Exclusive interview with Conrad Ricamora

July 5, 2017 | In fall of 2016 ABC's drama series "How to Get Away with Murder" returned for its third season which was full of tears, blood but also friendship. On the 5th of July season 3 of "How to Get Away with Murder" premiers in Germany at VOX and in this interview we had the chance to ask actor Conrad Ricamora about his character Oliver Hampton and his acting career so far.

Note: © myFanbase 2017 - The interview is exclusive to myFanbase and may not be published on other websites or the like. You may share the first two questions (up to 180 words) if you link back to this site. Translations other than English and German may be posted with full credit including the link to this site.

Since season 1 of "How to Get Away with Murder" you portray Oliver Hampton, one of the fans favorite characters. I really do love the way Oliver changed through the years. At first everyone thought, Oliver is just a totally nice guy but in each season there were some more gloomy glimpses and the fans had to fear that Oliver would turn dark. How do you like this transformation and how did you experience it?

I like that the writers are exploring Oliver's dark side. I think it makes him a more well-rounded character. And also, as an actor, it's exciting to be in those dangerous situations.

On screen there is always a lot of tension between the characters. How do you prepare for intense scenes?

I usually keep to myself on set and listen to music on my headphones. It also helps to work with such amazing actors. They push me to be better.

What was your favorite revelation so far und which moment is the one you enjoyed the most while filming it?

My favorite revelation was when Connor moved in with Oliver. It's just refreshing to have these moments of joy when there is so much darkness in their world.

My favorite moment to film was when Oliver got to meet all of the other students in Season 1. I don't think Oliver has a lot of friends, so it was fun to see him welcomed by this whole new group of friends.

Was it planned since the beginning of the show that Oliver would play such a huge role? Did you imagine being part of Annalise's team one day?

No, Oliver was only supposed to be in the pilot! I didn't imagine I would be asked back, but I'm certainly glad I was.

In the finale of season 2 we learned that Oliver betrayed Connor by deleting his acceptation email from Stanford and in the finale of season 3 there was another breath taking moment, when Oliver asks Connor to marry him. What do you think about the proposal especially since their relationship was quite shaky so far?

I think it was probably a bit rash to say the least. I mean, he's really been thrown into the world of Annalise's craziness and I think he's panicking for a lot of reasons and just trying to find something to hold on to. Maybe this wasn't the best timing for a marriage proposal.

Season 3 was different for Oliver because he was single but still in the focus, not like in season 1 where he was just a part of Connor's story. I liked seeing Oliver standing his man while trying to fit into the group. It felt like Oliver was getting stronger but at the same time he became more vulnerable and saw where his limits are. Why do you think he handled it so well getting to know Connor's dark secrets?

I think he sensed something was going on for a long time with Connor and everything in Annalise's world. I mean, he was constantly doing illegal hacking for him and her, so it's not like he was completely innocent or naive to how things were being run. So I think he was subconsciously preparing for the big secrets.

At the Queens University of Charlotte you studied psychology. If you have to make a psychological profile about Oliver how would you assess him?

Ha! Oh man, I would say he has Social Anxiety with a little bit of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

I imagine season 4 will not get easy for Oliver. What do you wish for him? Have you started filming yet?

We start filming in a few weeks. I wish Oliver would get married to Connor, move to California, get a new job, a dog, have a family and live happily ever after… but I don't think that's going to happen.

Can you tell us something about the show that the fans would never expect and that was also a surprise for you?

When we film those outdoor scenes with heavy coats on, it is actually sometimes 80-90 degrees (Fahrenheit).

Before "How to Get Away with Murder" you did some Broadway work and I assume you still do when you are not filming. Why did you decide to audition for "How to Get Away with Murder"?

I've always wanted to work in TV. It's such a different challenge from theatre.

You played the roles of Ninoy Aquino in the musical "Here Lies Love" and Lun Tha in "The King And I". How does it feel to perform and sing in front of a live audience?

It's exhilarating. You don't get another take like you do in TV/Film. You get one chance every night and you are breathing the same air as the audience and feeling their energy. I love it.

For the short "Raising Christopher" you were actor and writer. What was your inspiration? Would you like to do more writing?

It's based on my dad and me. I'm in the middle of doing re-writes on it and hopefully will shoot the full length indie film version of it in the next few years. I'd love to write more.

When did you start being an actor and what made you go for this job? Did you ever think about becoming a full time musician or a singer?

I started acting when I was 22 years old. I didn't have any exposure to the arts growing up and if I did I think I definitely would have started earlier. I'm hoping to record an album sometime in the next year.

What do you do when you are not filming or rocking the stage?

Taking my dog Wilbur for walks, going to the beach, going to the theatre, reading self-help books, dreaming about real estate in NYC.

Since myFanbase is an online magazine about TV shows, we would like to know what your favorite shows are?

"The Handmaid's Tale", "House of Cards", "Orange Is the New Black", "Master of None"

Thank you so much for making time for us, Conrad, we wish you all the best and hope you won't get killed off in the next season of "How to Get Away with Murder".

Marie Florschütz - myFanbase

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