman Ortiz in Episode 4, he trades locations with Bobby and is so starstruck by Brad. Do you assume these two are going to get alongside? I’m positive Brad’s actually going to overlook Bobby…
I believe that Brad can inform who’s an actual hero and may be capable of see straight by Gerrard, as a result of he relates with him; the ego and the noise. The rationale that Brad is latching on to Bobby is as a result of he sees that divine masculine high quality in him — the nurturer, and the protector, and the giver. So he’ll possible see that Gerard isn’t that. I believe they could butt heads, and I don’t know if Brad may have any of this nonsense.
I can’t what to see what’s in retailer. Trying again at these first 4 episodes, what have you ever taken away from engaged on the present?
What involves thoughts first is that I’m simply awestruck at how this present and the actors and writers can stability motion, excessive comedy, and essentially the most lovely, touching moments. It’s very uncommon {that a} present can discover and specific all of these issues in such a fantastic and sensible manner. I don’t understand how they do it, however I discover myself watching the present and being so impressed. It’s simply unbelievable. And the one factor that I need to contact upon about being on set is how giving the forged is. I believe — really, I do know — that’s the explanation they’re so profitable. All the actors raise one another up and so they they’ve carried out that for me as properly. They egg one another on and say, “That was sensible.” It’s essentially the most giving forged that I’ve ever been part of. They’re finest buddies and they’re simply laughing, and joking, and enjoying video games always. It’s so a lot enjoyable for them to be there. And I believe that’s the secret of their success, as a result of if you’re having enjoyable with one thing, you discover the enjoyment and connections and relationships in one thing, then it’s acquired to be successful. What you’re seeing on display is actual behind the scenes as properly.
Oh that’s each fan’s dream to listen to. That’s so heartwarming. Talking of followers, what do it’s important to say to the 9-1-1 followers who’ve warmly welcomed Brad?
I want to say thanks. I get to specific the spoiled brat little little one in me that folks can’t specific in the true world as a result of we’d be in quite a lot of hassle. That’s the fantastic thing about being an actor, we are able to have tantrums, however Brad’s coronary heart is in the best place. The way in which he goes about issues clearly wouldn’t work in the true world, however the magnificence is I can specific that and have enjoyable with it. Thanks for embracing Brad. And simply keep in mind, his coronary heart is in the best place, and his journey is one to look at, as a result of we are able to all be taught one thing.
Earlier than we go, I’ve seen some 9-1-1 followers coming to the belief that you simply have been in The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement. Anne Hathaway just lately introduced Princess Diaries 3 is within the works. Regardless that you didn’t find yourself collectively, would you be open to returning as in some capability as a enjoyable little callback or one thing?
It was such an honor to be a part of such a basic, lovely film. I keep in mind once I was a child watching Mary Poppins with Julie Andrews and perhaps 5 or 6 years previous simply watching that and pondering, “I need to be in a Disney film sooner or later.” The truth that I ended up in my early 20s in a Disney film with Julie Andrews, who performed Mary Poppins, is sort of a dream come true. Manifestation is actual. I’m so honored to be part of that. And to be part of the third one? After all! I might say, I can’t think about how they might deliver him again, as a result of the joke was that that they had no chemistry in any way. However no matter occurs, I want all of them the luck and success on this planet, and I’m so excited to see it. They’re nice films. And I’m so comfortable that Chris Pine and Anne Hathaway type of went on to be two of the most important film stars on this planet. I’m their greatest cheerleaders, and so they have been such candy individuals.
This interview was edited for size and readability.
New episodes of 9-1-1 Season 8 premiere Thursdays at 8:00 p.m. ET on ABC.