Our Bello Life with One Walter Boy… Noah LaLonde

We appreciate discovering new talent, especially those lucky enough to be featured in projects associated with heavy hitter studios like Netflix, and today, we are happy to share with you our conversation with emerging actor Noah LaLonde from Netflix’s “My Life with the Walter Boys”. Based on a hit novel, MLWTWB is set to be released on Netflix on Dec. 7th alongside Netflix veteran Nikki Rodriguez from “On My Block”. We speculate that MLWTWB will be the next young adult drama series to gain a fan base and we hope it’s a perfect viewing option besides every other holiday movie and show that will be released in the next month or so. Make sure to check it out and let us know what you think of MLWTWB and more importantly, Noah LaLonde.

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you got into acting?

I grew up around the Metro Detroit area in Michigan. I would say I had a standard upbringing, as far as I knew. A life very close and intertwined with family, friends, community, and sports. For me, specifically, hockey was my sport. It was pretty much the defining element of my childhood and early adult years, where my family and I dedicated many a days spent traveling to or at a rink somewhere in the US or Canada. I was also active in school, before hockey became too large of a time commitment. In elementary school, I took part in the school plays, once embodying Prince Charming, another time the “Big Bad Wolf,” and I’ll never forget playing the Christmas version of Elvis, “Elfis”. In middle school, I was a part of a very “High School Musical” type choir program. So, from the beginning, I was pulled towards the arts, even if I didn’t really know how to define my attraction to it at the time. As hockey got more serious, I found myself very into films and television, taking a lot of free time to escape into these different worlds on the screen. Real life, complicated feelings, and events start to happen, and I guess the place I keep returning to is in the movies, television, and music. So, when I finally retired from hockey a year after high school, I found myself making my way toward acting and theatre training, locally and in undergraduate studies, until I dropped out of college and decided acting was what I’d pursue full-time. After a few years at home, I began, like I think every actor does, to start thinking of Los Angeles or some other hub to relocate to and legitimize their pursuits. So, in 2021, I finally made the move and tried to do just that.

What drew you to the role in “My Life with the Walter Boys” on Netflix? Were there any specific traits or experiences of the character that you personally connected with?

I think the thing that initially drew me to the role of Cole in “My Life with the Walter Boys” was exactly that, those experiences that were so closely mirrored in my own life. When I stopped playing hockey those initial months (and even years) after was a journey of redefining and discovering my identity. For a long time, I was “Noah LaLonde the hockey player,” and my character was always known as “Cole Walter the local star quarterback”. We ended our careers in different ways, I left willingly, and he by force of injury, but those emotions that come with that redefining process was the jumping off point for me. How do you take the next step in building who you are and the life you’re going to live? We both had to answer that same question.

The show is based on a book. How did you approach bringing a character from the pages of a novel to the screen?

Having a script that is based on a book was wonderful. Ali Novak, who wrote the book, captured the hearts of so many readers when the story was first released, so, when approaching the script, you try to identify those book and script similarities and sort of start there. I got the chance to meet Ali in the process of filming, and she was wonderful; so, having the chance to bring her character to life was even more fulfilling. 

How did you prepare for your role as Cole in the show? Tell us about who he is and what viewers can expect from Cole. 

In the preparation process, I think I just tried to really get to know him. On the surface, I think it’s easy to fall into the stereotype that is, “high school football stud-quarterback-jock,” where all the guys wanna be his friend, all the girls love him, and everything is breezy as long as the team is winning. But with Cole, Episode 1 picks up on a time where he has just had that life taken from him. He’s in this weird place where people still sort of view him like that, but he doesn’t necessarily view himself like that. He’s in desperate need of something to keep him going, something to give him hope. And upon arrival, I think part of him immediately sees that in Jackie, (played by the wonderful Nikki Rodriguez) as a potential light at the end of the tunnel… someone who has lost their entire family in a tragic accident, but is somehow still persevering through a major, life-altering tragedy.

How has your experience working on “My Life” influenced you as an actor?

I have no hesitation in saying that my experience working on “My Life with the Walter Boys” was truly one of the greatest times of my life. My first on-location, long term job, in a new place (we filmed in Calgary), with a group of, genuinely, some of the most incredible people I’ve ever met. I cherish those days a lot, and the friendships and experiences in those five months are something I’m proud to carry with me every day. As an actor, it’s without a doubt the most concentrated education session I’ve ever had, on what it is to be an actor, and all that that entails. So, along with being one of my greatest personal experiences, it was also the greatest professional experience. My biggest takeaway: you simply cannot complete a project like this without the right group of people. The passion, love, dedication, and ability that the people on this set displayed, was like nothing I’d ever seen. Beautiful is an understatement.

What do you do in your free time when you’re not acting?

Since moving to Los Angeles, my leisure activities have changed quite a bit. I love doing a lot more things that aren’t very complicated. A few hours at a coffee shop with a good book. Seeking out great local restaurants and sharing meals with friends, over unnecessarily deep talks. I go to the movies often; I like to know about everything at the theater. I’m also pretty active, I love going for long runs in new areas, taking in the environment around me.

Do you have a favorite quote or motto you live by?

I refer to a lot of mottos, often. But one I’ve found myself coming back to recently is,

“The only thing I know for sure, is that I know nothing at all.”

You can imagine the responses I get… yes, I know some things. But rather than being too literal, I think of it as a way to keep myself in a state of absorption to the world around me; a reminder to always be open to learning more about myself and the infinite perspectives and experiences in this life.

Bello is a fashion and lifestyle magazine. If you could choose, what would be your perfect day and how would you describe your fashion style?

I don’t think the specifics are that important for my perfect day. Some time at the beach. Definitely some coffee. Time spent with people I care about. Watch the sun rise, or set, or both if I’m really lucky.

I used to put a lot of pressure on myself to know the trends and be stylish, but as I’ve gotten more into fashion, I’ve found myself gravitating toward styles that make me feel most comfortable, rather than trying to capture something that someone else is sporting. That leaves the door open for me to experiment with different styles or whatever is on my mind at the time. Sometimes that means a lot of colors and loose-fitting clothing. Other times, it’s darker tones and more simple athleisure wear.

Tell us two truths and a lie. Hopefully our readers will be able to point out the lie. 

I did (wrote) this entire interview while in the bathtub.

I am allergic to cats.

I have a cat.

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Photography: Exavier Castro, Instagram @exaviercastro

Grooming: Cristal Gonzalez, Instagram @cristaltheartist

Styling:  Jenny Dayco, Instagram @jennydayco