We've said it once and we'll say it again: Daniel Levy is riding high right now.
The actor/writer/director/producer/hottie/Good Samaritan/history-maker is still pretty fresh off the final season of a sleeper hit show in Schitt's Creek -- a show that he continues to emphasize wouldn't have become a hit if the networks and powers that be hadn't allowed it some time to find its footing and audience. That show's success saw him score an unprecedented sweep at the Emmys and parlay the newfound notoriety into a scene-stealing role in Hulu's Happiest Season. The accolades have landed him a ton of press including the cover of publications like EW as well as Vanity Fair.
For Vanity Fair, Levy is a part of the publication's 27th annual Hollywood issue which includes a portfolio of the buzziest and brightest names in the industry. Levy appears on a fold-out cover alongside stars like Zendaya, Awkwafina, Spike Lee, and more. For her segment of the package, Charlize Theron talks about The Old Guard, her must-watched Netflix film that features a gay couple as a part of the central cast. Levy, who appears styled by Katie Grand in a grey Louis Vuitton suit on the cover and a black and white Thom Browne suit inside the issue, reflected on queer representation up until Schitt's.
"Personally, up until that point, I hadn't seen a lot of gay characters and gay relationships portrayed with that kind of ease," he told the publication. "As a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, we're so accustomed to seeing the members of that community put in danger."
One thing that has long been remarked upon about Schitt's is that it is a little town where homophobia does not exist. David Rose, who Levy played, has his coming out moment in quite a matter of fact way in a wine shop. When his husband to be Patrick has his, his parents question what they did wrong to make him believe that he wouldn't be accepted if he had come out to them sooner.
No matter all of Levy's accolades, like most of us he has been impacted by the global pandemic over the past year. He's done entire press tours via Zoom, and even took a virtual course spurring over 200,000 people to follow in his wake. So how will that change what comes next, or will it?
"I think everything that we have gone through has only, from a creative standpoint, made the work that much more substantial," he said. "Even if you're going to tell a light little comedy, it feels like it should be about something."
We can't wait to see what he wants to talk about next.
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