Exclusive: William Jackson Harper Talks NBC’s “The Good Place”Posted by Imani Cruz
September 19, 2016
NBC’s The Good Place follows the after life of one woman as she mistakenly ends up in NBC’s cheeky interpretation of heaven. Played by Kristen Bell, Eleanor finds herself attempting to figure out where the system went wrong in placing her in this newfound paradise, and meeting new people along the way including co-stars Ted Danson, and William Jackson Harper.
Harper also appeared in the Sundance film, How To Tell You’re A Douchebag, which is now available on iTunes.
During the NBC Universal Summer 2016 TCA Press Tour, Blackfilm.com caught up with Harper in an exclusive interview and spoke about him being Bell’s soulmate in the show and what ‘the good place’ is for him.
What’s your role on ‘The Good Place’?
William: I play Chidi, Eleanor’s (Kristen Bell) soulmate in the “good place” —
Is that connection romantic in any way?
William: It can be. Your soulmate can be anything. It could be the person you marry or it could just be literally your bosom buddy. Whatever is the most fulfilling relationship for you. It can be whatever you want it to be.
How is it working alongside Kristen Bell?
William: She’s great. Seriously. She’s incredibly intelligent, engaged, smart, and seasoned actor. She also has a wealth of experience that I can learn from. You know, I’m relatively new to this sort of arena. I’ve done a lot of stage stuff, but this is not what I’ve done a lot of. Most of my work has been with her.
That’s awesome. Do you have any mentors in the industry?
William: I don’t know if they know it, but there’s definitely people that I look up to as far as the kind of actor that I want to be at some point in my life. There’s an actor who, this year, has really started to get his due – Ron Cephas Jones. He’s a stage guy, but he was also on Mr. Robot.
So, going back to your role in the show, what did Chidi do to be able to enter into the “good place”
William: I was a professor of ethics and moral philosophy, so I spent a lot of time mulling over what it meant to be good and trying to unpack that and figure that out. That was my job. Thinking about that throughout my life.
Do you see any parts of your character rubbing off on you in real life?
William: The ability to go down a rabbit hole when it comes to being that obsessive over something. I can be that way.
You’re very meticulous?
William: I can be. When I really care. When I don’t, I might do far more than just a sub-par job at what it is. But, if I’m really invested, I am completely myopic.
Were there pre-existing similarities between you and Chidi?
William: Besides our physical appearance …I’m a huge nerd and Chidi is kind of a nerd.
You’re a blerd?
William: I’m a black nerd – a blerd!
What’s your definition of the good place for you as an adult?
William: Paradise for me, at this point, would probably be tacos, video games, and my lady. Just hanging out and eating tacos and not getting big.
Why such a low bar?
William: I think tacos are wonderful and hanging out with my lady is like, really high on my list of things to do. I guess I’m using that as an umbrella for all things that we would do together. As in, you know, having adventures or hanging out. Just being with that person while eating tacos.
So you’re bi-coastal, but you’re from Dallas. What is the good place for you: Dallas, NYC, or LA?
William: Oh wow! This is hard. If I could take away all the negative aspects of every city, it would probably be New York. I just love being around people, and I enjoy the energy that New York had. I’ve been there for 12 years, so it’s part of who I am.
The Good Place premieres on NBC Sept. 19, every Monday 10/9c.
