What is up, Daddy Gang? It is your founding father, Alex Cooper with Call Her Daddy. Hunter Schafer, welcome to Call Her Daddy.

Thank you so much.

I am so happy you're here.

Thank you. I'm so happy to be here. I just told you... Not the vape coming out.

Not the vape coming out as you're like, Thank you so much.

This is how comfortable I'm feeling right now. But this means the world to me. I just have to start off and say Because my sister, who you graciously led in this room, put me on to your podcast during the pandemic, and we were gagging. And I'm just... I'm so excited to be here today.

I love you. Okay, little do you know, I really love you because I have to tell you a story. Okay. So I think it was a year ago. We were this close to each other, and you had no idea, probably. We were in Milan, and I was sitting- Were you at the Prada Show? Yes.

I do remember seeing you there. Okay.

Were you there? Okay. Hunter's sister is in the room and she's saying, She saw me, I'm freaking out. Okay, this is why life is so fucking stupid, because I was standing with my videographer and I was like, Oh, my God, it's Hunter. And he was like, go say hi to her. And I was like, no, no. That's weird. That's weird. He was like, no, go say hi. I'm like, no, no, no. I believe one day we are going to meet in a non-weird or moment where I'm like, fangirling.

That's totally how I feel about people that I gag over. It's like, if I know that we are going to... Because you have that feeling about people sometime where you're like, I know I'm going to kick you with this person. I'm I don't want to fuck it up.

But I'm so happy you're here. Okay, tell me about your outfit. How did you pick this outfit? We're loving it.

Okay, thank you. This is like, and we were just talking about this, is I always feel like the image that I put out into the world, on Instagram, whatever, is very much the drag version of who I am. And it's like an image that I've put together to give to the world and That is not how I dress and act in real life. But I feel like your podcast is very about- Cozy. Let's give realness. I picked it up off the floor and put a little stupid outfit and that's what this is.

It's really cute. I'm happy that you're comfortable, and that is the key here, like coziness. Yes.

Ru Paul also... Bitch, okay. Can I just say that interview, like face cracked me. That interview impacted me so much. And also I lived for her outfit, for her give with the... Oh my God.

It was so incredible because I remember you're talking similar with Ru presents a specific way and has these cunt outfits that you're like, serve. This is what I'm talking about. Bitch. And I remember when Rue showed up, I was like, Oh my gosh. And I remember the rep was like, no, Rue really wanted to show up today just as Rue. And this is what Rue would be wearing around Rue's house. And I was like, okay. And so I love that you came just cozy today. Thank you. You just Did you get a new house this year? Yes.

I heard you did, too. Yes. Okay.

How is it going? Girl. Oh, my God.

Girl. Okay. So I've been looking for a house for a few years. To be 100 % honest, I have I didn't grow up with... It's a very surreal thing to be making significantly more money than anywhere where I came, my parents, anything that I grew up with. We're just pretty regular middle class. And now I'm like, I have a lot of fucking dough, and I have no idea how to use it. And it scares me. I love you. And so at some point, I had to be like, okay, I need to do something with my money. With my money? And so, yeah, I've been looking for a house. I finally found this beautiful house. I moved in September of Last year. Okay. And I've started on the whole, Now I'm going to hire people to make... I tried doing the whole, I'm going to buy furniture by myself. I have no idea what the fuck I'm doing. It's so fucking hard. Are you doing that?

Oh, my God. I literally left it to my husband because back in the day- Your husband?

You let your husband do it?

No, I know this sounds insane, Hunter, but Matt has incredible taste. He has perfect taste. And I'm like, now I just let him do his thing because I'm going to be honest, I decorated my first New York City apartment where I first lived alone for the first time ever. And I was like, watch me, bitch. This is going to be so gorgeous. I got the couch, and the couch sat there for so long, and I'm like, how do you make a space look good? And I see Pinterest, and I see even Urban Outfitters It looks so cute. And then I buy it and it looks like fucking shit. So then I hire someone. And now I hired my husband to do it.

Amazing.

Good for you. If you want, he'll come over to help you.

I wish I had a husband that had amazing taste. That is not my fucking case, diva. I went through the exact same spiral of like, okay, wait, I look at couches and then I'm like, wait, but... And this is so... I hate... It's so like... It's okay, go off. First world. Whatever. Go off. I look at this amazing couch, but then if I spend a bunch of money on this couch, but then the carpet changes everything. Like, Huh? Girl, I'm like, I tried. I really tried. And then I was like, No. So I hired- A designer? Yeah. So have you seen Troy Sivan's AD video? Yeah. Insane. Insane. So I hit Troy up, and he was very gracious in connecting me to those people. So they're doing it for me. God bless. And we are just getting started. Everything in my house right now is completely covered in sawdust because the roof just got done and it all came through the ceiling. It's insane. So, you know. Okay.

Well, it doesn't maybe matter because you're leaving. No.

Can we talk about this? So this is all going to happen while I'm away.

Okay. Yeah. Okay. So talk to me. You walk in here and you're like, Bitch, you caught me at a great time. And I'm like, Wait, why? Hunter, why? Tell me. Okay.

What is happening? Okay. So, yes, you have caught me for this interview. I've had a fucking week. My sister knows this. I've had a fucking crazy week. So I got this. It wasn't necessarily an offer, but casting people for this TV show came to me a little over a month ago and if I was interested. I initially, and this is something we'll get into, too, is I don't think... I feel like I did TV, and that was such a great intro to acting. But since moving into films, I realized I love the film format so much more because it's so... It just TV is so... It's a beast. It's a beast. I was really under the impression with myself that I was not going to do TV again after euphoria is Okay. I said, No, I don't think I can. I mean, this sounds really cool, but I just don't think I can do it again. They went off and they went into They tried casting people, and then they came back a little over a week ago and were like, Hey, we just want to gage your interest again because we really think you could be really right for this.

And so I was like, Okay, I need a meeting with you all to show me really what you're trying to accomplish here. It was an amazing meeting. And I was like, fuck, I feel like the universe is handing me this thing right now. It's not what I thought I was going to give, but I feel like I have to do this. Can I say what it is? It's Blade Runner 2099. So there's the initial Blade Runner from the '80s, then there's 2049 from 2019. And so this is the continuation, 2099 in TV show format.

It's very cool. Congratulations. Thank you. That's like, insane. Thank you. And when you have meetings like that, when you say it goes well, what do you look for to make you feel comfortable?

Well, yeah. So the acting thing I was not looking to be an actor. It's not what I thought I was going to do with my life. I still question whether it is... So this week has been this whole process of being like, Shit, I have I'm being handed these incredible opportunities on a silver fucking platter. And while it might not be why I thought I was put on this Earth to do, this is what I'm being fucking called to do right now. And so that's been a big processing moment. And I think it's really allowing me to head into this project and just fully just dive in headfirst and give myself to it. Okay.

I have so many questions of just how we got here and how you are doing. So you grew up in North Carolina, and obviously that's so fucking different than LA. What is your hometown like? Can you describe it?

