It cannot be denied that the drama of a television show has the ability to make people absolutely forget about their own dramas. Oprah Winfrey Network’s critically acclaimed show The Haves and Have Nots is one of those shows that makes the world disappear for a bit. Tyler Perry introduced the world to Jeffery Harrington and all of his unyielding dysfunction. Gavin Houston steps in the role every week to deliver a moving albeit sometimes frustrating portrayal.
What do you want the world to know about you? Acting or otherwise?
I am 10-12 years vegetarian. I like it because your diet can be self-healing. Vegetarianism forces you to eat cleaner and I fell lighter overall. I feel like I’m not controlled by food. I’m 40 years old and I don’t feel like it. I think old age is not a time in your life but a condition of your body. I scuba dive, I play flag football. I’m very big into fitness. I was actually a personal trainer for many years while I was acting.
How did you get into acting?
My sister was trying to move from modelling to acting. She brought me to one of her meetings and I met a manager. The manager saw me as a 10-year-old. He gave me something to read and decided that he wanted to work with me and not my sister. That led to some commercials and the Cosby show. Those things changed my life along with being exposed to plays. Seeing people perform and the reaction it got from the audience, making people laugh, and making people excited. Just having people go on that journey, I think, is what really made me fall in love with it.
In what ways would you compare your experiences on Guiding Light, General Hospital and The Haves and the Have Nots?
Firstly, I’m thankful for all of those experiences. Guiding Light and General Hospital were more similar. The Haves and The Have Nots shoots even faster than the other two. One thing I think a lot of soap actors don’t get credit for, is it’s probably the hardest thing you can do as an actor because it’s almost like being in a boot camp for acting and there’s so much information thrown at you. At the end of the day though, once you’ve done it you can almost do anything else.
How did the role of Jeffery Harrington come about with Tyler Perry?
When my manager told me about it, I went in for Jeffery and I didn’t know much about the character. Jeffery was just an idea. I was sent out that day and also given the role of Benny as well. I was prepared for both and I really didn’t know which role would work out. Obviously, I got the role of Jeffery which I like. It’s a great challenge for me as an actor and it’s a great opportunity to work with Tyler.
Do you identify with Jeffery at all? In what ways?
His character is a lot different than me. First, obviously, Jeffery is homosexual and I’m heterosexual. The abuse that Jeffery takes from his mother is not something I would do. I’m way more outspoken and I stand up for myself. It’s been good in a sense to have this drawn out because there’s so many different levels to Jeffery. One of the things I find to be similar is that Jeffery internalizes. I think in some sense I’m the same way. I’m very quiet. Jeffery is also very compassionate and he’s always trying to help others which is a trait I share with him Now, I don’t try to fix people but I do try to help them.
What challenges does it present to be a heterosexual male playing a homosexual?
It forces me to lose myself. It forces me as an actor to truly focus on the work and to be responsible for the character. I never had any judgement of the character. I just knew that this was someone else’s story and I’m just blessed with the opportunity to tell it. The response I get from the fans and the people who watch who tell me ‘this is my life,’ ‘this is what I go through,’ or ‘this is the conversation I had with my parents,’ that’s the reward. It’s very motivating. It’s been a great journey with the character and a great growth.
Was there any fear in playing the role of a gay man that, would be the perception outside of the show?
No, because I’m very secure in who I am and who I’m not. There are so many actors who have had to play roles like this and its part of that ability to just drop into anything and telling the story of that character. I think it’s more respect knowing that I’m not gay and that I would still go to it fearlessly and not judge. If I had a role as a murderer, I know I’m not a murderer but I’m gonna go play this role. I was never worried about it because I’ve always known who I am and I’m not worried about the perception because they’re watching me work. It [the role] scared the hell out of me but I’m so glad that I did it because I think it’s made me more confident in who I am and more confident in what I can do as an actor.
Do you feel like having Jeffery’s father be the supportive parent is a commentary on father son relationships in the black community? Or homosexuality?
I think it does [comment on those dynamics], and I was really impressed with how it turned to go against how the black community stereotypically handles certain things. I love that he has the support of his father as well as addresses the stereotypes of what it means to be masculine and what it means to be a man. This role kind of obliterates all of that. It says your sexual preference doesn’t take away anything, or doesn’t mean you’re any different, or any less masculine, or any less anything. So I was very happy that he has the support of his father.
How do you feel about playing Babyface again in the Bobby Brown biopic?
You know what’s so crazy, is that I’ve been asked about this role before and I don’t know if it’s just because I played Babyface before, but it’s actually just a rumor. That’s not happening. I’m not in it. I want to clarify because I’m not part of that. I would love to do it but it didn’t happen. It is funny though because people have been telling me since high school that I look like Babyface. I take it as a compliment but I’m actually not doing that, and I don’t know how it got there [IMDB].
Okay, so tell me about how it is to work in Shondaland on Grey’s Anatomy.
I feel like Tyler and Shonda are both great storytellers. The pace that Tyler works at and what he expects of us has definitely prepared me to be able to work on a Shondaland project. I have so much respect for what she’s done and the stories she’s telling. I’m happy to be in the position to work on material by both people. Sometimes it’s different because Tyler is directing as well as writing, so he’s more hands on. Jessie Williams is directing Grey’s Anatomy so that’s different. At the end of the day the work is work and both of them have a great way of storytelling and creating depth with characters.
Shonda Rhimes and Tyler Perry are both great at drawing very visceral reactions from their audiences. Does that ever get emotionally exhausting for you?
When you’re done with a day of both, you are reminded that you’ve worked a full day. That’s for sure. It’s great to be an actor that’s gets to go so far beneath the surface, to pain, to the depth, to the fear of what’s happening with the character and it’s so well written. It’s exhausting yes, but it’s nice as an actor to be able to have that much depth in the story and to heighten the emotional situation weather it’s out of fear or love. It definitely is exhausting but that’s what it’s supposed to be. It’s supposed to be an emotional roller coaster.
What can we expect from Gavin Houston in the future?
My goal is to do film. I love film. I love being a character and being different characters. It’s very clear to me, a film career is coming. So, I’m just here behind the scenes sharpening my sword and getting ready for the opportunity. If I had to predict I feel like at some point I’m going to, weather on television or film, play a superhero. I would really love to play Green Lantern. For me this is why I love Black Panther and for them [children] to have that is great. I grew up with Blade and thought wow this is amazing. But we have Black Panther and this is a time when a kid can go into a store and pick up a toy, a superhero, with a Black face. There’s Black Lightening now and some other black superheroes. The thing is we’re opening the door for these black superheroes that weren’t being produced. For me it doesn’t have to be necessarily in a suit. Luke Cage isn’t walking around in a jumpsuit but he’s still a superhero. A superhero is just a hero with super powers. It could be anyone but I see myself doing something similar to that.
By Cecilli-Ann Edwards
