An Interview with Avi Nash from ‘Silo’

Avi Nash is one of the hardest working actors in the business right now, and his quest to enjoy dynamic roles has allowed for him to appear in big time franchises such as The Walking Dead and Silicon Valley. Currently, Avi stars as Lukas in the upcoming Apple TV+ series, Silo, and we at NTG had the honor of sitting down with Avi to discuss his new show and his character.

John Betancourt: What attracted you to this project?
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Avi Nash: You know, it's the script, it's the storytelling about humanity in its darkest times, still looking for hope, and still trying to ask big questions about truth and its role in society and whether or not, you know, we deserve to live in ignorance. And are we being manipulated, which I think are questions that are relevant for us, and it's the people. It's speaking to Graham Yost, who's a born and bred storyteller and falling in love with the story and falling in love with him and hearing about the cast that he'd assembled and, you know, the chance to work with Rebecca (Ferguson) and Tim (Robbins) and Common and Chinaza (Uche). And Harriet, you know, what is there not to love?

John Betancourt: What attracted you to Lukas?

Avi Nash: You know, I think, as an actor, I'm always attracted by a perspective that maybe I don't share, because I want to explore maybe that facet of my humanity. And I think there's an optimism and a hope that exists within Lukas that, you know, some days I just don't feel in my real life and to sort of, to have the grace that he has to sort of pursue his curiosity and, and be okay with, with always asking more questions and searching for those answers. I thought, “Gee, you know what? There's a real passion in that guy that I would like to explore.” And there's a real light footedness that… you know… I'm a little too hot blooded in my life, I get a little too angry sometimes. And it's nice to play someone. I think that… is not innocent, but he's still sort of wondering at the world. You know, I think we could all use a little bit more of that.

John Betancourt: Now from an actor’s perspective, this is a dark story in a bleak world, how did you get into the mindset of a person that is quite literally trapped beneath the earth?

Avi Nash: That's a good question. I think you always just have to play the truth of the circumstance, I think, you know, we do a lot of work, actors, and researching and understanding the psychology of the character and where he is, and where he's coming from, and where he's going. And those all are important, and they all feed into how you are. But then, at the end of the day, it's the truth of what that moment is. And so, I think for Lukas, that's what I tried to focus on, you know, I tried to focus on who it is that I'm speaking with, how I'm trying to connect. And can I connect? You know? Or am I being put into a position where I need to keep my mouth shut, and I need to watch and I need to try and survive, you know… what are the things that he's trying to do in those moments?

John Betancourt: In a story where people are rightfully looking for more, what ultimately is Lukas searching for?

Avi Nash: I think he's searching for an answer to what else might be out there. I think he is not satisfied with the status quo. And he, you know, I think he wonders about where they came from, and where they might be headed as a people? And so, I think, those questions really drive him, you know, and he's probably really tickled by the irony that, you know, they have all this technology, and yet, they don't know very much about the outside world.

John Betancourt: There is definitely some fascinating commentary and parallels to our world here, what do you hope audiences take away from that commentary?

Avi Nash: I hope, you know, first and foremost that they that they fall in love with these characters and the mystery, and it engages them to try and figure out you know, who and why and where and how come? And then you know, I think like all good sci-fi, I hope that it puts a mirror up to us and asks us these deeper philosophical questions about what our relationship to truth is, you know, and whether a society in which the few control the many is really where we want to be headed, or you know, the society in which maybe we live right now, where truth is up for grabs, and it's debated about what is true, you know, what are facts? Is that the world we want to live in? You know, what is our relationship to truth and how can we find the happy medium?

John Betancourt: What are you most looking forward to audiences experiencing when the show debuts? Without spoilers of course.

Avi Nash: Yeah, what can I say and not say? I hope that they are as awestruck as I am by the world that we've built, you know? I hope that they feel the immensity and the claustrophobia of it. And the humanity that exists amongst all these levels and the history that is in there, and also the mystery of why are they there? And why can't they go outside?

John Betancourt: What are you most proud of when it comes to your work on this show?

Avi Nash: Oh, that's such a such a hard question. I think… I’m… such a critic of myself. I think that I'm quite proud of the different things that Rebecca and I were able to tease out in the song and dance of Lukas and Juliette, and not making that relationship too easy. And trying to find a way to both ground it, but also make it hard for them, you know, and make it hard for these characters. Because I think sometimes on TV, it's all a little too easy. And I think, giving characters flaws, and giving them a journey is important. So, it's hard for me to say I'm proud of that. But I hope that we've achieved that.

This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.

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