By Kenn Gold

Daren Kagasoff was born an raised in Encino, California, and attended San Francisco State University.  He was very lucky in Hollywood, when he decided he wanted to be an actor and was picked in his first audition to play the role of Ricky Underwood on Brenda Hampton’s hit ABC Family series The Secret Life of the American Teenager.  Ricky is the father of Amy’s baby, and the bad boy ladies man with his own dark family past. 

Daren recently took the time to talk about how his character has developed, and the different moral shades that he gets to play as Ricky.

Question> Did you have any surprises about where the first season ended up and how your character evolved through season one?

Daren> Throughout the first season I was the kid that never really took responsibility for anything.  As far as hooking up with different girls and getting Amy pregnant, he really didn’t know what to do in that situation, so I’m hoping during the second season the fans get to see Ricky change a little bit and hopefully you get to see a better side to him.

Question> Would you say, is the character still going to be morally gray or in between or are we going to get to see that continued evolution towards good?

Daren> Definitely, you’ll definitely see him change.  There’s definitely a baby coming on the way, so he has to step it up.  I guess we’ll see what he ends up doing. 

Question> Could you talk maybe in some general terms about what they have coming up for you?

Daren> In the first season we touched on how my character was sexually abused when he was a kid, so this second season you get to see that unravel and get to go deeper into that side of it.  It was just real fun shooting it and I’m just excited to see the work that comes out of it. 

Question> What’s the favorite scene that you’ve done so far that we have seen?  And can you alert us to any certain episodes coming up or maybe certain scenes that we should watch for that are your best portrayal of Ricky? 

Daren> In the second season I think there’s so much drama going on, so every scene that Ricky is in, it’s very pivotal.  I don’t really have a particular scene that I love, because I love them all.  But I think the first season, the last episode that Jason Priestley directed we just had such a fun time, Megan Park just had some great dialogue scenes and we had a lot of fun with that last episode of the first season. 

Question> How much has the series meant to you?  I know it’s one of the first things you’ve done and me and all of your fans have really enjoyed seeing your progress as an actor, but how much has the series meant to you in terms of establishing yourself and getting recognized and getting set in your career? 

Daren> To be quite honest, I’m having the time of my life.  I couldn’t be more thankful.  The writers, the cast, everybody that’s a part of the project is absolutely phenomenal.  You want to be in that type of work environment, so I couldn’t have lucked out in a better situation and I’m trying to take full advantage of it.  When I have time off all I’m doing is studying for Secret Life, nothing else really is going on in my life as far as other acting projects, so all my time and effort is definitely going to Secret Life. 

Question> Is there anything about you that’s like Ricky or are the two of you alike in any way?  Is Ricky the kind of guy that Daren would hang out with or ever be a friend with?

Daren> To be quite honest, I think back in high school I’d be the guy to maybe straighten Ricky out a little bit.  Yes, we relate in some instances as far as, I don’t know, I guess girls were attracted to me in high school.  I don’t know if I had the game that Ricky had, but I guess we relate on that level, I don’t know.

Question> Why do you think the show continues to draw in so many viewers?

Daren> I think all the topics and issues that are dealt with on the show are very true to life and the demographic that we get are from very young kids from 11 all the way up to middle-aged adults.  I think the realness of the show and the issues that everybody goes through is real pivotal in why kids and everybody else is so attracted to the show. 

Question> Teen Vogue Magazine said that you’re currently in talks for your first film.  Is there anything you can tell us about that?

Daren> To be quite honest, I read that and I was like, “Why did they say that?” because I never said that.  I wish I was in talks with my first film.  There have been some opportunities that I haven’t really been able to tackle because of Secret Life and whatnot.  Hopefully in the near future we can get some other projects, but as of right now Secret Life is the number one priority. 

Question> Since this is your first gig, what advice do you have for people that want to get into acting? 

Daren> My advice is, the work, it’s all about the work.  Everybody thinks show business, it’s all the glamour and this and that.  If you’re getting into the business for those reasons, it’s completely wrong.  You just have to be dedicated.  You have to work hard at what you do.  I know that booking this role was the toughest thing in my life because we went through so many rounds of testing and auditioning and each time I was going back I was getting coached and you just have to work.  The work of it all is what it comes down to.  If you’re not dedicated in that, then you’re not going to see really any progress, so I guess just being dedicated and really knowing what you want out of acting. 