Yeah. So it's- Your sister is laughing.

Why is she laughing?

That's so funny. Well, so I'm going to be honest. I've fucking hated North Carolina. Okay. And growing up there, being queer, being queer in the South, anybody who's queer in the South knows, it's not fucking easy. It's really culturally, it's in a completely different place than the bubbles in the cities that we live in. And I always knew that I didn't belong there and that I belonged in these spaces where I can be myself and not feel like there's a target on my fucking back all the time. I really hated it. And I'm not going to lie, growing up there, fucked me up. I have now come to love it because I can return there in all my bad bitchery and know that I'm fierce and I don't feel like a fucking nuisance for existing in North Carolina now. So I love it now, but growing up there, it was tough. I did not like it.

What were you like as a kid? In this environment, describe yourself.

One of my, I guess, afflictions with life is I have never been able to really help but be who I am. And You know? So even before I transitioned, and I transitioned in my first couple of years of high school. But before I transitioned, I'm just like, Can I say bad words? I mean, you... Hunter. Yes, please say that. I'm just this little faggot. I'm an extremely high femme boy in this space of... Boys are very one way, especially in the South. It's just culturally what it is. But I mean, it's one of... I'm so thankful that I have not really been given a choice to be anyone but who I am. So I always stuck out like a sore thumb. But I loved... I was extremely artistic, pretty happy. I've always had a pretty easy access to joy, I think. So despite my circumstances, I look back on my childhood And despite being in a certain amount of pain just for being who I am, I was a pretty happy kid.

That's amazing. If you're in the South, you're right. As growing up, if you are queer in the South, still to this day, it's crazy to say kids are having a hard time. Even in fucking California, they have a hard time, which is even fucking crazy to say. So when you're growing up in that environment, I know you have three siblings and you're the oldest. Being the oldest, was it hard to open up to your siblings or were they there for you? What was that dynamic?

I would say the siblings was on the easier end because I think that... I mean, me and Hannah, because we're so close in age, so we were in the same school And because nobody really understood what I was doing, I think we had our trials and tribulations as siblings, but we've moved far, far beyond that now. And my siblings are some of the closest people in my life now. But at the time, I think it was a little tough for everybody because no one, not even me, understood what I was going through and why I stuck out a sore thumb and whatever.

But as happy as you were, that makes me sad for any kid that's going through something that's indescribable in your mind at that point. Did you have a hard time in school? What was your middle school like?

Middle school was probably the hardest, actually. Young teenage boys are pretty gnarly, especially when they are confronted with a kid who they just don't know what to do with... They have no grasp of queerness, whatever it is. So it's like, oh, look at this gay kid. They just don't know what to do with it. And so they'll be mean. So that was always tough, just dealing with boys who I don't get it. But I found my cute little nerdy friend group, and that was my first experience of like, Okay, if I find my circle, I can be myself and I'll be okay. So So that was cool. But middle school is also when I realized I was gay. Or at that time, I thought I was a gay boy. So came out.

Who did you come out to first?

My friends. My friends. And that's the thing of Okay, I have this network of support where even if my parents don't accept, okay, these people will get me. So they were the first people I told, and then I would tell my parents, tell my family, whatever.

Your parents. So your dad was a pastor growing up?

My parents are still pastors. Yeah. So my dad is a pastor, and my mom is... She's ordained to be a pastor. She works in the children ministry in the church.

Okay, talk to me about that because just thinking of what you were going through as a young kid, being in the south and having your dad, a part of the church.

And growing up in the church.

How did that work out?

It's like another layer to it all. And thankfully, I didn't grow up in Catholicism or anything. And I hear about people in my community who grew up in that, and it's like, oh, girl, I'm so fucking lucky that I got to grow up in a normal, even though my parents are pastors and I'm very involved in the church, on the chiller side of Christianity, Presbyterian church. Oh, my God.

Catholicism is like... Insane. You're going to burn alive. You're like, I am? Yeah.

So there was never this, Oh, you're going to hell. But then I would see things about just Christianity in general, where there are churches that believe you're going to hell. It's insane. And so that was this whole complex that I had to get through, too. But thankfully, when I came out as gay to my parents, I think they... I mean, I think anybody could have fucking told you by looking at me that I was gay at the time. So that was easier. Then the trans thing came on later on. That was a bit harder.

Did you feel, not even just you as an individual, did you and your siblings feel like you guys had this expectation around you? I'm thinking TV shows, and I'm like, The Pastor. I'm thinking like, seventh Heaven back in the day. I don't know. Did you guys feel like you had to live up to this reputation, almost?

I think it was there. And this is something that I definitely dealt with later on, too, in life. Because there's this whole pastor's daughter trope. It gets tough because obviously, what I do now is very... When I had to tell my parents that I was doing a TV show in the first episode, I'm having anal sex with a 45-year-old and cutting myself in the arm, all this stuff. My first thought is like, Okay, they have to tell their congregation that their kids aren't going to be on TV. And then their congregation who are just little old nice white Christian people from the South are going to watch this TV show and see me getting butt fucked. It's It's like, oh, my God. I thought to a degree, I still do feel that because that's something that they still have to deal with. My movie coming out next in a couple of weeks, Kinds of Kindness, which I'm so excited about. My one scene in it, I got my titties out, girl. I have no personal problems with it, but it is something where I'm like, Some people just aren't going to get it. That's a whole other thing.

How did your parents react when you told them? Also, how do you sit your parents down for that? Is that after the dinner table? Is it a phone call? Is it a FaceTime? Yeah. Is it a letter?

So I didn't tell them that I was in the audition process because I really wasn't sure that I was going to do it. Because once again, I didn't think acting was my calling or anything. It's not my plan. It wasn't my plan. So I didn't tell them until I had actually gotten the job, which left them in a situation because it didn't really give them room to give their opinions or whatever. But I think they were just worried because they don't come from this world. Sometimes I get really jealous of my peers in this industry that do have family in it because... I mean, there's pros and cons, but for a lot of reasons, I'm really happy that my family is in this completely separate world. But the guidance part, I think that's what they were worried about, is I think they Even though they didn't know a lot about it, I think they know the nature of this industry can be very intense, and they just didn't want me to get fucked up by it.

That's a good point. And it also sucks. It's so crazy to think that your first fucking acting job is euphoria. That is so baller. But it's also like, I get what you're saying. If your family doesn't come from the industry at all, there's also this natural judgment of, are you about to fuck your life up? Oh, my God, are you making the biggest decision that is going to ruin your whole life? Exactly. Where other people that maybe are more used to it, it's like, this is how it goes. Get the role.

I just had to tell them. I had to be like, I think I use the word risque. And I don't think- No, I'm not doing it. Just a little risky. Cut to them at the premiere. I don't think my mom could even watch it. It's insane. It's insane.

You're like, oh, my God. It's almost like when you watch a movie with your parents that has a sex scene when you're young and you're pretending you're going to get your ice cream at the time because it's so awkward. Meanwhile, you're like, so that's me. And I can't run away from this. Oh, my God. God bless you, honestly. That is strength within strength.

