On hit shows such as “Euphoria” and “You,” Lukas Gage has perfected the art of being captivatingly chaotic. Though experiencing a golden shower during the latter’s fourth season might not have been on the actor’s bucket list, it’s on brand for his fearless approach to exploring unconventional territory, which has become a hallmark of his ever-ascending career.
Admirably, it’s one filled with bold detours and exhilarating choices, like an encounter with Murray Bartlett during “The White Lotus,” an iconic sex scene that got the internet talking about rimjobs. Then, in the supernatural detective comedy-drama “Dead Boy Detectives,” released earlier this year on Netflix, Gage pounced into the role of the Cat King, an unabashedly queer feline-human hybrid.
With his latest film, “Smile 2,” Gage dives headfirst into thought-provoking horror with yet another balls-to-the-wall role that manages to turn his handsome, real-life smile into a terrifying grimace, proving that sometimes the most intriguing stories come with a side of deliciously dark humor. Written and directed by Parker Finn, the film offers a twisted take on stardom. It follows pop star Skye Riley (Naomi Scott) as she confronts her past trauma triggered by a series of horrific and gruesome events unfolding around her.
As Lewis Fregoli, Quinn’s former classmate and drug dealer, Gage is so terrifying in the film that when we connected on a video call recently, I began by jokingly asking him not to smile (“I’ll try not to,” he assured, laughing — though he still did, abundantly). During our candid conversation, it became clear that Gage isn’t just here to play roles; he’s treading these waters with intent, redefining what it means to be compellingly complex in Hollywood.
On a break from filming in the mountains of Spain, Gage spoke about the origins and inspirations behind his daring and nontraditional choices across diverse roles. He also reflected on his fans, who are so enamored that no tweet is too thirsty for them.
Based on the offbeat roles you’ve taken, when did you realize that committing to the unexpected and the not-so-politically correct was the path you wanted to take as an actor?
I think, honestly, it comes from a deep fear of being boring, and it maybe comes from a deep fear of not getting enough attention when I was younger, so I knew I had to do stuff that was sometimes big and loud. I have empathy for characters that really go to those places and do some things a lot of people see as unlikable or that maybe are unlikable, and I try to tap into why they are the way they are instead of judging them. But I’m just inspired by interesting, bold performers like Gena Rowlands and Ellen Burstyn, who play characters that are bigger than life, but still grounded.
I imagine you admire Ellen Burstyn in “Requiem for a Dream” then.
I mean, one of the best performances.
When I see you perform, I often think about what it would be like if you collaborated with queer filmmakers like Gregg Araki or John Waters.
Yeah, I would love that. Give me some “Doom.” Give me some “Serial Mom.” They are definitely on my list of filmmakers that I looked up to and I am just in awe of when I would watch their films. Harmony Korine was another one growing up that I was just shocked by, and, growing up, some of the Pasolini Italian films from the ’60s that were doing things that were pushing the boundary. And people, when they watched it, were very shocked, and some people were disturbed by it. I admire that bravery in filmmakers.
For “Smile 2,” what went into creating a look — both the smile and the eyes — that was effectively horrifying?
I mean, I just watched “Smile” a bunch and I practiced in the mirror. I think a lot of it comes from the stillness. A lot of it comes with taking your time and not rushing any moment in the little micro movements and the little micro eye movements. I worked with this lady named Julia Crockett, who’s a movement coach, and she really helped me try new things and get in my body and try different micro movements with my face. That was a new thing that I hadn’t really been familiar with, and now it’s something that I do in everything I work on.
What qualities do you think make Skye a potential gay icon?
I think her looks, the dance moves, and the pop music itself is very queer and very fun. Her vulnerability and her sadness too. I feel that’s why we connect with Lana Del Rey and Miley Cyrus. Their vulnerability and honesty to talk about things that some pop stars won’t is why a lot of people relate to them, and I think Skye Riley does that in a way.
Her relationships with men and women in this film seems to be pretty ambiguous, maybe intentionally so. How do you read her sexuality in this film?
I think it’s the same thing with her performances: You can’t put them in a box, and I think that Skye Riley as a character, you can’t put her in a box. You saw that she had an ex-boyfriend, but she seems like the kind of character who definitely experimented and is open to anything, but she has a complicated relationship with both male and female figures in her life. I mean, [and] complicated mom issues. We don’t know anything about where her dad went, why he’s not in the picture. We don’t know. Her female friends are not great. The way that she treats men is not great. I mean, it’s just all very, very, very layered and interesting and not defined.
