Image credit: Brandon Hart
Ian Collins reprises the role of Tristan in season 3 of TNT’s hit drama, Snowpiercer, which premiered on January 24th, 2022. Experienced as an actor and singer for TV, film and stage, Ian has appeared in projects such as The CW’s Supernatural, The 100, and Arrow, E Network’s The Arrangement, Bravo’s Girlfriend’s Guide to Divorce, Audience’s Hit the Road, and SYFY’s Magicians.
We recently spoke with Ian about playing Tristan, what viewers can expect from Snowpiercer this season, how he got into acting and some of his learning experiences as a storyteller. Check out our conversation below.
When did you decide that storytelling and acting was something you wanted to do?
Ian Collins (IC): I’ve always had an over-active imagination and that’s where my passion for this industry started. I still remember being in the first grade and finding out that the Power Rangers were actors in costumes, and that’s probably when the first whisper of the thought of being an actor was created. In high school, I explored the craft further by putting on shows and getting involved in theatre, but I didn’t yet have it in my mind that it was an actual career I wanted to pursue.
After high school, I was trained in the culinary arts, becoming a fully qualified chef and working in five-star establishments in resort towns across Canada. It wasn’t until a couple of years later, when I was twenty, that I felt like something was missing. I then decided to fully commit to my first passion, acting. I started out doing commercials, and I found my path into principal work. It’s been an amazing journey so far.
What can you tell us about your character in Snowpiercer?
IC: Tristan has been on a big journey already, and his development has only really just begun. He’s been beside Ruth (Alison Wright) and watched her grow from being someone with a very black and white view of the world, and the train, to someone who exists more in the grey. You can see that growth in Tristan as well, from his disdain for the people of the tail in the first episode of season one to him looking out for the tail during the revolution against Wilford at the end of season two.
This season we’ll get to see a little more of Tristan and how he’s coming to terms with his place in the train and in this new world, and how he balances his intelligence with the anxieties and fears that I’ve always seen in him. There’s definitely more going on with Tristan than he lets on, and I can’t wait for people to see him open up more.
I was a fan of the graphic novel, and of Bong Joon-ho’s film adaptation long before I was cast to be Tristan, and I think the payoff this season will blow the fans away. I’ve read the scripts for this season cover-to-cover (a few times) and I think it’s going to be the best one yet.
What’s it like being part of Snowpiercer?
IC: It’s been such an amazing opportunity. It’s been a joy to work with some of the best talents in the film and television industry, both in front of and behind the camera. Every other name on the credits is an award-winning talent, and I think it really shows in the quality of the show that we’re producing. To have the luxury of working with a team that’s been together for this long is very rare, and something that I am incredibly thankful for, particularly through the uncertain times of the last two years. I’ve spent almost half a decade connected to the little family we’ve built on that train, and it’s become a real home away from home that I look forward to returning to every year.
What advice would you give to people pursuing acting?
IC: When I started acting, I saw everything as a competition. I wanted to “win” every role. My ego wasn’t in check, and I really let it consume me in the beginning. The thing that grounded me, and something I cannot recommend enough for people starting out, was finding a community.
It’s hard for people who aren’t familiar with the weird little nuances and ways that things are done to understand. But if you have people around you that can build you up, help you record a self-tape while the rest of the city is out partying on a Friday, or give you honest critiques about a performance you’ve done, it’ll keep you grounded and keep you focused. Find your community and participate in it.
What was your first acting role?
IC: Like many people, I started in commercials. The first one I can remember was for an app, although I’ve been in a few for some car brands and a handful of other industries. My first principal job was an actor role on Supernatural, which was such a dream to land because I’d been a fan of the show for so long. My character witnessed a murder and called the authorities. It was inspiring and a little daunting to be dropped into the middle of such an established TV set, but it was so valuable to learn from some of the best in the business.
What do you enjoy the most about acting?
IC: I love the exchange that I get to have with like-minded people. Growing up, I often felt a bit like an outsider, but acting helped me find my tribe. When I act, I feel like I’m meant to be there. Every time that I pick up a script and explore a new character, I find a new part of myself to explore as well. Being able to share that exploration, and the emotion that comes with it in a space with people who understand, and who are experiencing the same thing is the little hook that first got me into this industry and it’s the thing that keeps me going.
_
Snowpiercer season 3 airs on Mondays in the U.S. For those outside of the U.S., Netflix releases weekly episodes every Tuesday.
Follow Ian Collins: Instagram|Twitter
Keep up-to-date with us on all of our channels and social media accounts:
YouTube: http://youtube.com/Popternative
Instagram http://instagram.com/popternative
Twitter: http://twitter.com/popternative
Facebook https://facebook.com/popternative/
Spotify: https://goo.gl/nWtNHP
Apple Podcasts: https://goo.gl/y6tbA9