Actors famously spend months, if not years in preparation for auditions, especially if it is for a well-known franchise. But there are others who audition just for the sake of it and the universe ends up dropping giant opportunities on their unsuspecting laps. One such example is of the brilliant action star, Antony Starr and his audition for The Boys.
While in an interview with Seth Meyers, the star revealed how his audition for the role of Homelander in the hit series The Boys was ‘out of spite’ and he was unaware of the source material. On being accepted by the production house, Starr decided to read through the comics and was horrified, the actor was unconvinced that such a graphic comic could be translated on television.
From Banshee to The Boys: Antony Starr’s Journey as an Action Hero
Rising to popularity by starring in the 2019 TV series The Boys, Antony Starr is quickly becoming a well-known name in the superhero genre. But the actor has been making waves as an action hero as early as 2005 in his debut show Outrageous Fortune. After that Starr worked in another popular show Banshee (2013-2016) where he portrayed Lucas Hood, an ex-con disguising himself as a sheriff of a remote town.
Starr gained significant popularity through his action-packed and thrilling performance in Banshee. His portrayal of the dark anti-hero with some remnants of morality was well-loved by the audience and was probably what paved the way for his role as Homelander.
He also appeared in American Gothic, the 2016 mystery drama series revolving around a rich family surrounded by dark secrets. Starr played Garrett Hawthorne, the wealthy heir to the magnanimous Hawthorne family. His character was charismatic as well as ambiguous, his portrayal adding an element of compromised morality and dishonesty.
Antony Starr in Banshee: Anti-hero with morale
Right before The Boys premiered, Starr was playing the main character in another hit TV series, Banshee. He played Lucas Hood, a former con-artist assuming the role of a sheriff in the small town of Banshee, Pennsylvania. The character was that of an anti-hero, bereft of strong values but with some motivation and a slight redemption arc.
Unlike Homelander who is purely evil and twisted, Lucas is someone with a flawed background, but who still fights for justice and his loved ones. His actions are motivated due to personal desires and a drive for love and redemption. This character allowed Starr to portray his most complex and dark performance, until 2019, when he landed the role of Homelander in The Boys.
Antony Starr’s reaction to The Boys
In a candid interview with Seth Meyers, Starr commented on how he had no prior knowledge about the comic before he auditioned for the role. After being selected however, he decided to do some homework and was horrified on reading the source material.
How the hell are we going to put this on TV? You can’t screen that. This is obscene.
Starr was shocked at the gory and rather raw plot of the comics and wondered how this could ever be broadcasted on television. He mentioned the bizarre scenes and actions he had to perform for his role as Homelander. One such scene involved the funniest ‘romantic’ scene of date, involving breastmilk which horrified the actor.
That’s like the weirdest scene I have ever done. I am getting almond juice squirted in my face.
Braving through the graphic details and weird scenes, Starr had a lot of fun working with his co-actors, particularly, Elisabeth Shue. He mentioned how as a young boy watching Karate Kid for the first time, he developed an on-screen crush on the actress. On the sets of The Boys, Elisabeth Shue played Vought International’s boss, Madelyn Stillwell.
I’ve got to work with Elisabeth Shue. Oh, my god, what am I going to do?… She is the nicest person.
Fanboying over the actress, Starr recounted her helpful and kind nature on set when they laughed and cringed together during various scenes. Fans are excited for the upcoming twists and turns brought in the unpredictable show. Tune in to Prime Video for new episodes of The Boys.
