I was a dancer, and it's not really cool for a boy to dance, so it was inspiring to see a movie like 'Footloose' where a guy is dancing masculine and had a proper reason behind it. It made me feel cool, and when these kids would make fun of me, I'd be like, 'Oh, didn't you see 'Footloose,' man?'

I used to get made fun of a lot for being a male dancer, especially growing up in Boston. Kids are terrible, they don’t realize how heavy words can be.

I mean, there’s definitely a difference between film and live performances or live television. But at the same time, it’s just performing. No matter what, it’s performing.

You have to be determined, and be able to accept, ‘No.’ I’ve heard, ‘No,’ a thousand times, and I’ve heard, ‘Yes,’ a handful of times.

I had been working predominantly and steadily as a dancer, so after awhile, you don’t have to audition. I was just in that world, and I had certain goals I wanted to reach, but I definitely always wanted to keep going and challenge myself and become an actor.

I enjoy the element of pushing yourself, learning something new, whether it’s a dance step, a scene, an emotion.

I’m a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting – Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg – they made a great career out of it, and they found a way to do it and still be cool guys, so that’s kind of where I want to be.

I’m from Boston, and I’m hard-headed, opinionated and a good arguer.

I’ve always fought for what I believe in. I used to get made fun of for dancing, and I would argue back, or fight the kids, or do whatever I had to do to shut them up. I have that in me.

I have a really good family. I’m lucky to have people who support me and love me in my life.