Jake Robinson was one of the most popular recurring players on The CW’s Sex and the City prequel The Carrie Diaries as Bennet, the love interest to Brendan Dooling’s Walt. Now, Robinson is back on television screens in the new NBC drama American Odyssey, which sees its second episode airing tonight at 10PM on NBC.
We spoke with Jake Robinson earlier this year about his role on the new series.
JAKE ROBINSON: He’s a political activist and he comes from a trust fund background. He’s kind of in this rebellious mode of getting away from his parents, and trying to find his own purpose. He is in his early 20’s, and there’s kind of this thing of being in your early 20’s where you’re not really sure where you fit in. You’re trying to find where you belong. Like, what does it mean to be an adult? What does it mean to take on responsibility? And what’s your truth, and what do you believe in? I think what is amazing is that [Harrison] is seeking his truth. He’s going after what he thinks is right. He’s very impulsive, and he’s in the moment about everything he does.
You’re going to see a rather immature person in the beginning. What’s beautiful about his story as the episodes go on is that he really does this wonderful 180, where he turns into this very mature, caring person who believes in something, and goes after what he wants.
Oh, my gosh. They’re so different. Peter Facinelli’s character has a family, he works in the corporate world… Harrison used to work in the corporate world but hated it, so now he’s a political activist. He rebels against his family. He’s going away from home. He’s trying to find his own identity. Those are the main ways they’re different.
Will we be seeing Harrison’s family at any point?
Jane Atkinson from House of Cards plays my mother, and she’s been fantastic. Boyd Gaines plays my father, and Boyd is a three-time Tony award-winning actor. I mean, he’s legendary in the theatre scene. We have such good actors in this. I feel so privileged to work with them.
How will people who loved you as Bennet on The Carrie Diaries like your new character?
They’re totally different characters. I think what they’ll like about, as you’ll see, it’s a completely different side of me as an actor. They’re not even comparable in any sort of way, which is kind of amazing for me. I loved playing Bennet, but I love Harrison equally as much, for his own things. It’s just so different, and I think that’ll be enjoyable for fans to watch.
Photos from American Odyssey Episode 2, titled “Oscar Mike,” can be found below. You can find Jake Robinson on Twitter at @JakeRobinsonAct.
