‘May December’ Star Charles Melton On Cannes, ‘Glee,’ And Making Kimchi – Deadline

Charles Melton has had a good year; although saying farewell to Riverdale hit him hard, he went head-to-head with Natasha Lyonne for an episode of Poker Face and earned a Golden Globe nomination for his role in Todd Haynes’ May December. Sandwiched between Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore, the U.S.-born actor with Korean roots handled himself impeccably, playing the husband of Gracie (Moore), an older woman once sent to prison for molesting him as a minor. Melton brings a diffident grace to the part, which is crucial to the film’s unfolding when actress Elizabeth Berry (Portman) turns up.

DEADLINE: Were you up in time for the Golden Globes announcement?

No, I got a phone call from my team. My sister, who’s my assistant, was on the phone call and she was laughing because I was just like, [woozily], “Hello…? Yeah…? Yeah!?”

DEADLINE: When did this journey start for you?

Last summer [2022] my team sent me the script, and it was a self-tape process that lasted for about six weeks. And I really felt this innate connection with Joe, who this man was, and what he represented. The first time I taped, it was for six hours, then I got another one, and it was another six hours. The next thing I know, I’m flying to New York to meet Todd and Julie to do a chemistry read. That six-month process really informed the way I wanted to work. After I got the call from Todd, I went to Savannah, Georgia, a couple of weeks before filming, and we filmed this independent feature in 23 days.

DEADLINE: Obviously, it’s inspired by a real story. Did you know about that?

I didn’t, but there was so much source material from Samy [Burch] and her script. It really was a fun, explorative process. I was constantly discovering new things about Joe, even during the filming process.

DEADLINE: What kind of things?

Certain mannerisms would kind of come to me innately, understanding his emotional makeup and what I could do with that. Understanding his repression, how it lives in his body, and how that would translate into his voice, like he’s scared to speak. There’s kind of a pre-verbal sense of not being able to quite articulate what he’s thinking. His body moves and thinks before he can actually think for himself.

DEADLINE: After a second viewing, it becomes clearer that this is really Joe’s story…

Joe is sandwiched in between these very extreme characters in Gracie and Elizabeth, women that are both telling themselves a story. Julie and Natalie talk about identity, and I think what’s emblematic of the many powerful scenes that they have together is the mirror scene, where Gracie is putting her face onto Elizabeth. It’s such a deep, complex scene. They’re telling each other their narratives, their motives. Gracie is kind of immersed in her delusion, her naivety, and then you have Elizabeth, seeking whatever truth she’s looking for and disregarding how it may affect the outside world.

And then you have Joe, who doesn’t know how to tell his story, but he lives in his story, which is his body, and he doesn’t know how to quite articulate that. If you went up to Joe and said, “Hey, why are you always hunched over?” He wouldn’t be able to articulate it. He’s just living in his story. That’s why I believe Joe, in the story, represents purity and innocence, and it slowly rises through the layers and rises to the surface with all these questions that are being asked of him from Natalie’s character, Elizabeth.

DEADLINE: Did you expect it to be so funny, albeit in a very dark way?

I did not. It wasn’t my perception because I was so into it. It was hard to separate because it wasn’t comedic while we filmed it at all. It’s a very heartbreaking story. I always find that as an audience member, when you’re watching something and there’s some sort of discomfort, maybe it’s easier to laugh than to cry.

DEADLINE: Were you intimidated to work with those two women?

Oh, I think anybody would be intimidated. Natalie and Julie, the masters of the craft that they are. And, gosh, even better human beings. We had so much fun in between scenes and we hung out when we were in Savannah when we had time. I felt so invigorated by them and their presence, and just empowered by them. I felt so safe to tell Joe’s story.

DEADLINE: You were in Cannes for the world premiere, weren’t you?

Yes, I was. It was my first Cannes. It was so surreal. There’s not a better place to do it. I mean, I was with Todd, Natalie, Julie, all our producers. Our cinematographer was there, our production designer, my sister, everyone. The carpet was so vast. It was very magical.

DEADLINE: What’s your most abiding memory?

Maybe calling my parents on the way to the Palais. We had, like, 200 feet to drive, but I was in the car for 20 minutes on the way.

DEADLINE: What did you say to them?

[Laughs]. “Hey, Mom, hey, Dad, I love you. I wish you were here!”

DEADLINE: Did they always support you being an actor?

I think my parents have just always supported me. I could do anything. They just always support me and love me.

DEADLINE: What was your first job? I read that you were a dog walker.

Oh, yeah. I was a dog walker, and prior to being a dog walker, I worked at Wendy’s for a year and a half when I was 17. I worked at Arby’s when I was 16. I was a paperboy at one time. I’ve had many different jobs.

DEADLINE: And when did you make the move into the arts?

