¶ Introducing Young Actor Hudson Hensley
Hi everyone. Thanks for next episode, Nick and Times. On this episode, we have one of the most exciting young actors to watch right now. We have the talented actor Hudson Hensley. Already at such a young age, Hudson is already making serious waves in Hollywood with a major role in the recently released blockbuster film Song Sung Blue, where Hudson stars alongside Ali-list actors, including Kate Hudson and Hugh Jackman.
Hudson plays Dana in the film and is quickly becoming known not only for his talent on screen, but also for his maturity, work ethic, and passion for acting. From navigating auditions and building a career in the entertainment industry to working with A-list stars and staying grounded through it all, Hudson is proving that he's far more than just a young actor. He is someone with a very bright and long future ahead. Welcome to the talented Hudson. Thanks for coming on the show.
Yes, thank you for having me.
You're incredibly welcome. Alright, let's jump straight into it.
¶ Hudson's Early Life and Acting Discovery
Firstly, what was it like um growing up for you and before this started happening?
Yeah, well, uh, I was born at um in Los Angeles, California. Then I moved out to Nashville when I was about six years old for my dad's work. Um, started school, had no earthly idea that I was gonna start acting. And then, well, actually, I fell in love with acting at the age of five. I watched Mission Impossible, um, you know, the Tom Cruise Mission Impossible, the first one. And that made me think, I want to be an actor. I want to do that.
And I've had and I've um I've always had that like um dream in the back of my mind. But it actually came true when I was eight or nine. I um my f um my mom was friends with a manager, and she was like, Well, uh Hudson wants to be an actor, why don't I manage him? And um, by some stroke of luck, she ended up getting me um well, I did a lot of auditions, I didn't get anything, but she ended up getting me the Song Song Blue audition.
I auditioned for that, and I was like, Oh my gosh, I hope I get this. It's with Hugh Jacobin and Kate Hudson. And then like eight months later, they're like, Yeah, come um, come to New Jersey, we're gonna start filming. And I was just so happy that um that I got like this big role, and uh yeah, I could have never dreamed about that, like ever in my wildest dreams.
Yeah, incredible, especially for such young age. How long was the whole process of it?
Yeah, it was about uh um three to four months.
Okay, great.
¶ Working on Song Sung Blue
And um, what was your overall experience on the movie? Like how was it?
It was wonderful. Um, you had to work with so many of these uh A-list actors that I've like um always looked up to and to like actually work with them was just wild. Um they were all like super, super nice and uh generous to me. They um they taught me about the industry, things to um things to do, things not to do. Um, and they were overall just really kind to me.
And what was the key, I guess, key points, for example, working with Kate Hudson and Hugh Jackman. What did you learn from watching them and actually working with them?
Yeah, well, um, they talked to me like um never uh never like trust somebody that's like lied to you in the industry, like don't get like a bad manager and all that stuff. But like acting-wise, um they really taught me about um staying in the character even when you're not uh like actually like filming.
So like when you're like maybe you have like a 10-minute break, you're still in character, so it's way easier to get your lines out and um be realistic in that character and not feel like uh you're acting.
Yeah, got it. And what was it like on the first day?
It was I was so unbelievably nervous. I saw like Hugh Jackman and K Nuts and walk by me. Hugh came up to me and he was like, Hey, um what's up? Um, how are you doing? Uh and I would I couldn't even get a word out. All that came out was just air. I was like, I was trying to speak for like 30 seconds and then he just like awkwardly walked away. That was like um that was the probably the worst first impression I've ever had on anybody.
But then uh I got to know him, we became um close and uh yeah, um we became friends. It was fun.
Awesome. And when you look back now, it's obviously completed. What was what was your fondest memories of it?
Yeah, just um getting the opportunity to work with such kind people, and um, I mean, everyone in the crew was so nice to me. The um I'm glad I didn't talk anybody's ears off to the point where they would like jump off a cliff because I talk a lot. So um to like everybody. So they're probably like, this kid won't stop talking, but they were so nice, they were so um kind. I have some like great memories um with onset that'll like take with me forever. It was just an overall great experience.