How do you connect with Skye’s experience of dealing with public expectations? And how do you navigate that pressure in relation to your queerness and the ways others try to box you in?
I think I’m still figuring it out, and it’s still a thing that’s a work in progress. I have a hard time with where the intersection of private and public meets and how much I should share with the world and how much I want to keep to myself because it’s sacred to me.
Tina Fey said something recently in an interview about authenticity coming at a price, and authenticity is expensive, and as you gain more success, you’re going to want to give less away to the world because that’s important to you. I’m doing a bad job of paraphrasing, but it’s true. I think that I’m still figuring it out, and I want to be someone that is someone that can be a role model and someone that can be looked up to and someone that I maybe didn’t have as a kid, but also I’m not perfect and I’m damaged just like Skye is, and I have my faults and I’m definitely a work in progress, as we all are.
So I feel an immense amount of pressure at times that I should have it all together, but then I remember that I’m a human and I’m going to make mistakes, and that’s why we love characters like Skye because she is so cracked and so vulnerable and so raw and so layered and so poised, at times, and then at other times she is just a complete mess. And I think we all are, and I think that’s why Naomi’s character is resonating with so many people and getting such amazing reviews — it’s not just playing this idea of this pop star. I mean, she is really, really doing something amazing with that performance.
There’s been talk on social media about how this is, perhaps, your hottest role to date, something I’d like to better understand. One fan wrote on X, “I don’t know what’s wrong with me, but Lukas Gage in ‘Smile 2’ is the most attractive I’ve ever found him.” As someone who has become familiar with fan thirst, how do you explain this kind of thirst?
Look, maybe it’s kind of like that thing when you try too hard, but with anything, the opposite thing happens. I tried my best to not be sexy and to be as messy and unfiltered as possible, and so maybe that’s a great note to myself to stop trying too hard because when I try to be hot, it’s probably not, and when I try to be a manic, unhinged drug addict, I guess it’s sexy.
On the topic of thirsty tweets, you had read some for BuzzFeed a couple of years ago, and one was “Lukas Gage better show me his hole.” The internet is obviously not real life. How do your fans express that level of enthusiasm when they meet you?
Well, they definitely don’t say that to my face. [Laughs.] I think people can be a lot bolder on the internet and behind a screen than they can to your face, which can be not a great thing at times. But no, I mean, it’s funny. It’s kind of flattering, I think. Not really. I don’t know. It’s just insane that people think that, I guess, about me. But everyone in person is very kind, and like yourself, very supportive and says very nice things about the boldness and that the representation has been very cool to see. So that means a lot.
Thanks to you, the LGBTQ+ and kink communities have increased representation when it comes to rimming and golden showers. Is there a motivating factor for you in taking on these roles, knowing that you can contribute to queer culture and influence perceptions of sexuality?
I wish I could tell you that I went in, when I started my career, with that goal, but I honestly can’t say that. I can’t say it was an intentional thing to do. I wish I could take credit for that, but no.
It kind of just came to me, and maybe it’s something about me that people picked up on, or maybe I have a European sensibility about nudity or sexuality. So I think maybe people saw that in me, and then those roles started to come in, but it wasn’t an intentional thing. But if it did that and it helped people have an open conversation about sexuality or their kinks or sex positivity, that’s amazing. What a plus to do that. But no, I can’t say it was an intentional thing to do. I wish I could take credit for that, but no.
How do you hope queer sex will evolve on screen 10 years from now?
Hopefully it won’t even be so revolutionary…it will just be. It’ll just be so normal and so openly talked about.
I revisited “Down Low” recently, and I still can’t believe that you said “virgin hole” in front of Audra McDonald.
I can’t either. [Laughs.]
But you wrote it.
I did. But I didn’t realize that I would be doing it in front of a six-time Tony Award-winning actress! That was just one of those pinch-me moments where I can’t believe that I was able to convince Audra McDonald, Judith Light, Zachary Quinto and Simon Rex to do this script that I wrote with my best friend on the couch, and writing the most insane, provocative jokes to make each other laugh, and then somehow getting these award-winning actors to agree to do it was… I mean, it was just amazing. And I think it was one of the first times I was not the supporting character, to have a leading role and go toe to toe with these people I’ve looked up to for such a long time. It was a privilege, and I can’t wait to have my next project be made.
Is it in the works? I hope it’s as outlandish as “Down Low” was.
It is in the works, yeah. And I promise it will be.