Kevin Zegers fought tirelessly for his role in Taylor Sheridan’s “The Madison,” revealing at the premiere that the process was “not easy.” The actor also applied sobriety principles on set and issued a stark warning about child stardom’s psychological toll, drawing from his own experience in “Air Bud.”
At the New York premiere of Paramount+’s “The Madison,” Kevin Zegers dropped a bombshell: landing his role in Taylor Sheridan’s highly anticipated neo-Western was an uphill battle. The “Gossip Girl” alum told reporters that while he ultimately secured the part, the journey was far from straightforward.
Zegers confirmed that securing the role was “not easy,” a detail reported by Page Six. He speculated that he might not have been the initial frontrunner, but his unwavering conviction drove him to persist. “I just knew I was supposed to be doing it,” he said, even joking that he would have resorted to showing up at creator Taylor Sheridan’s doorstep if necessary.
“The Madison,” set to premiere March 14 on Paramount+, follows a Manhattan family relocating to rural Montana. The series joins Sheridan’s expanding “Yellowstone” universe and boasts an ensemble cast including:
- Michelle Pfeiffer
- Kurt Russell
- Patrick J. Adams
- Matthew Fox
Beyond the role’s demands, Zegers shared how he integrates sobriety tenets into his daily life and work. He emphasized the principle of service, which mirrors his character’s caring nature in the series. This commitment stems from his own recovery journey, which he previously discussed with Page Six.
“I try to live my life that way,” Zegers explained. “That’s like a huge tenet of how I live my life. And I just hadn’t seen, like, a representation of a guy just without any expectation, just trying to help.” He became especially close to child actor Alaina Pollack, who plays Pfeiffer’s granddaughter, reinforcing the importance of a supportive on-set environment.
Zegers’s reflections on child stardom are particularly poignant given his own history. He rose to fame at 13 in “Air Bud” and later appeared in “Gossip Girl.” He did not mince words: “100%,” he exclaimed when asked if his early fame contributed to later issues. “I’ve never met a child actor who isn’t either actively like a drug addict or in recovery.” This grim statistic underscores the psychological pressures faced by young performers, a topic Zegers knows intimately.
He recalled the unique burdens of child acting: “It’s weird for a child to have to go to work… there’s 250 people waiting… and that’s a lot of pressure.” At the premiere, Zegers was accompanied by his 10-year-old twin daughters, Zoë and Blake. He humorously noted that they think he’s “the biggest loser in the world,” making the event a rare moment of paternal pride. “It’s good for them to see like what daddy does when he’s proud of something,” he said, “and I’m really proud of this.”
Zegers’s candidness provides a rare look into the rigorous casting process of a Sheridan production and the personal demons that can accompany early fame. As “The Madison” prepares to debut, his story serves as both a testament to perseverance and a cautionary tale about the hidden costs of child stardom. The series not only expands a beloved television universe but also highlights the complex humanity behind its actors’ journeys.
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