Hunter McVey Is Stepping Into A New Chapter In Hollywood
If you’ve ever wondered if you could juggle multiple things while staying true to yourself, you might want to take a lesson or two from Hunter McVey. Whether it’s modeling, entrepreneurship or acting, he’s not shying away from any of it. We caught up with Hunter to learn a little bit about his journey and what he has planned for the future, so keep reading below to step into his universe!
FEATURE INTERVIEW:
Let’s start in Franklin, Tennessee. What was Hunter like as a kid — were you the class clown, the quiet observer, or the one always creating something?
I don’t have too many memories in Franklin. Most of my childhood was spent in southern Indiana and then northern Virginia. I moved back to Tennessee in 2017, when I went to college, and my parents moved back here as well. So, I’ve called Nashville home for the last eight years or so, and it does feel like home now.
My childhood in Indiana and Virginia was quite a bit quieter than how I may be perceived online. I didn’t have too much confidence growing up. I was a huskier kid and didn’t really have a lot of self-confidence or like the way I looked, and I didn’t have too many friends. It’s quite a change from probably how a lot of people view me online in terms of the way I talk and how they see me on television.
People may think it’s always been that way, but it took quite a long time to develop confidence and belief in myself. I’m a little bit sillier and funnier with close friends, and a little bit quieter around people I don’t know.
Was there a moment in your childhood when you first realized you loved stories or performance? Maybe a movie, a scene, or even a person who made you see the world differently?
Oh, I loved stories growing up! My first memories of storytelling I enjoyed were my dad reading me the Magic Tree House books every night when I was really young. I got into reading at a pretty young age as well. In first grade, I was reading the Harry Potter books, the Percy Jackson series, The Series of Unfortunate Events, and the Eragon and Eldest dragon books. I was quite into fiction, and storytelling through books originally. That kind of fizzled away as I was forced to do more reading for school that was nonfiction.
But I’ve always had a more creative side due to my mom. She’s an artist. She’s painted murals her entire life for churches, houses, and huge custom pieces. She has always been keen on letting me express myself in ways that may seem a little bit out there or weird or non traditional—even allowing me to help her on painting projects. I’m super thankful for her creativity and support.
For golf tournaments growing up, we would splatter paint on our golf shirts and always looked a little bit crazier than the other golfers out there at the tournament. If I had to pick someone who gave me a sense of creative inspiration and allowed me to be the person I am today—it’s my mom.
You went to Virginia Tech — not exactly Hollywood. At what point did you feel the pull toward something more creative, and what was that turning point like?
When I was at Virginia Tech, I didn’t necessarily know I was going to go into a more creative field. My interest in creative avenues started when I was younger—I’ve always been curious and interested in a lot of different things. I had a ton of hobbies. In fifth grade, I was making YouTube videos modifying Nerf guns—painting and customizing them to sell on eBay. I did the same with custom fingerboards, kind of like Tech Decks.
I had a full workstation in the garage with drill presses and band saws, using seven-ply veneer to make the boards and sell them at school. Then I got really into gaming and started a video game channel in middle school, posting my gameplay with commentary—recorded in my very high voice at the time! After that, I got into building computers and PCs, and I started sharing that online too.
So, the fact that my job now is being an actor and content creator doesn’t feel random—it’s something I’ve naturally gravitated toward for a long time. There wasn’t really one defining moment when I knew I was going down a more creative path— until the beginning of 2023. I started posting on social media and told myself that if I posted every single day, I would quit my job by the end of the year. I just knew I didn’t want to work for anyone else for the rest of my life. I wanted to be my own boss. I felt like I had everything I needed from a traditional job perspective, but deep down, I knew there was more in the tank—something I hadn’t tapped into yet. That’s when I took the leap of faith and just started trying things.
You’ve lived multiple lives already — athlete, model, podcaster, entrepreneur. How do you think those chapters prepared you for stepping into acting?
Acting is so new and so different for me. One thing I think my journey has prepared me for is not fearing failure. Over the last 18 months, I’ve thrown a lot of stuff at the wall and seen what sticks. For most of my life, I saw failure as a bad thing—something to avoid. It scared me.
Now, it’s honestly exciting, because with each failure, you get closer to where you want to go. It’s a step toward finding what’s fulfilling and creating things you’re proud of. All those different ventures and avenues prepared me to not be afraid of failing. I was able to go into acting with an open mind, give it 110%, and just try my best.
When you found out you were cast as Blue Bennings in 9-1-1: Nashville, what was your first thought? Was it excitement, nerves, or that quiet “holy sh*t” moment?
