The greatest testament to that is, The greatest testament to that is, of course, his starring role oppo- of course, his starring role opposite Idris Elba in Concrete Cow- site Idris Elba in Concrete Cowboy, a gritty urban Western re- boy, a gritty urban Western released on Netflix just last month. leased on Netflix just last month. Drawing inspiration from Phila- Drawing inspiration from Philadelphia’s real-life Black cowboy delphia’s real-life Black cowboy communities, it sees McLaughlin communities, it sees McLaughlin give an emotionally wrought turn give an emotionally wrought turn as Cole, a wayward teenager sent as Cole, a wayward teenager sent to live with his estranged father, to live with his estranged father, Harp, played by Elba. Harp, played by Elba.

The rawness and verve of his The rawness and verve of his performance more than prove performance more than prove his acting chops, but it is, argu- his acting chops, but it is, arguably, what McLaughlin gets up to ably, what McLaughlin gets up to off-screen that makes him a true off-screen that makes him a true ambassador of what it means to ambassador of what it means to work in the industry today. An work in the industry today. An outspoken mental health advo- outspoken mental health advocate, he’s spearheaded two wide- cate, he’s spearheaded two widespread social media campaigns spread social media campaigns -- #EmbraceYourFace and #Be- -- #EmbraceYourFace and #BeYourBiggestFan -- as a means of YourBiggestFan -- as a means of “promoting self-love and positive “promoting self-love and positive something in me that felt ready something in me that felt ready for it. And working with Idris for it. And working with Idris Elba was a dream come true. Elba was a dream come true. He was an awesome mentor to He was an awesome mentor to me and a leader on set. Being me and a leader on set. Being in scenes with him immediately in scenes with him immediately forces you to up your game. forces you to up your game. MS: Cole comes across as an ex- MS: Cole comes across as an ex- tremely emotionally complex, lay- tremely emotionally complex, lay- ered character. What was the pro- ered character. What was the pro- cess of getting into character like cess of getting into character like for you? for you?

CM: My relationship with my dad CM: My relationship with my dad is amazing, so Cole’s experi- is amazing, so Cole’s experiences are entirely different from ences are entirely different from mine in that respect. I had to mine in that respect. I had to find a way to relate to Cole and find a way to relate to Cole and understand his journey, and one understand his journey, and one way I was able to do so was by way I was able to do so was by talking with my dad. He told me talking with my dad. He told me about his experience with his about his experience with his biological father, which was a biological father, which was a difficult one. Hearing him speak difficult one. Hearing him speak about it was a really emotional about it was a really emotional ing a “celebrity” isn’t something ing a “celebrity” isn’t something I chose but there’s an aspect of I chose but there’s an aspect of it that comes with the job; and in it that comes with the job; and in terms of getting to engage with terms of getting to engage with my fans, it’s been a blessing. I my fans, it’s been a blessing. I like to keep things focused on like to keep things focused on my work though. I feel so lucky my work though. I feel so lucky to be able to do what I do and to be able to do what I do and try not to let the rest of it over- try not to let the rest of it overwhelm me too much. whelm me too much. MS: Over the past decade or so, it MS: Over the past decade or so, it feels like social responsibility has feels like social responsibility has become an increasingly crucial become an increasingly crucial part of actors’ roles. Why do you part of actors’ roles. Why do you think this is so important? think this is so important?

CM: Using your platform real- CM: Using your platform really means speaking up on be- ly means speaking up on behalf of others. For me, I think half of others. For me, I think that means helping people feel that means helping people feel seen or heard, especially when seen or heard, especially when they’re struggling to do so. they’re struggling to do so. There’s nothing more powerful There’s nothing more powerful than that. There are difficult, im- than that. There are difficult, important conversations happen- portant conversations happen-