Incredible.
¶ Character Challenges and Samuel L. Jackson
And what challenged you most about the character?
Um, like putting myself in his scenario, in his like mind, and um what he's thinking about maybe um when his family's going through a hard time, his mom um gets put in the hospital, like and you have to um and you're not doing that well uh with money, and um how much stress that would put on a little kid like that would um is crazy to me.
And um to put myself in that headspace of like um my mom just got hit by a car and um my dad is having heart problems, like how um how like overwhelming that must be for him to put myself in that uh headspace.
Sure. Um what was the best compliment you received throughout the whole process or after it?
Um uh ooh. So besides like human Kate, like anybody onset, um that's it. Yeah, anything, yeah.
It doesn't matter anything.
But um, I met um Samuel L. Jackson, you know, um and he's told me, I'm a huge fan, I love your acting. I was like freaking out. I was like, oh my gosh, the Samuel L. Jackson said that to me. So that was probably like the best compliment that I received.
That's incredible, and it would have given you incredible confidence too, going off the back of that as well.
For sure, for sure.
¶ Passion for Acting and Future Goals
Is acting what you want to do in the future? Is that what you're gonna stick at now?
Yes, I really want to stick with acting. I um that is my dream. Well, my top dream is to maybe like get every movie, um, to do every movie genre. So, you know, like um thriller, action, all of that, like to have um to be in every single one of those uh the genres. That would be my like dream to be in all of the movie genres.
Cool. And what do you love most about being an actor?
Um that you can um that you don't have to play yourself, you can play other characters that um aren't yourself, and um you can experience with emotions and um it helps develop empathy for people. Um, especially you can see how people go through hard times because you have to ax that out and you have to get in that headspace. Um yeah, I just um love acting. It brings me so much joy. I don't really I I I can't really grasp it. It's just it's just what I love doing.
Sensational. And with your short career now, what are you most proud of?
Um, most proud of. Uh um, that's a good question. Um just probably um maybe how uh I'm proud of uh how what have I accomplished like at uh a young age and um in the acting industry and um like especially of Song Sung Blue, my performance in that, I feel like that was uh one of my best performances. Um yeah, I'm just uh really proud of where I've become and I'm just excited to where my career will take me next.
Yeah, incredible, and especially at such a young age, you know, it's extraordinary what you're doing, and the trajectory of your future is yeah, it's amazing.
¶ Public Recognition and Unique Perspective
Um, is it strange when people recognize you now?
A little bit. He was like, uh I don't get recognized from name, but I get called um like an older man, like in his like sixties saw the movie, and he was like, You're that kid from the movie, and I was like, Yes, I am that's awesome. You know my name, but he was like, Yeah, you're that kid from that Needle Diamond movie, and I was like, Yep. Yeah, I've had like experiences like that, but no nobody's like called me like my actual like name.
So yeah, yeah, yeah, that's really cool. That's really cool. Um, and what makes you different from other young actors, would you say?
Yeah, well, I come from a background, uh, none of my parents were in are in the industry or were. Um, I'm really like the first in my family to do that to be in that kind of industry. And um I come from a very grounded place, uh grounded family. My dad was in the military, so he keeps me grounded. Um, yeah, and I think that um I'm relatively new, I still have a lot to learn, but um I just put my heart into everything and I um do uh try my best and I uh always give it my all.
Incredible, and you should be incredibly proud. Um what would s what would people be surprised about your personality?
Um great question. I've never been asked that. Um I'm um I'm like really energetic in a weird way. I'm like I kind of never run out of energy. I'll like keep on talking or I'll um keep on doing stuff. But then I can um also like listen really well. I can um and I can help people like I can be like, so uh what are you like um challenges and everything? And uh I think I'm just overall like a really like bubbly person and I just have a lot of energy.