I would have to say it was a combination of all three—times ten. There were a lot of different emotions. The mix of emotions just brought tears to my face when I got seated on the plane after they called me. I felt so much gratitude, because I had never had an opportunity like that before—it was so out of the blue and completely different from what I had been doing. I knew it could be something I’d really enjoy and that it could open incredible doors.
There is just so much gratitude for the people who made this opportunity happen and trusted me to come on the show to fill the massive shoes of the 9-1-1 universe. There wasn’t much time to think about it either—I just had to be like, “Let’s get rolling, and let’s get good at this!”
Ryan Murphy’s worlds are known for layered characters and intensity. How did you prepare to enter a universe that already has such a strong fanbase and tone?
It was 100% the preparation by the cast, crew, and production team. The people involved with the production had worked on previous Ryan Murphy shows, like the original 9-1-1, so they were able to guide me in terms of what to expect with the tone and rhythm of this world.
Everyone was incredibly supportive and generous with their insight, which made stepping into this universe such a rewarding experience. What you see on screen is a reflection of how dedicated the entire team is — from the actors to the crew who make everything possible behind the scenes. It’s a true testament to how special this production is.
Who is Blue Bennings to you? How would you describe him beyond the script — what made you connect with him on a personal level?
There’s a lot of things connected between Blue Bennings, my character, and Hunter McVey. The thing with Blue is he’s just now figuring things out. There’s a lot of firsts and a lot of big life events that are thrown at him. There’s no playbook on how to go about these things.
That aspect kind of feels parallel to me as an actor— I’m constantly learning and stepping into new experiences, so I really understood that feeling of being challenged and having to rise to the occasion. Blue’s dealing with the same thing by becoming a firefighter and navigating the crazy family dynamics.
I absolutely love how much Blue cares about the people that he loves and what he will do for them. He’s such a loyal guy. He takes care of the people he loves, but he’s also a little bit silly and out there, so I connected with that too.
This is your first big television role. What surprised you the most about being on set — something you didn’t expect before stepping into this world?
I did not expect how much attention to detail there is with every single take, every single prop, and every single set. Everything is produced meticulously, from picking up audio to the continuity of the exact level of water and wine in glasses in the background—every minute detail is taken into account. It is very impressive, and I am learning so much.
It’s 200-person ship that gets rolling every single day. The way each group of crew members, whether it be costumes, hair and makeup, lighting, or cameras – all work together seamlessly to come out with a masterpiece is such a professional and incredible thing to watch.
You’re often described as TV’s next breakout heartthrob. How do you feel about that label, and how do you balance that image with wanting to be taken seriously as an actor?
I don’t think I’m ever going to be able to control other people’s opinions, in terms of how they think about me or Blue. The thing I can focus on is becoming the best actor I can be and in bringing my 110% on a daily basis. The thing I want to focus on is making the fans of the 9-1-1 universe proud and making television that is engaging, entertaining, and tells a story. If those labels are thrown around, so be it – because I can’t control it. I hope people can see how hard everyone has worked on the show and get a lot of value and entertainment out of it.
Your podcast, Wholesome Degenerate, feels like a personal journal with a mic. Has exploring your own story on the podcast helped you as a storyteller on screen?
I would say so, because the purpose of the podcast was to give my audience a little bit more in-depth look into my life. A lot of people have found my social media pages, especially when I was doing a lot of fitness and modeling, so the podcast was an avenue for me to tell people about my life, the mistakes I’ve made, what I’ve learned, and hopefully target a younger version of me and save them some time and mistakes that I’ve made in my life.
I see a lot of social media being used as a highlight reel and people are just showing the best aspects of their life. I wanted to show people that I was just a normal guy. I didn’t always like the way I looked. I was not in shape my entire life. I’ve dealt with problems that everybody else experiences and I wasn’t always confident.
I wanted to show people that if they have the belief and the discipline to put some effort and energy into themselves, they can accomplish their dreams and the things that they want to change. So that was the main goal, and I think it has done a good job of making me a little bit of a better storyteller.
You’ve built a loyal following online for your fitness and mindset content. What’s the biggest misconception people might have about you before they meet you in real life?
The biggest misconception would be that I only care about what’s on the outside because I post shirtless photos, modeling photos in underwear, and fitness content. But really, I looked at social media as a business when I had started and tried a ton of different things. It just so happened that kind of content would have 10 times more engagement, which is better for views, and overall exposure and growth of the business.