Question> Is there anyone that stands out that you’ve gotten to work with in the 2^nd season that you didn’t in the first? 

Daren> In the first season, I really worked with most of the girls because I had so many love interests.  But the second season you get to see me work with Kenny Baumann and then Greg Finley a little bit, so it switches it up.  You get to see some of the boys just having some great scenes.  It was just so fun changing it up and working with the other actors on set.   

Question> What actors would you say that you most admire?

Daren> Actors, I would probably say Sean Penn, I absolutely just look up to and idolize and Leonardo DiCaprio.  Those two, I don’t think it gets any better that as far as artisticness and professionalism, as far as what they want at the job at hand and getting it done.  So I think those two guys I’d definitely love to try and be like, I guess you could say.

Question> Is it hard to relate to the scope of the issues that your character is dealing with? 

Daren> Yes, I think it’s definitely difficult. I know that in high school a lot of people go through a lot of issues.  They’re growing up.  They’re going through puberty.  They’re doing this. They’re doing that, so it’s definitely a crucial time in a young adult’s life.  So I think the issues that are brought up in Secret Life really are true and the kids, the way that we respond to them and handle these issues, I think is a true testament to society. 

Question> What are your personal views on getting married at 15?

Daren> Personal views, I’d say I wouldn’t suggest it, but if you get that love bug, what can you do?  I’m not one to tell anybody else how to live their life.  I don’t think I’d get married at 15.  Well, I’m not married, so. 

Question> How is the show affecting your personal life? 

Daren> I’m just, I guess, a face on TV.  I’m still the same Daren that I was a year ago before the show started I guess it’s just people come up to you now, and that’s, I guess, what you get when you get into this business.  As far as me, I haven’t changed.  It’s just I’m on TV and people recognize me once in a while. 

Question> What are you looking forward to exploring in season two?

Daren> We’re definitely going to more in depth with my character and as far as his background when he was sexually abused as a child, so I’m excited for everybody to see that deeper side of Ricky and you’ll get to see some true emotion out of him.  That’s just a soft subject, I guess, and it’s going to be great to see the audience’s reaction. 

Question> How do you get into Ricky’s head concerning his sexual abuse past?

Daren> To be quite honest, I don’t want to reveal what I do because it’s a personal thing.  But definitely, you have to take yourself to the darkest place possible.  It’s haunting to get to that place.  I know that when I was shooting specific scenes for the second season from studying and really honing in this character, I had knots in my stomach.  I couldn’t eat because I was waiting to shoot this one scene or these couple of scenes.  It’s tough when you really take yourself to that place because it’s such a real place.  It’s an adventure. 

Question> The scene that you mentioned having with Molly Ringwald, can you give us any insight to what that was like?  You got her daughter pregnant or your character got her daughter pregnant, is that a contentious scene or a fun one to film?

Daren> You know, we haven’t even shot it yet.  We’re on break right now, so when we get back we’re going to be shooting it.  So from what I’ve read, it’s a great scene.  It’s a great scene and it’s the first one that I have with Molly and it’s a pretty pivotal scene.  I’m excited, nervous.  I’ve got butterflies to shoot it with her, but I’m going to do my thing, so I’m just excited to get back on set and do it.

Question> What do you want to do for your career?  What would be the perfect TV series or movie and where do you want to end up with this? 

Daren> You know, I do have high aspirations for myself, but it’s really hard for me to think in the future right now because I’m so content with where I’m at and just working on the whole craft of acting, because again, this is my first gig.  So I guess, just keep progressing and the show is here, it’s doing great, so I’m just thankful to be a part of that.  Hopefully in the near future, I can get some movies.  I’d definitely love to move into the movie business, I don’t know.  I’d like to explore different characters, so we’ll see.  I’m definitely very creative, so hopefully in the future I can get some good stuff so I can really show my acting. 

Question> What kind of genre would you like?  Do you want to do comedy if you could?  Would you like to do horror, dramas?

Daren> I think drama, definitely drama.  Last night I actually saw Revolutionary Road, the new Leo movie and it was set in the ‘50s.  That to me right there, I have to do a movie in that era, have to, so something along those lines.  I’m more of like old school, so more of that type of genre, I believe.