Popternative is thrilled to welcome Benjamin Hollingsworth to our digital cover for May 2026. Best known for his role as Brady in the Netflix hit series Virgin River, Hollingsworth has been a core part of the series since its very first season in 2019. Over the years, Brady has become a fan favorite, evolving through storylines that have kept audiences invested. Season 7 launched in March with an impressive debut, amassing 7 million global views within its first four days. With an eighth season already confirmed, the momentum around the series shows no signs of slowing down.

Season 7 of Virgin River ended on a shocking note, leaving Brady’s fate uncertain and fans reeling. For Benjamin, it’s another important chapter in a character journey shaped by growth and the ongoing tension between who Brady was and who he’s trying to become. At the heart of it all is Brady’s complicated relationship with Brie played by Zibby Allen, a fan-favorite dynamic that continues to resonate with viewers.

In our exclusive cover story, Benjamin reflects on the gripping motorcycle scene, Virgin Rivers‘ global success, and how the series continues to keep viewers invested as season eight approaches.

Exclusive Photos for Popternative Magazine by Kathlyn Almeida 
Hair and Makeup: Rachel Andersen 
Stylist: Seth Schafer
Suit: Sethan Hill
Studio: Aero Mockups

What was your reaction to the major cliffhanger at the end of season seven, where Brady is involved in a motorcycle accident? Have you been following the audience’s response online?

Benjamin: My first reaction was angry, because I was like, are you kidding? This guy has been through so much and he finally gets his girl. Something good finally happens to him, and it all gets pulled out from underneath him. And then, what I wasn’t expecting was the outpouring of love that came for Brady’s character online. And people were saying things like “If Brady’s off the show, I’m not watching” or “where do I sign the petition?” And people just really going to bat for Brady and expressing their love for the character which was, which has been really great to see.

How would you describe Brady’s character arc throughout season seven?

Benjamin: As finding out who he is with the absence of the woman he loves and confirming that there’s no half way in his relationship with Brie; it’s either all or nothing. And then, after getting it all, he is left with nothing after the accident. It’s very much a tug of war with Brady and his relationship with Brie.

Virgin River fans have been especially invested in Brady and Brie finding their way back to each other. What do you think makes their relationship so compelling for the viewers?

Benjamin: They’re an underdog relationship. On paper, they’re horrible together. She’s a lawyer and he’s an ex-con; they don’t match up. But that’s what makes them so compelling, is that there’s something to them together that’s indescribable. They have this raw energy, it’s so different from Mel and Jack or any of the other couples on the show. It’s steamy in ways that the other couples don’t have. And I think part of the reason why it’s like that is because it’s dangerous, it’s sort of forbidden, and it’s unpredictable. You don’t know what’s going to happen next with them. And I think people are interested in that, and they’re kind of yearning for that because a lot of the other relationships on the show are somewhat more stable and dependable and have offer a different texture. So that, for me, is a big reason why people gravitate to Brie and Brady.

Can you talk more about filming the motorcycle scene? What went into it, and what was it like on set that day?

Benjamin: We shot that as a splinter unit. For people who are unfamiliar with that term, that’s basically a smaller group of crew, and we shot for one day. We had about a 50-person crew and a special rig that harnessed a camera on a dolly that had an extendible crane arm. So that thing was swinging around the back of the truck and then there were another two cameras mounted on the truck. And then the motorcycle itself, to keep it safe, the front wheel was taken off, and it was attached to the truck. The truck was sturdy and rock solid. I had my stunt double, who’s amazing on the show, and he does the hard work. I’m on the back of the motorcycle and you get all those shots of Brady in his moment where he is reflecting on his relationship with Brie. And he looks down—which you never do on a motorcycle—public service announcement, don’t look down while you’re riding a motorcycle.

Benjamin: The other thing the rig did was allow me to go sideways on the motorcycle without falling off at speed. So, we’d be going about 80 kilometers an hour, and I went sideways on this motorcycle, and yet, I’d have to hold on, because if I didn’t, I would fall off and get road rash. Then they cut to my stunt double, who’s just amazing, and he dropped the bike, which is a term stunt people use. He did it twice and made it look really cool and dangerous. I have so much respect for stunt people and what they do. They’re so tough and they love what they do, and the fact that they sometimes have to do it multiple times is incredible. I give all respect to him. But it was a fun day; we got to play around with motorcycles and camera equipment.

In your opinion, what has made Virgin River so popular, and why do you think it continues to resonate with audiences worldwide as season eight approaches on Netflix?

Benjamin: I think globally, one thing we all share is this yearning to belong. And I feel that part of the fallout from the pandemic was that people stopped getting together as much, and stopped visiting others as much, and stopped being a community like they once were. And Virgin River is that throwback to that pre-pandemic time where people were very much community-based, and maybe a pre-social media time. One thing you’ll never see someone do on the show is posting Instagram photos, because it’s about knowing your neighbor and not just following them on Instagram. And that element is a global phenomenon that’s happening. And I think the drive of our show’s success is intertwined with the regression of our community on a global level.

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Seasons 1-7 of Virgin River are streaming on Netflix.

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