Spencer Macpherson on capturing something real
Spencer Macpherson, who plays Jacob Landry in Hallmark Channel’s The Way Home, reflects on how he connects with his emotions to identify with the characters he portrays. He also chats favorite musicals and actors, his background in theater, and holding on through the sea of nos.
Shirt TOM FORD, pants ALEXANDER MCQUEEN, trench coat BURBERRY, pearl necklace CASA BLANCA, pearl and gold necklace and bracelet ALL SAINTS, ring BULGARI.
Spencer Macpherson has his sights set on something greater.
Recognizing the value in growing from rejection, Macpherson is motivated by his commitment to the craft and all the opportunities ahead. His most recent moves show he is all the more closer to achieving his dreams. As he continues to adapt to the dynamism of the entertainment world, Macpherson embraces any twists and turns that come his way — learning as “tastes change and evolve” over time.
Turtleneck BRUNELLO CUCINELLI, pants DRIES VAN NOTEN, rings BULGARI and CARTIER.
Growing up, Macpherson started out like most young actors — expressing a heavy interest in the arts. His early beginnings in live performance gave him the passion to perform on a much greater scale, and he found some overlap in the skills needed to crossover to film and television acting. “The more plays, musicals, movies, and content that you consume, the more it informs [and influences] your acting. I really admire a lot of the musicals and performers that I watched as a kid, and they cross my mind from time to time when I am preparing for anything on screen.”
While there is a contrast between the two mediums, Macpherson is grateful that the lessons in local theater built the foreground for his career on screen. “When I started acting, I did a lot of community theater and school plays, where the goal is to express [emotions] big enough to reach the back of the auditorium. As I move towards film and television, it’s more about minimalism and capturing something really real. Theater feels like more of a performance, and film and TV feels more like you’re trying to capture something real, but I love both of them.”
Along with the early exposure comes a lot of admirable performers along the way and Macpherson has taken a liking to versatile actors like Jack Nicholson — distinguished by their ability to ground themselves in even most grandiose performances. “I love authenticity, no matter who it’s from. That’s an ingredient that my favorite actors always bring to the table. They’re always making it authentic, and making it something that no one else could really do because it’s from them.”
Thinking back to the start of his journey, Macpherson reflects on how setbacks can often be the most illuminating moments in such a competitive industry. “There are a lot of nos that you hear along the way. When I was getting started, it was a little tough to adjust to that, but it’s the nature of the business. If I could talk to younger me, I would say, ‘Hold on through the sea of nos. You might get a ‘yes’ at some point.’”
He’s also learned that the industry is constantly evolving, and it’s important to adapt to any changes that could disrupt the traditional line of work. While he explains that social media feels “foreign” to him, Macpherson advises aspiring actors to take advantage of it and create their own self-promotional platform. “There are so many more tools available now than when I started, especially with the rise of TikTok and social media. I would tell anyone that’s trying to come up now to take advantage of all these new outlets and get your name out there.”
Full look ALEXANDER MCQUEEN.
Now having dedicated a majority of his life to acting, Macpherson’s creative interests and personal values have also shifted over time. Before pursuing acting, Macpherson was deeply passionate about the visual arts. “When I was younger, I used to love drawing, and painting. I still do, but I don’t do it as often as I used to. I’d really love to connect with that again.
Macpherson found the medium especially compelling due to its ability to offer a more intimate, individual form of expression. “Something like acting is so reliant on having a scene partner or someone to write a script. You’re reliant on a lot of external forces. Something like visual art is a meditative act. You don’t need anyone but yourself. I would love to get back into that.”
While Macpherson appreciates the opportunity to curate a piece simply for himself, he still finds value in the collaborative nature of acting. On set, he balances drawing from his own emotions and synergizing his performance with the people surrounding him.
“A big part of it is the audition — making a choice, taking a swing, and hoping it connects. A big part of this job is collaboration, so my preparation is informed by the people I am working with and the collaborators that are present.”
Photography IRENE CHEN
Fashion MERSI KASEMI at CELESTINE AGENCY
Grooming AMY CHANCE at CELESTINE AGENCY
Words ICEIS AUGUSTINO
Retouch K.HOUSE
Special thanks to HALLMARK CHANNEL
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Darcy Jones
Hi Spencer, I love u!