It's so nuts.

I'm curious, though, when you were talking about closing out that chapter of middle school. Obviously, everyone needs a fucking outlet of, I am dealing with all this shit. I remember reading, you said you journaled. I don't know if it was in middle school, but what did you to feel less alone with all these thoughts? Well, yeah, I think...

It's just part of my nature, too. I think part of the pressure cooker that I placed myself in growing up in a place where I was so unhappy with my surroundings is I really devoted my free time and my life to my art. At the time, it was visual arts where I put all my creative energy. But I knew that that is my gift is I'm an artist, and it's still tea to this day. I know that that's what I was put on this Earth to do, was to make stuff. But at the time, it was visual arts, and so I did everything that I could to just put all my energy into that. It ended up being my first job. In high school, my first job was contributing to making little watercolor comics for an online magazine. It was incredible. And so that was like, this is what's going to get me out of here and get me to where I want to be in life. Totally.

Even hearing you say that, it's so hard in general being a child. But at that point, it just sucks because there are so many kids that get to live their life and be not having to escape and get to go to the fucking playground and frolic around you being like, I was trying to use this as an escape so I didn't have to deal with what the fuck was going on in reality. Then you get to high school. Did you ever talk to anyone that you felt like actually understood you?

Well, so I mean, this is the thing is when the trans thing started coming up, and that started coming up with the onset of puberty, which I was experiencing severe levels of anxiety that no middle school or high schoolers should be going through at that time. For, especially around something that's quote unquote inevitable. And I realized that this wasn't normal. And then I turned to the Internet because I didn't even know what being trans was. I had no idea that you could... There were trans people in the world. And that's the isolating piece of growing up in the South. Nobody talks about it. There's no people in my line of sight that are this. And then so I went to the Internet, I looked on YouTube and found out, oh, shit, you can... It isn't my destiny. It doesn't have to be my destiny to become a fucking man and grow a beer and all that stuff. But then it's the whole thing of, Okay, now that I know that this is my tea, I have to get everybody else on board because I'm still a fucking kid. And that was harder because I didn't know what it was.

My parents didn't know what it was. And that was a bit harder as far as... There were moments when I first came out where I told them, I'm a girl, and they were like, No, you're not. But it's not Because I think they've always known deep down, but they didn't... When you don't know what it is, there's no way to, I don't know, contextualize that.

It's the concept when you say that, to actualize it. People have a hard time, especially because you're saying no one around you guys you could relate to. So you're coming to your parents with this information. And obviously, some parents are fucking awful when it comes to this.

But it sounds like your parents They came along.

Right. They were just like, I don't understand what you mean. Yeah.

And I think they started realizing... Because with the onset of puberty and everything is where my first... I've dealt with mental health for a while now, but that's when it first started showing up, depression and anxiety, and my grades started fucking up. I was becoming a shell of a person, and I think they could see that. And then they were like, Shit. Okay, we got to figure this out. Right.

And that's what's so heartbreaking for houses that don't accept their child because it's like, let them be who they need to be because you're You're becoming a shell of a person because you're not who you authentically know you need to be inside. Everything is telling you one thing. And then everyone is like, No, no, no, don't do that.

Well, I think it's out of love. My parents' first reaction was like that because they love me. They want me to be okay. And I'm pitching them this insane idea that I want to chop my dick off and become a woman. And that's a very crude way of putting it, but to get my point across. I think no one wants anybody that they love to endure a harder life than they have to. But sometimes that's the fucking deal.

What I love about you and even sitting here, your energy is just so incredible. I think back to younger you, obviously, going through it. But what traits, I don't know if that's the right word, but traits do you think you gained through? Having to really endure a lot of turning inward within yourself and betting on yourself and relying on yourself.

Yeah. Being trans has been one of the great challenges of my life, and it sucks that I had to deal with it so young and that I live in a world that is constantly fighting me on that. It absolutely fucked me up, and I'm still dealing with the ramifications of that today. But But at the same time, I would not have it any other way because it has taught me, and it's why I'm so thankful for it. It has taught me that the power of intuition and the proof that I have a soul and that all the answers are inside of me, at least for my truth and my life and whatever. And that is priceless. And it's something that I use as a grounding force in everything that I do in my life now. So, yeah, I'm so thankful for it. No.

First of all, thank you for sharing all that because I know it's personal. And I really appreciate you opening up because when you're saying the intuition thing within yourself, it made me cry because I'm like, that is so fucking real. And so many people watching this are probably going to clip that. That's why I want to share this. It's incredible. And just sharing your experience, that is so powerful to be like, lean the fuck into what you feel. Stop listening to what everyone else is saying. I know it's so fucking hard, but when you can start to channel that, we all know what's best for ourselves. Exactly.

No one else does. And you can even... It's so weird, your layers of consciousness and everything, because you can totally, on surface level, be telling yourself something is right for you, when in reality, deep down, and you know it's there, but you won't look at it like you're only looking at this thing that you're telling yourself. But deep down, you know. You always know.

You always know. You know. You can try to avoid it sometimes. You feel like that's literally the top of the easy.

Yes. And you literally put yourself in your own psychosis of believing in this reality that is not actually your truth. It's so real. It's so crazy.

I also appreciate, as we're just going through your life, I wonder, and you don't need to answer, but is it annoying sometimes? Because a part of A big part of your life is this moment that you realize, I don't know if I'm happy with the way that I was born, and I want to be this way. And I'm so happy with myself now. But is it annoying when you're in interviews? I've talked about this before in interviews. Because I didn't want to ask you about it. That's why I was like, Oh, we got to high school in your life. What happened in high school? I would ask anyone on this show, and I hope you know you can talk about it as much or not as much as you want. But are you like, Can we move on? I'm this cute girl.

So I thought about this today because I just recently had an interview come out where I fucking... This was the longest interview I've ever done. It was two four-hour sessions And so I really just was... I was hyped up on caffeine. I was yapping. I was talking about whatever I wanted to. And I did. I gabbed about how fucking frustrating it is to constantly... Because in interviews for press things, when I'm promoting a movie or something, it's oftentimes the first thing an interviewer will ask about because it's what makes me unique and they know that it'll get clicks. But what's frustrating to me about that is I'm here to promote my work in a movie that has nothing to do with that, and you are just fishing for things that will get you clicks. And that's what's so frustrating to me about that. This today, when what I love about this podcast is that we're talking about real shit and life and whatever, and I can't really talk about my life in full honesty without talking about it. And it is something I do believe Because I didn't really... Fame is something that I'm like, I knew what I want to do with my life often involves Fame to some degree.

It's I'm not something that I thoroughly enjoy, but I do feel like I have been put in this position in order to help progress the movement.

But do you ever feel exhausted from that? It's not your fucking job to I hate people.

