Listen to the interview here
By Shaun Daily
Television newcomer Daren Kagasoff landed what may be a dream role on ABC Family’s hit series, The Secret Life Of The American Teenager in one of his first auditions. He plays the bad boy Ricky, who is the father of Amy’s baby. Though his character bed hops, and seems to be out for himself, Daren reveals that there may be more depth to the character than it would seem at first.
Daren recently stopped by TV Talk to discuss the character that he plays in his first stint in front of the camera.
Were you surprised that the show took off like it did? I mean, 100% retention of it’s audience. I’ve been following TV for years and that’s unheard of in television.
Daren> Yeah, it was pretty crazy. I haven’t been in this business long enough to know what a good series is, and what isn’t. But Brenda Hampton is very well renowned as a producer and has been in the business for awhile. She had that hit show, 7TH Heaven. So I had faith in her. But once the show finally took off, I’m like, “This is insane! I’m living a dream.”
It’s incredible. Have you had any fan encounters? Do you get more recognized now because of the show?
Daren> Yeah, it’s pretty crazy. Walking down the street and you have people staring and whispering. You don’t know if they’re whispering because they think you’re cute or they know you’re from the show. It’s like, “What’s going on here?” But it’s crazy.
Probably once the season is over, you’re going to walk into a store and somebody is going to smack you with a purse because they think you’re sleeping around with all these chicks.
Daren> I know, it’s so funny because I’m not like that at all in my real life. I’m not a jerk, I don’t think.
Yeah, but a lot of people can’t separate the character from the actor. So it’ll be interesting to see what happens when the season’s over.
Daren> Yeah, I’ve read some things. I love reading when people say, “I hate Ricky, he’s this, he’s that.” That means I’m doing a good job. I want people to kind of dislike me, but like me at the same time.
What did you think when you first got this role? You’re playing this guy who sleeps with all these girls, but he was sexually abused. It’s a huge undertaking, but you’re playing the role very well.
Daren> Thank you so much! Honestly, when I got the sides and read the first couple of episodes, you really start to see where they’re going to take this character and what he’s about. The character, Ricky, has got so many different sides to him. He’s a Don Juan with the ladies, he’s a jerk to the guys, he thinks he’s something. Then when he gets into his therapist’s office, that’s the only time he’s true. That’s the only time you see a person and a person’s feelings. My therapist knows Ricky; he knows what he’s about. He gets to him, and that’s the only time you see the true Ricky.
Has it become harder to balance your personal life with your rising popularity?
Daren> Not really. I got into this business to be an actor, to be an artist, to tell a story through someone else’s eyes. I’m just thankful for it all to be happening, to have fans, and for people to love the show. So it hasn’t really interfered or anything. I’m hoping it doesn’t, but I’m just thankful for all the buzz it’s gotten.
Do you ever have a hard time separating yourself from Ricky?
Daren> No, not at all. What’s on set is on set, and what’s off set is off. When I step on there and put on the gear and the clothes, then I’m Ricky. But once I’m off, it’s just Daren; the real guy reading scripts and trying to get another job out there. I think I’d find that more difficult if I were shooting a movie, but with the TV series, it’s very easy to just be me. Then once it’s action, it’s Ricky time. My personality to his personality is so different.
So you’re not bed hopping then?
Daren> No, I don’t think so, I’m not that lucky.
So now we’re seeing that maybe Ricky is starting to develop feelings for Grace. But in last week’s episode, it seems like Ricky is starting to get his own theme music.
Daren> Yeah, you never know what you’re going to get with Ricky. He could be true, he could be honest with Grace, but you never know. There could be an ulterior motive. I like to think of Ricky as a shark; he keeps his head above water, eats what he can, and spits out the rest. He has no care of anybody’s feelings. He’s an opportunist in my opinion. He does what he can to benefit himself, with no regard for anybody else.
How great is it playing against Ernie Hudson as the therapist?
Daren> It is unbelievable. That first episode was my first time in front of a camera. I remember the second day I’ve ever been on set I had to shoot that scene, and I’ve never been so nervous in all of my life to do something. I know the guy has a resume the size of King Kong. The guy has hundreds of things on there and this is my first job, so I really wanted to show that this kid could compete and could act. So it was definitely great to have that as my first day on the set, with that scene. He’s such a giving actor, while you are shooting the scene, it’s like the cameras aren’t even there. It’s like I’m in the therapist’s office.
How did you get the gig as Ricky?
Daren> Yeah, I auditioned and it took six or seven times as far as call backs or testings. They tested me three times, and the network wasn’t sold on me because I didn’t have any experience. They were afraid to give me one of the lead roles without any experience in front of the camera. But Brenda Hampton, the Executive producer and creator of the show saw something in me. The second she saw me audition for the role, even in the callbacks, she knew I was the guy. She kept pushing and finally she got her way. She came to my a house a week later after they’d put me on a ten day hold, to tell me I’d gotten the part. And she brought me a dozen roses. She’s a pure genius, and I just adore her to the fullest. I just absolutely adore her professionalism, and her creativity. She’s got so many things on her plate and to knock them out the way that she does, I could only wish to be that successful and great.