thinking” among his young fan- thinking” among his young fanbase. He’s also proven himself base. He’s also proven himself to be a multi-hyphenate creative to be a multi-hyphenate creative talent, spending time over lock- talent, spending time over lockdown working on original new down working on original new music that’s due for release later music that’s due for release later this year. Even with all this under this year. Even with all this under his belt at the tender age of 19, his belt at the tender age of 19, McLaughlin’s motivations for the McLaughlin’s motivations for the future remain charmingly modest. future remain charmingly modest. “Whether acting or singing, I really “Whether acting or singing, I really just want to spread as much joy as just want to spread as much joy as possible,” he says. possible,” he says. Mahoro Seward: Playing Lucas Mahoro Seward: Playing Lucas Sinclair on Stranger Things was Sinclair on Stranger Things was your breakout role, but your turn your breakout role, but your turn as Cole in Concrete Cowboy feels as Cole in Concrete Cowboy feels like a real ‘arrival’. What sides like a real ‘arrival’. What sides of yourself as an actor were you of yourself as an actor were you keen to show that you perhaps keen to show that you perhaps hadn’t before? hadn’t before?

Caleb McLaughlin: I’ve loved Caleb McLaughlin: I’ve loved all the roles I’ve gotten to play all the roles I’ve gotten to play so far in my career, but this so far in my career, but this one definitely felt next level. one definitely felt next level. Cole presented me with acting Cole presented me with acting challenges I hadn’t really expe- challenges I hadn’t really experienced yet. I’d never had the rienced yet. I’d never had the chance to be that vulnerable chance to be that vulnerable onscreen before, and there was onscreen before, and there was experience for me, and I defi- experience for me, and I definitely found myself channeling nitely found myself channeling that when playing Cole. that when playing Cole. When it came to preparing for When it came to preparing for the film from a physical stand- the film from a physical standpoint, I spent a month train- point, I spent a month training with horses. Something ing with horses. Something that people might not realize, that people might not realize, though, is that when you are though, is that when you are training with a horse, the horse training with a horse, the horse is training with you, too. You re- is training with you, too. You really have to be one with each ally have to be one with each other. It isn’t just a matter of other. It isn’t just a matter of getting on and riding. The horse getting on and riding. The horse I worked with was named Pat- I worked with was named Patrick, and after we built a bond rick, and after we built a bond and felt each other’s energy, and felt each other’s energy, we trusted each other and were we trusted each other and were able to perform together really able to perform together really well. It was a life-changing ex- well. It was a life-changing experience.perience. MS: You’ve essentially come of MS: You’ve essentially come of age in the public eye. How have age in the public eye. How have you found the experience of nav- you found the experience of navigating the world of celebrity from igating the world of celebrity from such a young age? such a young age?

CM: I’ve been incredibly lucky, CM: I’ve been incredibly lucky, my parents have guided me my parents have guided me through the experience and kept through the experience and kept me grounded and humble. Be- me grounded and humble. Be-

ing right now in our world, and ing right now in our world, and we need to keep having them in we need to keep having them in order to start making some pos- order to start making some positive changes. For me person- itive changes. For me personally, using my platform means ally, using my platform means acknowledging what’s going on acknowledging what’s going on and also spreading positivity, and also spreading positivity, which can hopefully be trans- which can hopefully be transformative for those who need to formative for those who need to hear those words or see them- hear those words or see themselves reflected in some way. selves reflected in some way. MS: You’ve been working on your MS: You’ve been working on your own original music over the past own original music over the past year. Could you tell us more about year. Could you tell us more about that?that?

CM: A lot of people don’t realize CM: A lot of people don’t realize I’m a singer and musician, too -- I’m a singer and musician, too -I’ve been singing for as long as I’ve been singing for as long as I can remember. It’s been real- I can remember. It’s been really exciting to develop my sound ly exciting to develop my sound over the last couple of years. over the last couple of years. It’s influenced by a lot of differ- It’s influenced by a lot of different genres: R&B, neo-soul, afro ent genres: R&B, neo-soul, afro beats, and pop -- and I’ve been beats, and pop -- and I’ve been working with an amazing pro- working with an amazing producer, Rashad, who’s helping ducer, Rashad, who’s helping me cultivate my sound. We’re me cultivate my sound. We’re working to drop some music this working to drop some music this year. I’m excited for people to year. I’m excited for people to hear it. hear it.