Alex Sharp, Actor

Tell us what you are up to now.
After leaving Curious Incident, I went pretty much right into shooting my first movie, How to Talk to Girls at Parties, in London, under the direction of genius John Cameron Mitchell (one of my favorite people ever—the man is a real artist). That has wrapped recently and now I’m in Los Angeles prepping for my next film, which starts shooting soon. It’s a monster role, so I have much work to do …

What was your most memorable performance in your debut Broadway run?
We did an “autism friendly” performance where the lights, sound, violent choreography, etc. were softer and adjusted for people on the spectrum and their families to be able to enjoy together. It was deeply moving to play the part for them. There was a moment every night when as Christopher, I looked out at the audience and focused on a woman in the fifth row, whoever I could find, whilst describing a memory of my mother whom I had lost. The brilliant actress and Juilliard alumna who played my mother [Enid Graham, Group 21] was on stage behind me, but I couldn’t look at her, so finding someone in the audience I could connect with helped me to make her more real. The evening of the “autism friendly” performance I looked out, and instead of finding one woman in the fifth row, I found myself looking at a sea of emotional mothers of children on the spectrum, who were looking right back at me. It was profoundly overwhelming and something I’ll never forget.

What is your favorite memory of Juilliard?
Watching Sekou Laidlow (Group 41) perform in Athol Fugard’s My Children! My Africa! in his fourth year. That man is unreal. I mean seriously. And I loved working on the play Noel Gallagher’s Guitar by the truly incredible and prophetic Emily Bohannon, in my fourth year, with the lads Alex Breaux, Colin Bates, and Marcus Guy. Oh, and every Deb Lapidus singing class where I would get to hear my classmate Austin Smith’s dulcet tones. Voice of an angel.

As a Tony Award winner, what do you aspire for?
To be as good as Sekou Laidlow one day!

Do you miss anything about being at Juilliard?
I miss being able to stroll down the hallway to the Dance Division and watch them do their thing. I remember watching a rehearsal for one of their shows once, through an open door for a while, and seeing Casia Vengoechea (BFA ’12) do a solo of some kind and thinking, “Yeah, easy, I could totally do that with my legs … Just the once though, and then I would be in hospital.” It’s inspiring to be in a building with other artists with whom you cannot even fathom how they do what they do. You just get to watch in wonder and admiration.

Who is one of the most inspiring people you met on your Juilliard journey?
Jim Houghton, head of the Drama Division. What he has done inside and outside of Juilliard, in his career, and how he conducts himself in a room—it was inspiring and educational. Then there are all the incredible artists he brought in to talk to us … Anna Deavere Smith, Mark Rylance, James Earl Jones, Edward Albee, Pam Mackinnon, Edward Norton, and on and on … Thanks Jim!

And your most influential teachers and mentors?
In terms of mentors, the administrative director of the Drama Division, Kathy Hood. There is no way I would have made it through Juilliard without her kindness, guidance, and wisdom, let alone be where I am now. She is an extremely special person and I love her. My manager, Elin Flack, is just incredible! And my agents at CAA, Peter, Alex, Joe, and Kevin … smart and genuine folks who I trust. Influential teachers: They all have a different and important effect, every teacher at Juilliard is incredible. However I must say that working under the direction of alumnus Jesse Perez in second year blew my mind — such a decent dude who helped me understand there are one thousand ways into any character, and that fearlessness is the key. He’s also hilarious. I’m lucky to have some really veteran mentors in the industry … immensely generous, kind, and wise folks whose words who I need to hear. 

What are some words of advice you'd like to share with our current students?  
Maintain perspective at all times.

Which project are you most looking forward to working on right now?
I’m looking forward to all of them … different project = different challenge!

Do you have a favorite book that you would want to turn into a movie?
The Artist as Citizen by Joseph W. Polisi. Let’s make that happen! I see it as a psychological action thriller. I would want to play Joseph.

Describe your ideal day off.
Maybe listening to live music on a beach with friends? Surfing? Preparing for my days ‘on’ … not sure really, depends where I am and what I am doing, I guess.

Is there a different career path you could have taken?
I would have loved to, and still may eventually, just be a carpenter. I think I could have been a singer in some capacity if I had chosen to give it my all, earlier on.

The character flaw in others that you can’t abide?
Saying you are going to do something, and then not doing it.

What was the luckiest moment in your life?
I once fell down an extremely huge flight of concrete stairs and was completely unscathed.

A talent you wish you possessed?
I wish I was technically savvy. I literally have no idea what is going on with computers, iPhones, etc., nor do I want to. I wish I wanted to, then I probably would be better at it, and then life would be much easier. And I would feel less stupid.

What musical instrument do you secretly long to play?
The harp. I used to stand outside Room 312 and listen to the harp players at Juilliard for extended periods of time when stressed!

Your favorite word?
Spelunking. I like the activity as much as I like the word.

(photo by Benedict Evans)