All the time. All the time. And that's the thing. I don't like talking about just educating people on the fact... Bitch, Google is literally... That's how I learned about it, so you can certainly do it, too. But as far as my experience experience and also helping other young trans people who might watch this or watch some of my other work, which sometimes I do incorporate my trans into my work. That's who I'm doing it for.

I feel like there's a difference between genuinely and authentically just speaking about your experience. People are like, Oh, I like what she said there, versus being like, So Hunter in high school. And you're like, Jesus fucking Christ.

I'm promoting the hunger Why are you asking me about what it was like being a tranny growing up in the church? What the fuck are we talking about?

No, I respect that. I just wanted to hear from you because I bet it's fucking annoying. Speaking of high school, did you dabble with drugs and alcohol at all? Were you pretty clean?

And that's something that I think the church thing that I'm pretty thankful for is I did... I would I smoke weed with my friends. And now I've learned to... I've come to learn, I fucking hate weed. Weed is not for me. I cannot smoke it. I had this really horrible experience with it when I was 18, 19 or something where I smoked and I literally thought I was in hell and then I've never done it again. I'm really off of it. That's the only thing that I dabbled with. And then drinking here and there, but never really getting into it. That's been more of an early '20s thing.

You need to be in your room by yourself, or that could be scary, or with one friend that you trust and ease in.

Yes. Because that's my thing with weed is... Because some people can just smoke and just kiki, and Bitch, that is not how... When I have smoked weed in the past, I become nonverbal. I'm on the floor and a creature... When I have smoked, that's my tea. That's what I give. Terrifying. You can't do that around, especially people you don't know. Then you're like, psych yourself out.

Hunter, you're like, Yeah, I'm just... No. I felt like they were like, It's weed. It's not that deep.

And you're like, It is that deep. It is that deep. I think weed is one of the most psychedelic drugs on the fucking planet. I mean, that's a stretch, but I think it is very psychedelic.

Okay, let's talk about euphoria. Okay, I'm going to talk about euphoria. Okay. I think I read somewhere, but I don't know if you've ever actually told the whole story on a show where I can hear you. Tell me the story of how you got the role and how it all came to be.

I was taking Gapier. Okay. Modeling Modeling in New York at the time. I got scattered over Instagram. I go to model. I'm like, I want to make some money. That's not what happened, by the way. But I left modeling in debt. But you can dream. That's another story. Anyways, I'm doing my Model, give. Right as I'm getting ready to go to college, because that was my plan, I was going to save up money, whatever, go to college. Then this casting call comes about. And I see it floating around on Instagram, and then my agency tells me that they have asked me to come in. And so this happened with... There are a handful of trans girls working. There's a lot more now. There's a handful of trans girls working in modeling at the time. We had all gotten asked to come in for this audition. I was really like, I don't know because it's trans and it's not written by a trans. I'm like, I don't know. But I go in because they really me to because I'm like, Okay, let's just see what this is about. And I went in. And by the way, I have no acting experience.

I have no idea what I'm doing. So I got in. And the great thing is that they essentially just wanted me to play myself. So I got to basically just be myself with lines. And I think that whatever it was, it worked for them. So I keep getting callbacks, callbacks, callbacks. Eventually, they fly me out to LA for a final audition in front of all these HBO execs in this crazy room. Then I find out later that afternoon that I got the role. I was still teetering on like, This was not my plan. And this changes everything. I have to be completely honest. Then I saw the paycheck, the per episode, and I was like, This is money than I've ever seen in my whole entire life. I don't think I can say no to this. Frankly, at that point, I had also read more of the episodes. I really liked the show. No. So it's a combination of those things. I really liked the showrunner, Sam. We had had really good meetings, and I was like, Okay, I feel like, and it's the same thing that keeps happening where I'm being handed this thing, I think I have to take it.

And so I did.

It's so crazy that you had no interest in Fame. And obviously, I'm assuming once you took the show, you guys didn't know it was going to be, what it was going to be. No.

Well, I think we all knew it was something special when we were making it. We all... The first... It was so magical. We all loved it so much. And we still... We look back on it as Wow. We all got to grow up inside of this thing together. It's really special. But, yeah, we didn't know that it was going to become what it did. Yeah.

Can you take me to that moment where you're realizing the show's out, Fame is happening, everyone knows your name.

Yeah, it's one of the most surreal things I've ever been through because You are still the same person. So I'm still the same person. But then the entire world's relationship to you changes like that. And it was, I'm not going to lie, it was really... It threw me for a fucking loop. And thank God, we all, the cast and I, came up in this together and we were able to lean on each other in this just really surreal experience. Because I don't know how I could have fucking handled it if I didn't have them. Particularly Z, who's one of my best friends in the world to this day, is in it. Thankfully, she had had some experience with Fame already, and We were really close by the time we really fell in love with each other as friends in the first season, and she was able to help me through all of that, too. But it was very surreal. I wouldn't say I had no interest in Fame because I knew Fame could get me the things that I wanted to do in life, and I knew that could be a tool. But it's not like I had any person...

And I still don't really have any personal... I don't personally gain anything from it. If anything, it's just made existing in public a little harder as a socially anxious person. But it's an amazing tool to get what I want and to make what I want happen.

No, it's so interesting you say that because people always say, Oh, people think they want Fame and money, but if you just hand them money, then they actually don't even need the Fame.

That part. Because if I could walk away from all of this with the money and not not... Oh, life would be perfect.

And some people like it. I get that, but like...

Yeah, some people do. And some people are meant for it. Some people were like, This is what you were supposed to do, diva.

Do you have a moment where you were found yourself very overwhelmed by it all and you were shutting down.

I remember some of the first moments of getting recognized in public happening. I think me and Barbie were at a cafe, and the first four episodes or something were out, and it hadn't really started. But we're just at a cafe, money our own business, and then we have people start coming up to us. And it's the first time this has ever happened to me, and And it's just really surreal. And then I think the moment that I really realized things were changing was I was in New York doing press. And it's one of those interviews. I forget what it's called, but it's public because they do the interview in this corner glass.

Oh, like the Today Show vibe where it's like...

No, it's not the Today Show. It's like people can see you. People can see you from the inside. So I walk in to do this interview and everything's normal. And then by The time I come out from doing the interview, a crowd and paparazzi have amassed. Then we get followed around. My mom is there with me, too. We get followed around by these paparazzi for the rest of the day. And just coming from what I come… I couldn't fucking process it. It's scary because getting followed and having people scream at you and stuff, it puts you in a fight or flight. Because you can understand on a surface level what's happening, but your body doesn't know that.

And you feel like you're in a cage because you're like, Well, I can't open my car door. Exactly. So you're just like, I'm sad. Is your mom like, What the fuck?

I mean, my mom was great because I think she knew that I was really overmarched. She was just there for me. But I think we both, at the end of that day, were We're just like, what the fuck? Just stop it. Yeah. And then it's never been the same since.

Well, and I appreciate you sharing, you're like, I'm a socially anxious person. So naturally, this isn't something that I'm like, let's go. How do you in moments where your life is feeling too Hollywood, how do you come back to being Hunter yourself, not Hunter Schafer, Prada, Vogue, all the things?

