"Gossip Girl" star Chace Crawford: Actor felt trapped after his series success

For millions of fans, Chace Crawford played the charming Nate Archibald on "Gossip Girl" for years. But what appeared to be a career launching pad turned out to be a gilded cage for the actor. In the "The Good Guys" podcast, Crawford revealed how much the success of the hit series initially limited him.

"It definitely felt like a prison," the 39-year-old explained, reflecting on his post-"Gossip Girl" career. Crawford was looking for roles that could break him out of his stereotype. His breakthrough finally came in 2019 with the Amazon series "The Boys," in which he plays The Deep—a narcissistic and morally questionable superhero who can communicate with sea creatures.

"At first, I was skeptical," Crawford admits. "When I read the script, I thought, 'This is completely crazy.' And then when I read the pilot, I thought, 'Oh, this is fucking great. This is so unusual and original and strange.'" Crawford said he immediately connected with the character of The Deep. "In the specific role of The Deep... I know the guy. You know, I basically know a hundred guys like that. So I immediately felt comfortable and excited to play the character."

The audition for "The Boys" initially went anything but well. Crawford felt insecure and assumed he wouldn't get the role. A turning point came when he learned that showrunner Eric Kripke was present at every audition.

"I played a dark scene and a more comedic one," Crawford recalls. The comedic scene "made Kripke laugh" and gave Crawford the confidence he needed. "It was great. I was so happy to be back in a job that excited me and where the character was so different from anything I'd done before," he added.

Today, Crawford is a fan favorite on "The Boys" and has proven that he is much more than just a pretty face.

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