Brady M. Ryan, the 17-year-old actor of Puerto Rican, Cuban, and Irish heritage, is quickly making a name for himself in the entertainment industry. After winning over audiences with his performance in The Black Phone, directed by Scott Derrickson, Brady continues to impress with lead roles in short films like Sons of Nowhere and the live-action Harold and the Purple Crayon (2024). In addition to his on-screen talent, Brady is also dedicated to voice acting, sports, and his studies, proving to be a rising star with a bright future ahead.
You’ve delivered impressive performances in films like “The Black Phone” and the short film “Sons of Nowhere.” How do you prepare emotionally for such intense roles?
As I study the character, I try to relate their experiences to my own and that enables me to connect to the material on a deeper emotional level. Then I tune everything out and just focus on the emotion I’m trying to represent.
Your upcoming project, “Harold and the Purple Crayon,” is highly anticipated. What can you tell us about your experience working with director Carlos Saldanha?
The whole experience was incredible. Every time I’m on set I learn so much, especially when working on a project that has such an accomplished director. I was a fan of his work including Rio and Ice Age prior to getting my role in Harold and the Purple Crayon. In fact, Carlos Saldanha lives in the city in New Jersey where I was born and lived until I was 2.
In addition to acting, you also have experience in voiceover work for projects like Jingle Jam and Puppy Bowl-Geico. How do you compare voiceover work with live-action acting?
They’re different but in their own great ways. With voiceover acting you’re able to experience a wide range of characters with all sorts of unique attributes. One day I could voice a high school student and the next I could voice a giant alien. With live acting I fully become the character I’m playing and I’m physically in their world. They both allow me to do what I love so I enjoy both.
You mentioned that you enjoy doing accents such as British, Italian, New York, and Southern. How did you develop this skill, and how does it contribute to your roles?
I’ve been doing accents since I was a young child. There was a period where I would walk around my house and only speak to my family in a British accent, for months at a time. I’m not sure about them, but I thought it was a lot of fun! My experience with accents helps make my performance (when playing a character with an accent) more natural because I already have a level of comfort. As an actor I’m drawn to accents in film and tv because I started developing this skill when I was younger by mimicking performances. It’s still something I do today as I try to learn additional accents.
You’re passionate about sports, especially soccer and pickleball. How do you balance your sports life with your acting career and studies?
As much as I love soccer and lately pickleball, I’ve had to make some sacrifices. I stopped playing soccer competitively because it came behind my acting career and my studies in my order of priorities. When I do get a break in my schedule, I will use that opportunity to meet up with friends and play sports. Lately, we’ve mostly been playing pickleball and at night since it’s too hot to do anything physical in Atlanta during the day! I think it’s important to try to find the right balance between work and play when possible.
What are some of the challenges you’ve faced working in different acting genres, such as horror, animation, and commercials?
The hardest thing about working in a variety of genres is trying to successfully capture the tone of each individual project. With horror, you must stay grounded in your performance throughout all kinds of unusual circumstances. With animation, it’s typically lighthearted and you must convincingly bring a character to life with just your voice. With commercials, you must be able to tell a story quickly so everything you do has to make an impression on the audience. I’ve been fortunate enough to experience working in multiple genres and its really helped to round out my acting skills.
At just 17 years old, you’ve already achieved so much in your career. What are your goals and dreams for the future, both professionally and personally?
My short-term goals include attending college while simultaneously working as a professional actor. As acting opportunities come along, I will shift my focus and then during slower periods, I will engage more in my academics. Long-term, I hope to take on a substantial role or roles that allow me to have a successful career in acting while still having time for all the important people in my life.
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