Yeah. And it's taken a while, but I've created this dichotomy between the Hunter Schafer Hunter that I give to the world and then like, Hunter, who that's what my friends call me and everything. Like, those are two different people. And so she, the famous Hunter, is like my drag. And having those be separate is so important for my fucking sanity. It's one of my greatest gifts in this life is I have wonderful, wonderful friends and family and their people. A lot of them have been around before I got famous, and so they know me and can't really project my drag onto me. They know me for me. Having them there is just priceless.

That's amazing that you've been able to figure that out pretty quickly because that takes some people a really long time. It was not quick. Right. Okay. Well, even though you I don't think it's quick, some people literally get to the point where at the end of their career, they're like, I should have disconnected more. And I do think, thank God, you have your friends and family that are like, you're hunty, bitch. Don't forget it. We're going to treat you like you're just hunty. You're not Hunter Schafer. We're not going to treat you different. Exactly. Because that causes people to become monsters. That they're like, do this for me and do this for me. And then you're not even a real human. You're a robot.

No, you're like, yeah, it's psycho. And it's sad to watch because we do watch it happen to people. A lot. Yeah.

Obviously, I have to ask Is season three happening? Like, what are we doing? Girl.

You know, obviously, the real tea is I have no idea. No idea. Fucking idea what's going on. And you can ask literally all of the cast. And it's, you know. I mean, here's the real tea is that a lot has happened, but at least for me, and knowing where the rest of the cast is at and everything, too. I mean, a lot has happened. We have had, and it's hard to talk about, but we've had deaths. Girl, you're getting emotional. I think everyone feels a certain sense of... Oh, girl, sorry. No, it's okay. Anticipation for if we are supposed to do this season 3. Obviously, I'm still coming to qualms with what's happened and losing people that we really loved and we're a part of this family and everything. I think season, if we do go back, that's going to be tough. I I mean, and I think there's a world in which we can channel that into making it a beautiful season 3 if it is supposed to happen. But I think that shit really threw everyone for a loop. On an emotional level, and then there's all these industry, whatever, political things that go into whether or not this is happening.

But that's emotionally, I think, where a big part of what's happening, too.

I'm so fucking sorry. And clearly, you were obviously so close when you even talk about the cast. I'm just so sorry because when you talk about this rise, this became your family. These are people that you were like, fuck, I don't know how to handle this. None of us know how to handle this. Let's all lean on each other. So I can't imagine. And I'm so sorry. Thank you. There is no right or wrong, whether you guys come back or don't. It's been one of the most incredible rides. You guys have done such an incredible job. I'm so thankful for it. And thank you for giving your life to something that has really brought so many people, entertainment and happiness. And there's a lot of themes that I think people have loved that are very progressive and have just helped a lot of people. So whether it comes back I'm not. Thank you. We love you all.

Thank you. And we support you. Thank you. And thank you for being real with me. Let me give my emotional tease and whatever because I'm still in it, girl. It's crazy.

Grief is a motherfucker, and it's not linear. And some days you'll see a picture in it. I know. Or a thing in the street.

And you're like, it'll hit me on the fucking toilet. I don't know. It's just like, you never know. It's crazy.

You never know. Okay, I'm going to shift our energy, and we're going to play Would You Rather? Oh, shit.

And then we're going to get into dating.

Okay, yeah. We're re-aligned. Okay, okay, okay, okay. Here we go. We're going to play Would You Rather? Would you rather wear euphoria-style makeup every day for the rest of your life or never wear makeup again.

Never wear makeup again. Easy. No shade to euphoria makeup. I just am a no makeup girl. Love it.

You're gorgeous. Thank you. Okay. Would you rather send a nude to the wrong person or accidentally send a sext to your mother?

That's insane, Alex Cooper. That's such a fucking crazy question. I would... Well, it depends on who's getting the nude. Because my friends and I, they see me naked. It's no big deal.

You might be like, you send it to an extra.

But what if I fucking send it to my mom? Then that might just be as bad as the sex. You know what? I think my mom has seen me get butt-fucked on television. I think she can handle an accidental sext, and we can recover from that.

I love that. This is so much about you and your mom. What would you do? Honestly, I guess I was going to say the nude, but again, it depends who it's to because if I'm looking cute, I'm like, Oh, my God. It's like accidentally I send it to an ex. I'm like, Yeah. But right. You're like, Oh, not bad.

But if it's to a coworker or a Doors are an executive? No, ma'am. I'm absolutely not.

I think my mom, depending on the level of the sex, if it's a chook on your cock situation, I'm like, Mom, I- This is such a crazy question. I wrote it. I'm like, What is wrong with me?

I pray for both of us that we never have to deal with that. Me too.

Me too. What is your opinion on sexting?

I've tried. I've I've had cute moments with it. It's never ideal, I would say. It's exhausting. It's exhausting for me, personally. I hate texting in general. Done. If we're going to talk, FaceTime me. I'm a This time, girl. So the texting...

Have you ever reused a nude? Absolutely.

The best. Absolutely.

Perfect use of your time. You're like, Oh, let me go into the storage closet. Let me pick out which one I'm loving today.

Go to the library, you pick it out. Yeah. I don't get that shit out there.

Okay, here we go. Drunkenly hook up with a friend who you know has feelings for you and you don't have feelings back, or you have to get back with your most recent ex for a month.

So, okay, actually, you know what? No. So my friendships, especially a lot of my... I come from a lot of lesbians in my circle. I don't know how many lesbians you've talked to, but most of everybody has already had sex with each other and probably will again. That is very much the case for me in my lesbian friend group. So that would probably be no problem if that happened. Easier.

Have you ever hooked up with a friend and regrett it?

I don't I really regret too much. Okay. No. I've definitely like, drunkenly done things where I'm like, oh, girl. That didn't need to happen. But it's not... No shade. No nothing. Okay, fair.

What is going on in your dating life? Are we single?

Right now, yes. Are we dating? No, I'm single as fuck.

Okay.

Are you loving it? I am loving it. So, yeah. Yeah. So I mean, I think it is perfect for where I'm at in life right now, because especially given this past week's stuff, where I am about to undertake this enormous project. And the last time I did it, I was in my first relationship when I first started euphoria, and I didn't know, going into it, how much of me it takes. And I really lived I live in that world when I'm doing it. That relationship didn't end up working out because I just had no capacity to be in a relationship. I think it is so perfect that I am single as a Pringle right now because I get to just dive in head first into this. It's amazing. But my last relationship was... I don't know. We hit the year mark a little bit ago since we broke up.

Do Do you prefer someone in the industry or not in the industry?

It's not really a... I mean, it's still tough and I still don't totally know. Because I've done both. And they both are really nice for their own reasons because obviously... I have this with my friendships, too, where my job and my life that I live requires me to be on standby all the time. I found out that I'm spending the rest of the year in Europe, not even a week ago. And it's hard to maintain relationships. And so the people that have stuck around in my life know that I operate on this level where... And it's all my best friendships are like this, where we can go a month or however long and not talk. And then when I come back or when they come back, we can pick right back up where we left That's how I operate in my relationships. It's just how it is right now. And so, yeah, with the relationships, too, it's nice dating other people in the industry because they also work like that. Right.

