We had the awesome opportunity to speak with actor Devin Trey. He chats with us about his recurring role as Rory Banks in ABC’s Single Parents. Check out the interview below.
Hi, Devin! Thank you for granting the interview. Congrats on your recurring role as Rory Banks in ABC’s Single Parents. What should the audience expect to see?
Thank you so much, this is such an exciting time in my life! Single Parents is filled with a really fun cast, writers, directors, and producers. People can expect to laugh A LOT but there are lots of sweet moments too. I think that there is something for everyone to relate to at some point.
Tell us about Rory that we don’t already know. Who is he, really? What is his personality like?
Rory is a young boy who really just loves life. He is so funny and confident. Rory loves to make himself seen and wants all the attention on him. He LOVES fashion and his mama.
What role will Rory play in the series?
The season will basically go through different experiences that Poppy (Rory’s mom) encounters while raising Rory as a single mom. I feel like their experiences are real-life issues and everyone can relate to what they experience together.
Is it a challenge to play Rory? Before you answer, I’m referring to research material or lack of a backstory to play the character.
Well, we received just a little character breakdown of Rory and I immediately felt connected, surprisingly. I love this character so much because he is not what we usually see a boy be on TV. I have so many things in common with Rory and it was so nice to finally see a character on TV my age that I can relate to and even better I get to play him!
Did you have to research the role?
Honestly, there was really no time to research Rory or get coaching. It was late into pilot season and crunch time so between being cast and beginning filming was only 2 days. In those 2 days, I had a ton of fittings of course and was so nervous to begin filming so quickly. Fortunately, the cast was so supportive and our pilot was directed by Jason Winer who is unbelievable. He allowed me to be creative with Rory while guiding me to make it even better.
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The subject matter of the series is hilarious, in a good way! Can you share any upcoming plot twists?
I can’t share too much since everything is kept pretty quiet until actually filming it but I will say that there are many “OMG” and sweet moments as the show develops.
What is going to surprise people about Rory?
Hmmm, I think people might get the impression that since Rory always wants attention, he might be superficial. He is definitely not and we will begin to see how much he loves his mom and friends and how protective he becomes over them.
Without giving anything away, what’s your favorite line of dialogue of the series and why?
In episode 116 Poppy and Rory are dealing with Rory’s dad (Ron) dating someone new. Typically, Poppy and Rory kind of have gossip sessions about the women Ron dates because nobody is ever a serious relationship. This scene Rory and his mom are sitting making fun of the new girlfriend who has apparently burned microwave popcorn 3x already. The 2 are laughing and Rory says:
“GIRRRRRL, it’s called Pop Secret but the instructions ain’t secret” and then Poppy and Rory crack up laughing.
When looking back on the production, what resonated with you the most and why?
I think I was most surprised with how nice everyone was and how long it takes to just film 1 scene. You watch a TV show and never for a second think that it can take an entire day to just film a short scene. There is so much more involved than I would have ever expected. Everyone is constantly working to make it perfect.
In your opinion, what scene in the series is going to blow people away and why?
I’m not sure the exact episode number but in the last few weeks, people will see some really surprising moments. Unfortunately, that is all I can say right now. You will have to watch and see!
What do you enjoy most about your character and role?
I get to wear really cool clothes that I normally wouldn’t get to. Rory’s clothes are my absolute favorite!
Do you have anything else you would like to share about the series?
Just that you should all give it a chance and check it out. If you watched at the beginning and weren’t feeling it give it another try. Trust me! We have had some really really fun episodes and I know you guys will love it!
Do you have anything else you would like to share about your career?
Right now my main focus is Single Parents but I do have some projects coming up once filming ends. I will be hosting an event at 54 Below in NYC in April and then I will be doing some community theater in late spring as well. If you would like to follow my journey, you can find me on IG @devintrey08.
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