In Netflix’s new release Unabomber, David Webster plays Roy, a fictional character created as one of Ted Kaczynski’s classmates at Harvard. To build someone within a story inspired by real events, Webster found his way into the character through contrast: while Ted struggles within the social world around him, Roy connects with others easily and approaches him as a friend. “I decided he was Ted’s opposite in many ways,” the actor explains.
In an interview with Luca Moreira, Webster discusses finding the purpose of a fictional character within a historical narrative, working with Jacob Tremblay, and viewing Ted through the eyes of someone who could not yet know who he would become. He also reflects on a career that began at age 12, his approach to rejection, and how screenwriting has changed the way he reads and builds characters as an actor.
In Unabomber, you play Roy, a fictional character created as one of Ted Kaczynski’s classmates at Harvard, within a story inspired by real events. How did you balance the freedom of building a character from scratch with the responsibility of placing him convincingly within such a well-known and sensitive historical context?
I looked at Roy like a cog in a greater machine. The goal was to figure out what he communicates about the story or about Ted, and I decided he was Ted’s opposite in many ways. Roy connects with others very easily, and treats Ted as a friend. Ted looks at Roy as someone he wants to be like within the social systems of Harvard, and it only goes to show how different he is from those around him. Ultimately a movie is about telling a story even if it’s inspired by historical events so Roy has to fit into the structure and have a purpose of a story.
The film brings together actors including Russell Crowe, Jacob Tremblay, and Shailene Woodley. What stood out most to you about working on a production with such experienced performers, and was there a particular lesson you carried with you after filming?
I think what stood out to me the most when working with Jacob specifically, was how grounded and personable he was. He is a really lovely guy and I think he is going to do great things in his career. As far as a lesson would go it was more of a reaffirmation that when working with big stars, they are ultimately just people at the end of the day and we are all coworkers clocking in.
Because Roy knew Ted before he became the figure history would later recognize, your character occupies a very particular perspective. How did you imagine their relationship without allowing everything we now know about Kaczynski to completely define your portrayal?
I think it’s pretty easy to bring my personal experiences to this situation. As far as Roy knows at this point Ted is basically just an awkward standoffish kid. In my own experience, I’ve met and befriended many people who would fall under that description. I always say “It takes two people to be awkward” and that has allowed me to connect with all kinds of different people. Roy is similar in my opinion and that’s why he puts the effort he does into connecting with Ted.
You booked your first role at twelve in a project with Janelle Monáe and have spent much of your adolescence working as an actor. How has growing up within the industry shaped your relationship with acting, rejection, and success?
I think growing up in the industry has helped with rejection A LOT. Going into the business at 12 I was mentally prepared for tons of rejection so it never really burned to not get a part. Today in the face of rejection I just follow the same set of rules I have for acting: head up and keep moving. You learn very quickly there is nothing personal about it. I look at auditioning like it’s my primary job. My “job” is to put out good tapes every time, anything else is only extra. I feel like this also extends to how I handle success. I feel like when things work out for me it’s a mere bonus for putting the work in, as opposed to a guaranteed reward.
Your career has already moved through very different worlds, from The Way Home and Ginny & Georgia to The Boys, Luckiest Girl Alive, and Julian and the Wind. What kind of project or character tends to challenge you in a way that makes you feel you are genuinely growing as an actor?
I think every role is a challenge in their own way. At this point in my career I don’t think I’ve done anything that would be uniquely challenging in the sense that I haven’t done it before, but I do think that if I did a part where a character had a really huge presence, it could be a challenge to find how big is too big. You don’t want to go totally overboard but acting is always a little big.
You have been writing since you were fifteen and hope to build a career behind the camera as well. What has creating your own characters and stories taught you about acting, and is there a project you dream of directing or producing in the future?
Writing has been extremely helpful because it helped me see what it’s like to design a character arc from the writer’s perspective. Ultimately I think my job as an actor is to find what the arc is and help design it. Well written characters are similar, and the writer must design the same journey. Writing helped me see the process from the other side and imagine what the writer was wanting and thinking while creating the script. Inversely, I think acting has also made me a better writer because when reading scripts I see what works and what doesn’t as an actor and try to write in a way that will help an actor most.
Alongside film, you taught yourself piano, guitar, and bass and are now working on your first album. How do music, screenwriting, and acting feed one another creatively, and can you imagine a future project where those different sides of your artistic identity come together?
Someday I think they could possibly come together, I’d never say never. As of right now I’m trying to improve and learn in all of these areas separately, giving each their own attention and respect. I think in terms of how they feed each other creatively it’s a similar muscle being exercised every time. Though there is a skillset when it comes to creating in each, it’s all still an exercise in being true to what I want from both and humility to identify if what I’m making is working or not.
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