So they get it. They're not going to be annoyed that you're leaving for a certain amount of time.

Where's someone not in it? Yes. Because I've had friendships end because they're just like, Girl, what's going... Where are you? Where are you? Yeah.

You're like, I have work.

Yes.

Yeah. Okay. What is the best first date you've ever been on.

Best first date I've ever... So the date... Dates is not... I'm just now getting into the era of my life where I'm an adult and I feel more like the idea of someone asking me on a date or me asking someone on a date, a first date where you go to dinner and you get to know each other. I haven't done a whole lot. A lot of my previous stuff is we start out as friends or random hookup, blah, blah, blah, blah, The dating thing. It sounds fun. No.

Okay.

Did you go on a first date with your husband? I did.

It was the best first date I ever had, which is annoying because I hate that. I feel like some dates could be great first dates, and then they turn out to be fucking shit. It turns out that he wasn't a dick. He actually was a lovely guy, and I ended up marrying him. But I've had good first dates, but I've had awful first dates before. I also think it is more normal sometimes to just go from friends, and then all of a sudden, you're just hanging out at your house, your apartment, and that's fine, too. Have you ever had it where after a first hookup, you're like, Oh, my fucking God, the chemistry was so insane. I must see this person again. So you've had that before?

Absolutely. And that tends to be what will turn into a relationship. Yeah.

Okay. Who is currently your celebrity crush?

Oh, God. Oh, God. Let's see. Who is- Non-offensive to say that you want to have to run into next week? Oh, no. Let's see. Alex, I don't know. I can't say this stuff. Actor? I'm trying to think. Musician. Well, I have a type. Okay, what's your type? Musicians. I love a musician. I've dated a couple now. I think I've seen that.

I think I've seen that.

I've dated a few now. I love a musician.

One with long hair, one with short hair.

You know, it's like the little sucker in me that's just like, Oh, my God, you are so charismatic and you will play the guitar, whatever. And I'm like, Google Gaga. Has anyone ever written you a song?

Yeah. Hunter.

Yeah. Oh, and trust me, they know what they're doing, too. They know what they're doing with that. But it works, Steve. Oh my God.

Like on the guitar, just sitting on the bed?

Yeah. Or send it to you. It works. I have fear for anyone who has this happen to them because you're done. You're gone. You're done.

If you meet another musician, do you think you're going to be like, I have to break the curse and the pattern, or are you going to go back? Are you talking any musicians right now? If you find a musician that you like again, are you going to just go right back in?

Oh, girl. I mean, no. So the thing that's tough with musicians, or at least in my line, or with successful musicians who are doing tours and stuff, I guess it's the same thing with actors where they have to go off for however many months and tour. And then I'm working for how it's very hard. So I don't know if that is in my path again, because I've done it and I've tried it and really tried to make it work. And it's just very hard. And I don't have, at least at this point in my life, I don't have the capacity to figure out how that works. Maybe someday, though. We'll see.

Do you like how I let you off the hook? I'm like, Okay, you don't have to answer.

I really wanted to give an answer. You'll tell me after.

You'll tell me after. Do you fall in love easily?

Falling in love is so... I'm still figuring out what it means because I've been in love with people who are still some of my best friends to this day. And we were definitely in love at that point, but it's changed in its nature. And I still love the shit out of this person, but it's not that infatuation. There's a part of me that's like, is being in love just a deep infatuation? And then that subsides, and then it just becomes like, you just love this person. I don't know. It's It's funny, but I also I know what being in love, it's like a whole body. You know, right?

Yeah, yeah, yeah. But I think that makes sense. I think you're at that point in your life where you're experiencing these relationships.

I've been through it enough now. Yes.

But you may find someone at some point that you're like, oh, wait, that is different than infatuation. That's when you'll know is when you're like, Oh, wait. Because love for me, when I was younger, it really... I went through a point where it was just infatuation. Then I was like, is this I'm in love or is this infatuation? And then I think when I met Matt, I was like, Oh, this is different. Yeah.

With my past relationships, I've been... We were in love. In love. I know what that is. It's confusing.

You know what I'm Because it feels different with every partner also.

Yeah. And I also don't believe in one true love necessarily.

No, I completely agree. How do you handle when people... Like public opinion on your romantic relationships?

That is something that I have learned. So my last relationship was my first public relationship. I don't know if I'll ever do it again. At some point when you're doing it, it gets just too hard to I mean, you can try to hide, but whatever. But I've also come to this point just with fame in general, where people are going to say what they're going to say, and I really don't give a shit. Because I get called a man hundreds of times on the internet every single day. I'm so used to the just fucking idiots just saying just bullshit all the time. On On the one hand, it's like, I don't care. And then on another hand, it's like, if you don't... Obviously, a relationship is personal and private, and you should not be... You need to eliminate as many factors that are going to make it more complicated than it needs to be if you can. So I don't know. It's something when I start dating again or something, I'll take it out.

Well, I think it's interesting, too. You said this was your first public relationship. And I think there's pros and cons where you're like, finally, we can just be. And we can go into an event together as we would want to naturally do. But then you're like, People are taking pictures, and then people are staring. And then when you break up, someone like me is asking you about it. And then you're like, Alex, don't ask.

Well, no, I'm excited to be talking about love and everything. It's not things that I don't want to talk about necessarily. I've learned a lot. It's something that I really love about all my relationships is even if bad shit has in them or whatever, or they have fucked me up to some degree or something, I feel like all of my relationships I've come out knowing that it taught me something about myself and about people. I feel really thankful for that.

Absolutely. I feel like that's the best takeaway from anything in life, even if it's not romantic. It's a friendship. It's a work relationship. When I was researching you, I was reading something where your former co-star/relationship Yeah. He talked about his need to get out of his codependent tendencies. I'm sure you read this. Yeah. Were you on the same page? Is a breakup where you're blindsided or were you okay? Yeah.

So he said that. But that that breakup was... It was like a mutually... It was a mutually agreed upon... And it's one of the cleaner breakups I've had of we both recognize that this is not working and we can't do this, we got to go our own separate ways. And it was so, so hard because we really, we really loved each other. And he's a really special person. And I love his soul and everything. And by no means was that really... It was messy. But it was a clean parting. And he has a lot to work on. And I also have a lot to work on. And so I think that's also why I'm in this era of, I got to, I got to figure my shit out because that was... We had a really good thing. But there were things in our own selves that had nothing to do with each other that kept coming up in the way of the relationship.

So 100 %. What are you like in a relationship?

I think it's different for everyone. It's really different with every person, too. Because I used to exclusively date not men. And this last relationship was my first relationship with a man, a cis man. And it's different. It's very different than dating. I've dated trans women, I've dated trans men, I've cis women. I've been around the block and it changes. The transness is really interesting because everyone interacts with it differently. Everyone has their own way of approaching it. And I have my own way of approaching that relationship with that person. It's interesting. Do you mind sharing a little? Yeah, no. I'm excited to talk about it.