And I don't think people would um realize that from the movie because in the movie I'm like kind of like sad, I'm like um mellow a little bit. I'm not like up and uh energetic like I usually am.
Would you say you're competitive? Are you a competitive person?
Uh I would say so in sports and um as and such like uh I play basketball, um, baseball, so I um pretty competitive in that. But in the acting uh space, I'm really not that competitive because um I think truthfully, like um if I don't get something, it's for the better. And um, you know, uh God has a plan for me and I'm gonna um follow that.
Wonderful.
¶ Creative Pursuits and Life Philosophy
And have you always been creative too? Like apart from acting, is there other parts um that you want to learn and experience?
Yeah, I've been uh really getting into theater recently. So I've um been doing a lot of uh I've been taking a lot of voice lessons um and dancing lessons. Um I also take acting classes uh because there's always room for improvement. But um yeah, I really want to get more into theater. I wanna uh hopefully I can become like Hugh Jackman where I'm uh on screen and then I'm um on stage. That would be uh that's my absolute dream. Um yeah, just uh I've always loved theater.
Theater um uh has always I've always loved to sing and um dance also. So yeah, I've just been very an artsy person, I would say.
Incredible. And you know, you've gotta that's gonna be more strings to your boat. So you know you'll be able to get more roles and you know you can do more things, so you can expand really dramatically to doing all these things. Um what makes you smile instantly?
What makes me write now?
What makes you smile instantly?
Oh, um seeing cute puppies, cute dogs. That makes me smile.
Cool. And what do you think your future self would say to you now?
Future self, um keep on acting, don't give up. Uh even when times are hard, um keep on um keep on keeping on, as my dad likes to say. Um and yeah, like do what you truly love. Like if you uh find that you don't really love acting and it's not what you're um like really loving anymore, um then it's okay to um not do acting, but just um to keep on pursuing your dreams and uh follow your heart.
That's a great answer. Um what is the most exciting uh part about your future?
Um that I don't know it yet. There's um there's that um level just of like uncertainty that um I don't know what's coming next, and it's and it's sorry, anticipation um to uh to know what's coming next for me and what n role I'm gonna be in next. And uh there's this always like uh what's next for me, and um yeah, just like uh future's exciting. Um and yeah, I'm really just looking forward to seeing where my uh career takes me.
Impressive. And what does courage mean to you?
Um courage um means like um bravery, resilience, um to to stand up to stuff whenever you think it's hard to um uh to do the uh right thing even when it's hard, to um to be brave, uh to be strong emotionally. Um yeah.
Cool. And what does success mean to you personally?
Success um success means um something that um you're uh you're proud of, something that um you work towards and you've um succeeded in that. Um success also means maybe a uh stepping stone. For example, uh Song Sun Blue, maybe that's a stepping stone for a bigger role that I might play next. Um and uh success is something that'll like um help you maybe um accelerate your career or something you're um passionate or proud of.
Tremendous. And what do you like one day people will say about you?
People uh wonder, uh I wonder if they'll say nice things, if they'll be like, oh, he's a good actor, or um maybe somebody's out there saying he's a terrible actor, he should never be cast in any roles ever. I hope they don't say that. But uh yeah. Um I think maybe people are saying uh maybe like uh after the movie, like who is he? I haven't seen in any other movies. Um and maybe people are watching out for me for what I'm gonna do next.
Sure. What motivates you daily?
Um how much joy I got from um landing that audition and getting uh that role in Songsung Blue. Um and to just uh just looking forward, um like even on like a daily thing, just looking forward to what the day will bring and um just um how exciting the uh how like bright the future is for me and how like young I am. And um yeah, just uh that anticipation again of the future to see um where it takes me.
Great. And what is the biggest challenge in your young age that you've had to overcome and how did you overcome it?