I think I attempted to move into the arts in the industry when I was 20. I left school playing American football to pursue acting, and I only had $500 saved up. And my mom packed me a bunch of ramen noodles, a bunch of tuna, and when I was 20, I drove out to Los Angeles from Kansas. From the middle of the East to the West.

DEADLINE: That must’ve been quite a culture shock for you.

Definitely a culture shock. I mean, I grew up as a military kid, so every two to four years I was moving with my mom and my two younger sisters. I lived in Germany for four years, Korea for five years, Texas for two years. I spent the majority of my life up until the age of 18 overseas, in Germany and Korea.

DEADLINE: How did you support yourself in those early days?

I was lucky enough to do a few modeling jobs, but, really, walking dogs was my bread and butter. I was walking dogs, working Chinese takeout and eating the same thing every day. It was like Groundhog Day with my meals for two years straight: chicken, quinoa and vegetables. Then I’d have eggs for breakfast and chicken again for dinner!

DEADLINE: So how did you get scouted for modeling? Were you talent-spotted?

Not really. I went to a little talent convention thing. I was on my way to American football practice, and I heard a voice on the radio saying, “Do you want to be an actor?” I was like, “Yeah!” It went on. “Do you want to be a singer, a songwriter?” I was like, “No, not really, but I do want to be an actor.” So, I called in, did this audition, and I went to this little talent convention. There was such positive feedback that it just encouraged me, I was like, “What do I need to do?” And they were like, “Well, you can’t do it in Kansas. You need to be in LA or New York.” So, I just packed up my bags and went to LA.

DEADLINE: What was your big breakthrough?

Oh, gosh. I did this web series that didn’t get picked up, as a pilot, but my first guest-star role was on Glee, Season 5, the New New York episode. I’m 43 minutes in, or something, for 42 seconds. So don’t blink your eyes or take a bathroom break, you might miss me. That was my first thing. It was so exciting. I played Gavin and I was a model, and my job was to tell the actor I was acting opposite of that if he needs anything, to talk to his roommate about it.

DEADLINE: When did you realize it was going to work out for you?

I’m not really sure. I think maybe when I got into my 2009 Ford Focus and drove to Los Angeles with my dad, I didn’t know what was going to happen, but I just knew that I was walking into something that I wanted to do for the rest of my life, and that was to be an actor. I didn’t know how it was going to happen. I remember my first day in LA, I was actually in Hermosa Beach with my dad. We were eating Domino’s pizzas on the beach, just dreaming and talking about life and everything. And now I’m here talking with you. It’s great. There’s so much gratitude.

DEADLINE: What kind of roles were you getting in the early days?

I was getting a lot of different auditions for many different things. And the great thing about auditions, aside from not booking them and doing many auditions, is you learn about yourself and the things that you’re drawn to and the things that maybe you’re not drawn to. And I’m lucky that it’s such a win to even get an audition. It’s such a great thing to even have an opportunity.

DEADLINE: A lot of people will have seen you in Poker Face. How did you get involved with that?

It was really last minute. I got a call, and I had two hours to read the script, but I said yes before I read the script. Why? Well, there were so many great people involved, and anything Natasha Lyonne does is incredible, so it was a no-brainer. I flew out to New York upstate to film for two weeks, and that’s when I found out I’d booked May December.

DEADLINE: And so did that follow straight after?

Yeah, I chemistry-read for May December before I got the phone call about Poker Face. So it was like a waiting game to see if I’d booked it. And I was on the racetrack, filming with Natasha Lyonne in a racetrack suit, when I got the news.

DEADLINE: Did you have a mentor?

Yeah. I’d say I have many people that I love and hold dear in my life — I can count them on my two hands plus one — that always just really guided me and spoke truth to me and loved me.

DEADLINE: Do you speak other languages, from your travels?

I speak Korean, but not as well as I would like to. I love Korean cinema. I steal so much from Korean cinema and the performances that I see that I’m so moved by.

DEADLINE: Which actors have you stolen from?

I can’t tell you my secrets!

DEADLINE: And so where are you at now? Did the strike complicate matters?

Well, in my free time during the strike, I was making a lot of kimchi with my mom. And I just finished up six years on Riverdale, which was such a blessing. I formed lifelong relationships and I learned so much, and I wouldn’t be here talking with you now if it wasn’t for that show. And it ended, so I was able to focus on seeing family and making kimchi.

DEADLINE: Could you talk a little about Riverdale? Why did it mean so much to you?

I played this character called Reggie Mantle. I came in Season 2 and I filmed for six years, 10 months out of the year, 22 episodes. I learned so much. I worked with over a hundred directors. I mean, what a great, beautiful artform to be a part of.

DEADLINE: Did any offers come in during the strike or are they starting to come in now?

No, I’m just getting a lot of requests from my friends and family about the kimchi that I’m making.

DEADLINE: What is the secret of good kimchi?

Lime juice.

DEADLINE: That’s it? That’s the secret ingredient?

No! There are many secret ingredients [laughs]. I just gave you one.