Yeah, this is interesting. Yeah.

So I'm so thankful for my first relationship. I've talked about this before, too. It was with a trans woman, and it was my entrance into sex, romance, all of that stuff. All of those were first in that relationship, and it was with another trans woman. Thank God. Thank God. And I'm so... And we're still friends to this day, too. She showed me the ropes because Dating as a trans person is... It's complicated, let me tell you. It's not easy. And to know in my first relationship and in my first really being in this mutual love thing, first time having sex, that I got to do it with somebody who completely understands my gender. It's incredible. I'm so thankful for it. I'm really thankful that I started out with with other trans people because there's... There's being trans or having trans people in your life. There's a lens that you acquire. And it's something that, like ignorant people who have no idea how to, how to engage with trans people or think about trans people, they don't have the lens that allows them to see whatever person as the gender that they are presenting as or whatever.

And this is a lens that you acquire as you spend more time with trans people and everything. And so knowing that that lens is there with whoever I was with. Amazing. Amazing. And then it's interesting branching out from there into cis people, cis women or cis men, where I'm not sure that they have the lens, even with hookups or whatever. This is a constant anxiety I've had with hooking up with cis women or something, is that I'm worried, especially also because I'm pre-op, that maybe are they seeing something in me that is not part of what I give or something? And they might want... And I've had hookups before with cis women where they wanted me to fuck them or something, like a guy. And it's because I have a dick. And then that, coming up in a hookup and being like, oh, God. It's tough. But then you will find cis people who do know and just get it. And that's what was so amazing about my ex-boyfriend was from the get-go, never, never a fucking... He saw me exactly for who I was, which is amazing.

It's amazing, too. I appreciate you describing this, too, because- It's hard to- No, but I'm keeping up with you because what I... First of all, I'm so happy for you, and I know everyone doesn't have that experience, is the fact that you were with someone you felt so safe with, and you were like, Oh, you get me because we're similar.

So it's a privilege to come across people in romance and sex and dating where that lens is there.

If someone understandably is like, I don't know what you want, and they come to you vulnerable of like, I really like you. Are you open to like...

That's such a turnaround. Oh my God.

Tell me what you want.

Because then they are coming because it puts their intention on the table of, Oh, I like you. I do want to do this I'm just a little unexperienced here. Love that. Love that. Amazing. It's when they don't and they don't know what they want or they want something that I am not capable of giving, then it's sticky and gross.

So your first relationship with a guy, just a guy that was- Also my first monogamous relationship.

Everything else had been polyamorous because that's what I came up in. That's how I learned relationships. And I touched on it before. I've I had built up a complex against men. Understandable. Because most, if not all of my deeply painful experiences I've had in life have been with men. And so I really came into this complex of I I never want to let a man back close to me in my life. I don't see a world in which it's possible. Really, I was... It was my bear. I put up walls and had been denying the fact that I am attracted to men, and I do want to date in whatever men, and that that's okay, and I need to let my walls down. And so that's what was so amazing about my last relationship, too, is also, and that's what was cool about the public aspect, is this is a straight guy who is in the music scene, too. And we are in a public relationship He's dating a trans woman, and he's completely straight. He's only dated this woman before. And he's toting me around, happy to be my boyfriend in front of the world.

And people are saying horrible, nasty shit because it's like, oh, you know. Oh, so he... He didn't care at all. And that was something that really showed me, too, where I'm like, Okay, you really... You see me for... And you love me for that.

Did you Did you guys have conversations before going out in public together? Were you anxious at all?

I was anxious, but I was also just head over heels in love and happy to be doing it. Conversations absolutely should have been happening, but also I was 22, 23. I was just like, I'm in love. I'm in love. This person is so much fun. You know, whatever. So it should have been a thing, but it wasn't.

But I think also just to...

And listen, I've said all these amazing things. He was not perfect. It's no secret. It's out there in the world. And it's part of why the relationship ended is I got cheated out for the first time. He's talked about this, too. In his song, he writes about it. So it's fine to be talking about it today. And it's part of my truth. But that fundamentally changed me as a person. And it was this whole process of realizing that cheating has nothing to do with you at all. Oh, my God. And it has everything to do with that person and whatever pain they're in or whatever they're dealing with. It's all that. But it's so hard.

I would say, because in the moment it feels like it's all you.

You're like, what did I do wrong?

And then eventually, I love that you're obviously a year out. You're clearly at that place where you're like, I can... You know that and you're saying it with confidence. But in the moment, you're literally like, oh, yeah.

And then as a trans woman, also, with a man who has never dated that before, then it's my mind, and I knew it wasn't the truth. And we both know that. I have no doubt that it is.

But you can't help but your brain goes there.

But my brain, Because of the way I've been socialized as a trans woman, and it's been this crux in my life of why life has been so hard sometimes. I'm like, Oh my God, is this it? Can I just not? But So it's cuckoo bananas.

How did you find out?

So I knew. You always- The gut. Yeah, the gut. And because I knew, I went into the phone.

Hunter, welcome to- Which I'm not proud of. I'm not proud of either. I've done it before. I'm not proud of that. But the amount of people that have sat here and been like, it's fucking normal. Because when your intuition is hitting you in the face, you're like, okay, fine, I'll look. And the reason you're is because you fucking know something.

Yeah. And this stuff... It makes me so nervous to talk about this stuff because I really... I have no interest in letting the public into what happened and everything. I've absolutely... I want to make this very clear. I've Absolutely no fucking desire to... Because what happened with that was between me and him, and I want to keep it, and I want to protect that. But at the same time, I'm also like, I'm here to talk about my truth and whatever.

And he wrote a song. And like, yes. And I agree with you. I also think like, I wish people knew. Sometimes like, you... Some things are super deep in the moment. And then when you're having a conversation, there's no ill will. You've literally said you were in love with this person. It ended amicably.

It's okay. And he's the same way about it because he's the same way where I don't think he has any interest in letting the public in either. But we both are yappers at the end of the day. And we're I'm not going to talk about... It's hard doing the bullshit like, I'm putting on a face here. Yeah.

Getting over a breakup, not even specifically talking about him anymore, but for you, and what you were saying, which I think is a lot for your confidence. I was like, as a trans woman, you're like, Fuck, am I not? And you almost stopped your sentence. You're like, Am I not? What came up for you when that happened? Like, am I not?

Yeah. I mean, it Like, really... I mean, like I said, it fundamentally changed me, and it's still something that I am working through.

What do you mean by that? But I think- What do you mean by that? Fundamentally changed you. What do you mean?

Just in that... I don't think I understood... Because I had never been in a monogamous relationship before. So my understanding of relationships and love and everything really was rooted in polyamory and queerness in the way that that the world works, which is very open. I think, honestly, I looked at people in monogamy and be like, Oh, you're cheating on yourself. Which is also what Ru Paul said in that interview. And you were like, No. I literally was like, Ru, I just got married. Way off. I know. And she was like, Sorry, bitch.