Um I had this period that I was um not like loving acting anymore. I just got like really upset with myself and um with other people that I sent my auditions to because I was um not getting any roles and I was um just upset that I wasn't getting any roles because I was like, oh I'm trying my hardest, why am I not getting it? But um Song Sung Blue was actually gonna be like, okay, I was gonna be like, I was gonna kind of be done with acting, and then I ended up getting the roles.
So that like it fueled me, and I was like, you know what? There's hope. Um, even when you're in like um your darkest times and you're like, I don't want to do something, something, if you um keep on doing it, there's uh always a light at the end of the tunnel.
Yeah, definitely. What is um what is one thing you have learned about rejection?
That it fuels you and it helps you grow. Um and it um tells you what you did wrong. You know what I mean? If you're like if you're like, oh, I think um this character should say these lines this way, or um, I made this acting choice, maybe that specific casting director, if I um if there's another movie that they're doing, that um I'll be like, okay, don't make that, uh, don't do that again. So you can learn from your mistakes through rejection, which I think is a uh essential part of um acting.
Yeah, wonderful. What what is one thing you're really passionate about?
Well I'm really passionate about acting, obviously. But um on top of that, uh love for animals. I uh work at an um I help like uh um with an animal shelter for dogs and cats. Um I think that like animals should be treated well. Um, because uh we sometimes get like in like dogs that are like have traumatic pasts too, so like animal care that um animals should be treated uh with like respect and like with um with kindness.
Terrific. So there's a lot about your personality that you're carrying. So yeah, that's great. Um what is one moment when you have to stop and think this is actually really happening?
When I first got the uh when when I first got the call that I was that I got the audition, my mom got the call on the ride on our ride home from the grocery store. So um she came in with my dad and they were like, You got the part. And I just started doing laps around the house, screaming. I was like, oh my gosh, it is real. Holy crap, what? And I was just in like disbelief. I kept on saying, You're lying, you're lying, you're you gotta be kidding.
And um I kept that up for like 30 minutes, and then finally I like accepted it, and I'm like, what in the world is my life right now? I just got a um role in the major motion picture that I'm gonna be acting alongside Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson. It's crazy to me.
Yeah, it's like it's undescribable. Yeah, I could I could just imagine like wow, yeah. Um, who and what inspires you?
Um, who inspires me? Uh my dad. Um my dad in um my dad gets up every morning uh like five to work, and then he um works for a long time and then he's got really tired, but he still spends time with me, and um just um how uh resilient he is and um uh his like his like caring heart and um how he always finds the good in uh situations.
Sounds like an amazing dad, and you know he's really rubbing off on you. Thanks. Um what's your favorite music?
Music. Uh I really like 70s and um sixties and eighties classic rock. So like um The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, uh Led Zeppelin. Those are uh that's like the kind of music that I like.
Cool. And if you could work with any actor or director in the future, who would it be and why?
Tom Cruise, because that was the movie Mission Impossible that I uh that that made me fall in love with acting. So if I get to work with him, that would be amazing.
It'd be like a three year full circle moment. Yeah, that's right, that's right. Um if your um younger version could see yourself now in 10 years' time, how do you think you would describe him personally?
Describe my younger self?
Yeah, like in 10 years from now, how would you personally describe yourself?
Um probably how naive I was, maybe, about um how um how like acting um how like acting uh can um well not naive, like uh how uh excited I was and um how like excited the future will bring. And um I think I'll I'll describe myself as like caring, um, but also filled with energy and um always ready to do something, always uh and just kind of um on my edge of on the edge of my seat and alert all the time. I'll be like, okay, I got an audition, I'm gonna do that. And um, yeah, probably that.
It's an impeccable answer. Hudson, thank you so much for coming on the podcast. Um your maturity is well beyond your years. Like it's sensational the way you carry yourself, the way you talk, this interview. Um, you know, what you've achieved so far at such a young age is extraordinary. And yeah, I wish you nothing but the best in the future. And I personally look forward to seeing your trajectory.
Thank you.
You're most welcome.