Rising Actor Kelvin Harrison Jr. Discusses Fashion Week, ‘Samo Lives’ and Hollywood Experiences

During the last three years, leading actor Kelvin Harrison Jr. has managed to carve a name for himself amongst the film industry’s glittering elite. His starring roles in the critically-acclaimed thriller Luce and the family drama Waves were significant breakthroughs that garnered him widespread media attention, major award nominations, and wins.

Recently adding a Screen Actors Guild award to his belt – for the ensemble performance in The Trial of the Chicago 7 – Harrison Jr. seems poised to take his talents to the next level with upcoming roles in Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis, and the highly-anticipated Basquiat biopic, Samo Lives. In the process of climbing the acting ranks, he’s also become a style star by frequently supporting luxury fashion houses like Gucci – at tentpole events – and donning creative runway looks on international red carpets.

Cementing his first attendance at this season’s New York Fashion Week – including a front-row appearance at Coach’s Fall/Winter 2022 show – Harrison Jr. spoke with HYPEBEAST to share his fashion influences, career-defining moments and his experience of being Black in Hollywood.

HYPEBEAST: How did you first get involved in the entertainment industry?

KELVIN HARRISON JR.: Actually, I started with music. My parents are musicians, and I play the jazz piano and trumpet. When I went to school for marketing, I kind of just stumbled into acting one day when one of my friends asked me, “Hey, do you want to go to an audition with me?!” And I was like, “Sure.” It was for an extra’s job, which led to a one-liner, and then I got an agent and just kept doing it. Eventually, I dropped out of school.

Can you describe your experience of being Black in Hollywood and if you’ve ever had to navigate an uneven playing field?

My career trajectory has always included roles that kind of expand what Black existence looks like. And trying to have people understand what that experience is like – how to implement that into the scripts and the story – is always a challenge. But, every day is a process, and I try to choose roles that feel like they highlight my story and the stories of my cousins, friends and family.

Are there any roles or films that stand out as career-defining moments for you?

Yes! When Julius Onah directed me in Luce. Working with him, Tim Roth, Naomi Watts, and Octavia Spencer was a big moment for me, and I like that the role was very intense and disruptive. Doing a story like that – about being a kind of upper-middle-class Black person – and navigating what life looks like, there, I think that was a big moment.

What are some of your style influences and how do you approach fashion?

A lot of my inspirations come from historical figures that I find interesting, like Julius Eastman, and other composers or artists that don't get highlighted a lot. In my day-to-day life, I wear sweatpants and T-shirts, but when I go out it's always a conversation about the overall style story. And I’ve also worked with an incredible fashion stylist, Michael Fisher.

You recently sat front-row at Coach for New York Fashion Week, how would you describe your first time attending the shows in NYC?

Because it was my first time at New York Fashion Week – but not my first-ever fashion week – I didn't have any expectations. Everyone looked so great, and it was fun that I got to dress up and play and see what was going on. Wearing a full Coach look to my first Coach show was really exciting, and I wanted to come into it and just take it all in.

How did you get cast for the role of Basquiat and what steps did you take to prepare for the part?

Julius [Onah] contacted me last year and asked how I felt about Jean-Michel Basquiat, and I was like, “I love him!” He mentioned that I would be great for the role, and I was like, “Okay! Let's talk about it!” And so, last year, we began talking about the script and the story, and right now, we're doing a lot of research. I'm reading almost every book and watching every interview about Basquiat, and it’s a really exciting process.

What's next for you?

The Elvis movie is coming out this year, where I portray B.B. King during the ‘60s, and that was so much fun! And I just finished filming Chevalier – in Prague – which is about a composer from 18th century France, who was Mozart's contemporary at the time. I went full rockstar – Jimi Hendrix and Prince style – but within that period. It's cool to kind of transcend and see what rock stars looked like at that time. Also, being a Black rock star at that time, I hope that it translates for people. I'm also executive producer for the Basquiat film, so, I'm wearing my big-boy pants!