What did you think about the subject matter when you first heard about this show? It’s pretty heavy subject matter.
Daren> Yeah, it definitely is. But I think it’s a great network to be on. ABC Family is directed towards the teenagers, and the demographic is younger, I would assume. With our show it kind of really glorifies the consequences of what happens in high school, whether it’s teen pregnancy or gossip, how rumors can start like this one sleeping with this one or that one. So it’s really true to reality, which is why I think a lot of kids can relate to it and enjoy watching the show.
It’s amazing. I keep telling people to sit down and watch the show for three episodes and you’ll be hooked.
Daren> Yeah, you get hooked. Even the parents are starting to get their stories rolling after the last episode. It’s getting juicy. You know, you read the script as one of the actors in it, and you know what’s going to happen. But you just go in and shoot your stuff, and you don’t really know what the outcomes going to be until you see it on TV. For me, being in the show, I hate watching myself on TV, but I love watching everybody else. When I see it all pieced together, it’s like, “Oh my God”, it’s crazy. Each time I get pulled into it more, and more.
How did you feel about doing the scenes with the broken bottle, and with your shirt off?
Daren> You know, I’m the type of person that I’m open to anything. If Brenda Hampton said, “Daren, I want you to run through this brick wall for me”, I’d do it. Whatever they tell me to do, I’m going to do. I’m the actor, if the director is there and that’s what they want, they’re going to get it. With any nudity or anything, I’m very comfortable with it. It’s not about showing off my body or anything. If that’s what the scene calls for I’m going to do it.
I’m really impressed with the casting of Grace’s brother, the kid with
Downs. We haven’t seen anything like that since Life Goes On, that they would cast somebody in a role like that and treat it with such respect. So congratulations to the show for that.
Daren> Yeah, Luke Zimmerman is the most unbelievable guy I’ve met. He’s an unbelievable actor and an unbelievable human being. Just talking to him and having conversations with him while we are just sitting by the chairs is amazing to hear him speak about the different stuff he does compared to my life. I can kind of relate to having someone with a disability in your life. Right when I met him, we just hit it off right away, and I just love doing scenes with him.
It seemed like Ricky had some guilt last night when he went into the therapist’s office. It was almost like he didn’t want to say it.
Daren> Yeah, I think at this point, Ricky is kind of understanding himself more. Reality hit him. He’s always been the guy who could get away with everything, do whatever he wants, living in the foster home. His foster mother is amazing, loves him to death, but he doesn’t see that. I guess with this pregnancy, and finding out he could have gotten this girl pregnant, he’s starting to rethink his values, what he wants to do with his life. I guess you could say he felt pretty guilty walking in there.
Are you looking for something to do in the off season? You have to be pretty close to wrapping up.
Daren> Yeah, today was the last day actually for me. We finished 11 today, and we got picked up for 13 more. So we’re shooting 12 more when we come back in September and we start shooting all the way through December. So I’m locked into it for awhile, but I’ve been talking to do some movies and stuff. It’s just a matter of what direction I want to take my career next, and with the vigorous shooting schedule, we’ll just see when I have some time to do something else.
Is it nerve wracking at all to know how much some people are getting into this character?
Daren> Yeah, I’d never have thought I’d be reading certain blogs on ABC family about my character, and everybody’s character. They really know every little detail that happens and they’re so into the relationships and how they should change or shouldn’t change. It’s great to have people tune in and write about the characters, because it means they really care. If that keeps happening, I think it means we’re going to have a great run I think.
What does your family think about all of this, and the show taking off?
Daren> They’re just so happy for me. They were the ones who started it all for me. I was up in
San Francisco
State, and after the first year and half I decided I wanted to pursue acting, and right from the get go, they were supportive and put me in acting classes. This was my sixth audition and luckily for me, I booked a job. I’m just thankful for the support from them, from Brenda Hampton, and everybody on the crew. It’s just an experience, and I’ll never forget it ever in my life.
Who are your acting inspirations? What inspired you to become an actor?
Daren> I was up at school taking business management classes, and I didn’t really know what I wanted to do. I was just kind of there to make my parents happy. But I’ve always had this thing inside of me wanting to perform. But growing up as a baseball player with my dad, I could never flaunt that I wanted to perform, because that would not have been ok. But once he knew I wasn’t going to play professional baseball he was ok. He was like, “Daren, figure it out and whatever happens happens.” I always wanted to try acting, so when I moved back home, I jumped into some classes and when I started my first class I knew I was in love with it, and couldn’t do anything else.
Are you prepared for the show to run multiple years, like 7th Heaven?
Daren> I’m very prepared. I’m more than happy to be on the show for as long it runs, and do anything they want me to do. It’s been a great run so far and everybody on set keeps saying it’s going to be a real long run.
Have you had girls throw themselves at you yet, because they think you’re this character?
Daren> Not like throw themselves, but definitely it’s never been like this for me ever before. They recognize me, and come up and talk. But I don’t care who they are, what it is, I’m just so happy for people to recognize me, it’s just an amazing feeling. I’m on top of the world. It’s just an amazing feeling for somebody to like you because of a show, and I’m happy it’s having this effect on people.