It was like, Sorry.

I was like, Oh, my God. Oh, my God. And you know what? I don't know where I totally I understand on it now because I've done both. I think there's validity in both, and it's really a choice, and it comes down to each individual thing. But coming from that as my background and the way I learned love, I really looked at monogamy as like, you're shorting yourself, and whatever. And then I got into a monogamous relationship. Oh, bitch. I get it. I get it. You're so nice. Yes. I know. Oh, I loved it. Oh, my gosh. But then it opens up the door for that betrayal, which is a different world of pain.

Were you open to the concept of monogamy? Did he initiate or did you initiate or you both did? Oh, no.

I was open to it because that's where I'm coming from. So I even... At the beginning, we talked about it, but that's not what we, either of us, I don't think, really wanted with that. And, yeah. And, I think, I mean, yeah, yeah.

Are you open to monogamy ever again?

Yeah, absolutely. I really feel like, I've done- You haven't given up. I've done both now. And I know I can be in either of those positions. But I really liked monogamy, too.

It's fucking powerful.

It's really cool in its own way. To get your heart broken. You're like, Fuck. I hate this shit. Back to Poly. Fuck you. No, but Now I see the fault in Pauley because Pauley is so much work. It's so much work. Monogamy is so easy because it's just like, it's very simple. It's just like, I mean, you have to communicate a lot in either way. But with polyamory, you bring other people into that and other people's relationships and whatever, and it's fine. But then you have to communicate not only about your own relationship, but about, if that's in the contract for you, about the other relationships that are happening and how How that weighs and how to balance that with the person, your primary partner's feelings. All that. It's so much work.

It's so much work. It's so much work and you're fucking busy.

I'm too busy right now, which is what I said. Not going to be your polyamory. I'm too busy right now.

Okay, let's talk about the new movie that's coming out by the time this episode comes out, Coo Coo.

Yeah, right. That's why I'm here. That's why I'm here to promote my fucking movie.

I'm like, oh my God. Okay, you're not going to be like, This is Call Her Daddy. The reason I love having these conversations, though, is I get it. We can do a press junket of like, no one wants to know more than anything about you. And then we want to go see the movie because of you. And we fell in.

And that's why I wanted to do this because I fuck with it.

I'm so happy you're here. Thank you. A horror movie. Yes. Your first lead role?

So this is my first. This is the first movie I ever got. It's not the first movie that has come out, but it's the first movie I ever filmed. And it's my first lead role. Are you so excited? I'm so I love this movie, and it really feels like a baby. It was my first... First movie.

Okay, horror. I'm such a little fucking bitch when it comes to horror. I'm literally like, that's what's happening. That's what's happening. How did you decide on this genre? Did you love- Well, I love horror.

Okay. I grew up loving horror. And I also think it's so fun stylistically, particularly with this director. It was less about the genre and even the script and the story. I just... I watched this director, who's Thunman Singer, his first film. And it's his only other piece of work, I think, that's out in the world that you can go buy on Amazon and watch. But it's called Luz. And I saw lose. And I was like, oh my God, I have to work with this person on whatever capacity. And in that audition process, I fought for that role. And I got it. That's amazing. Yeah. And I love this movie.

I know this is probably a dumb question to ask, but the process of filming a horror film... Me. Do you ever get scared? I'm literally terrible. It's not like that, though.

I'm assuming. No. Well, no, because there were some scary parts because we were filming in the... Bitch, in an abandoned... No. Yeah, here we go. No. An abandoned 20 acre Like, post-World War II military village module that had been abandoned for 50 years. We're shooting at night in these abandoned buildings that have just been sitting there for years. That was scary. But thankfully, the cast and crew and every... Oh, such a big family. I loved making this movie with them. And so, we were... It was so familial. It was only like when you're like, oh, you have to go walk to your trailer alone. And you're in the woods in the middle of Germany. And it's like, Bitch, what? It's scary. But otherwise, no. I mean, I'm in the scenes where I'm scared. I have to be scared, obviously.

I'm just coming from the perspective where I'm trying to think of a movie that you'd be like, Why are you scared about that? Honestly, some scenes in vampire Diary scared me.

You know what I mean? I still haven't seen vampire Diary.

No, it was great. But like, Halloween Town, did you ever watch the movie? No. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I was scared.

The Disney movie? No, no, no, that was scary. I remember that. Yeah, I remember that.

I'm literally so afraid of... Or on Disney shows, if it was the Halloween episode, I'd be like...

Oh, yeah. No, those were scary. They were. Or Twitches. Twitches. Twitches. And the dark cloud. Oh, my God.

They're shitting my pants. Oh my God, they're so scary.

You remember that? Yeah, girl. So good.

Honestly, a little pathetic. But I'm so excited for you because obviously you being having this lead role. It's crazy to... This is why I love talking to you, because you started this interview being like, I didn't even know if I wanted to be a fucking actress. And I get this call and I'm making no money from modeling. And I got that call and I'm like, I guess I'll do it. Now your life has changed. How has your approach, since now you're getting on a plane tomorrow, right? To go to Europe. How has your approach changed, though, to being an actress? Yeah.

Because I was really under the belief for a few years into it that, okay, I'm just doing this for right now and it's helping my career, whatever. I'm making money. This is great. But I don't know if this is what I'm supposed to do. And then now I'm in this place where I've... Because I've been doing it and I get it now because also, you have to know. I'm learning how to act on the spot with the first two seasons of euphoria and everything. You're so fucking good. Thank you. You wouldn't even know. Thank you. But I'm learning. I didn't understand the craft. I had no idea what I was doing. And I finally, in that process, and in this process of just letting this career happen to me, I have fallen in love with the craft. And now I'm at this place where I'm like, okay, maybe this isn't what I thought that I was put on this art to do. But this is just another form I get to put all my creative energy that I used to put into my journals and in my art and everything into this. And I understand how that works now, and I've fallen in love with it.

So now it's at this great point where I'm like, Okay, this is one of my superpowers. This is what I can do. And I love it.

Hunter, I'm going to be honest. This was one of my favorite interviews. I'm going to stop. No, seriously, sitting across from you, I'm inspired. And also, this is why I love what I do, because I've watched you, I see your social media. But sitting with you for an hour and whatever, you're fucking awesome. Thank you. You too, girl. It's just so cool because actresses, we don't get to see, and even musicians, we don't get to see as much, obviously, of your personality when you're playing these characters.

Because we're putting our drag in the world. Exactly.

But today, you coming here, stripped down being yourself and opening up. I'm like, Thank you so much.

And thank you for giving me... I'm nervous about showing the world my real tea... You shouldn't be. It scares me. But to do it with you, thank you for making the space and everything and just being here and kicking with me. That's what this felt like.

You're amazing. I literally could keep going, but I know we have to stop. But I love you.

Thank you for coming. Thank you. I love you too. This was great.