A version of this story appears in the latest issue ofEntertainment Weekly, on newsstands now.
Heres the thing, he says, smiling as he leans his conspicuous 6-foot-3 frame in.
This is my neighborhood.
Credit: Matthew Eisman/Getty Images
This is an actor town.
People give you space.
If only Luke had that luxury.
David Lee/Netflix
(Hey, those hoodies can only hide so much.)
Luke is grappling with how to still be yourself while trying to use fame as a platform.
The actor could give his fictional counterpart some tips.
Patrick Harbron/CBS
Offline hes choosing parts that have something to say, he explains.
The latter in particular caught his attention for its timeliness.
This film is very in touch with the society were in now, he says.
When you have those kinds ofcockroaches…
He pauses, noticing how riled up hes getting, and takes a deep breath.
Indeed, the South Carolina native grew up attending diverse schools that encouraged his passion for acting.
At 8, he played Romeo inRomeo and Julietfor a (rather ambitious) third-grade assignment.
(I had a grasp of performing, he says matter-of-factly.
I didnothave a grasp of iambic pentameter.)
In high school, he persuaded 10 classmates to join him in creating their first drama club.
I literally went around and was like, All we have to do is read plays and memorize lines!
And we get to stay after school and rehearse and borrow costumes!'
I thought people would think I was weird.
I got so lucky.
Hollywood was a different story.
There wereblackroles andblacktelevision shows.
Every job I went out for was very specific,verystereotypical.
He just wanted something racially ambiguous, he says.
I sat there for months and months and months saying no.
Good thingThe Good Wifecame along in 2010.
I thought, I can make this work.
From the start, Colter saw Luke as an opportunity to deliver a message.
He had to be a ray of light, he says.
Its just time for Luke to feel it too.
Marvels Luke Cagereturns June 22 on Netflix.