I do appreciate what I’ve built, and I’ve done fitness wise. But it’s one of the last things that actually matters to me as a person. There’s quite a big difference from looking good on the outside and being a good person. There’s so much I’d like to share and have people know about me that aren’t just centered around what’s on the outside.
Fashion is a big part of how people express themselves in entertainment. How would you define your personal style, and who are the designers or aesthetics that inspire you most?
I would describe it as ever-changing. I can look back on yearbook photos from 10 years ago when I was in elementary school, and I have crazy tie-dye shirts on, a blonde mohawk, and bright blue checkerboard socks with like skater shoes on. I’ve always liked fashion as a way to express myself. I’ve never been scared of what people may think. I’ve always just kind of worn and done what I’ve wanted to do.
I don’t think there is a set word to describe my sense of style, because it always does change so much. You’re always finding new things, and new inspiration. A lot of these trends that are coming back right now are the styles that I enjoyed as a younger kid who loved skateboarding, longboarding, skate shoes, ripped jeans, chains, dyed hair, and all of that. I don’t put too much thought behind it besides if I feel good in it, then we’re going to have a good day.
From the gym to red carpets — two very different worlds. How do you shift between the discipline of fitness and the vulnerability of acting?
In retrospect, I would say the discipline I learned from the gym translates to a lot of other areas of my life. That’s something that I’ve preached quite a few times on my socials, because if you can build the discipline to get yourself in the gym multiple times a week, put good ingredient foods in your body, and do the things that you don’t want to do – that have delayed gratification – it can be easily translated to learning a new skill or having confidence and belief in yourself.
In the gym, you know it’s going to take years of repeated discipline and not getting immediate results to be where you want to be. I think that allowed me to go into this journey with the vulnerability involved with acting – in knowing that I’m not going to be perfect at the start. I’m going to mess things up and make mistakes. But if I can just keep looking down the road and keep doing the things that I need to do to improve and learn from my mistakes, then ultimately, it’s going to take me somewhere I want to go.
As someone who’s constantly evolving, what does success look like to you right now? Is it about fame, freedom, or something more internal?
I would say success looks like fulfillment in my eyes, which means quite a few different things for me. It’s very fulfilling for me to create and have people enjoy what I’ve created in terms of entertainment but also to help someone.
Ultimately, that is what I’m trying to do over the next few years, not only with acting. I’d like to create something that people find timeless, and my kids can look back on to enjoy. Also, I want to share my mistakes and the knowledge that I’ve learned in other aspects of my life to help others. That’s one of the most fulfilling things in this world to me—being able to provide value to the world, help others, and set the ones that I love up for success.
What’s one scene — from any movie or show — that made you fall in love with acting? The kind of moment that made you say, “I want to do that one day.”
Truthfully, this opportunity happened so fast and so unexpectedly that I don’t think there was a specific moment or TV show that prepared me or made me want to act. I’m just incredibly grateful that the opportunity presented itself, because it led me into a career that I absolutely love. I genuinely love going to work every single day. I love the people I work with, and acting has been the most fulfilling job I’ve ever had. If people can enjoy what we’re putting on screen— if it brings them entertainment, joy, value, a smile, or a laugh—that makes me incredibly happy. But no, there wasn’t one specific movie or television show that inspired it. It was just the right opportunity at the right time.
Finally, what do you hope people take away from watching 9-1-1: Nashville — and from meeting Hunter McVey for the first time?
I hope people can see the hard work that goes into creating the magic of this show—from the crew, the production team, and the 200 people who make this massive operation run every single day. The people I work with every day are truly the most hardworking, ambitious, creative, kind, and genuine individuals I’ve ever come across in my life. I hope audiences can feel that heart and dedication when they watch 9-1-1: Nashville. I hope they enjoy the scale of the disasters they’ve come to expect from the original 9-1-1, while also getting to know Nashville a little better.
And beyond the show, I hope that anyone who gets to know me or hears my story walks away with a little more belief in themselves—especially when it comes to things they may not think are possible. Whether it’s dreams, goals, or big aspirations, I hope they take away a small reminder that it is possible. That these things can happen. And that they should believe in themselves— without limiting beliefs or backing themselves into a corner.
TEAM CREDITS:
Editor-in-Chief: Prince Chenoa
Feature Editor: Taylor Winter Wilson (@taylorwinter)
Writer: Frida García D Adda (@fridadda_)
Photographer & Wardrobe Stylist: Blake Ballard
Grooming: Molly Rivers (@m0llyrivers)
