Graham Campbell On Making His Television Debut In The Shards and Sarah Paulson’s Mentorship

For Graham Campbell, joining Ryan Murphy’s upcoming FX series The Shards felt like a dream come true. “It's sort of the best thing you could hope to be a part of,” Campbell told Pop Culture Planet at the New York City premiere of The Shards. “It's an embarrassment of riches as a first TV acting job. I found myself pinching myself pretty much every other day.”

To prepare for the role of golden boy Thom Wright, Campbell kept his process simple by focusing on Bret Easton Ellis’ novel. “I read the book and I read the book again,” he shared.

Campbell said that his favorite moments were when the whole cast was together. “We were all off in our own worlds a lot of the time we were shooting, so I think my standout memories from set were when we all were finally in one place at one time,” he explained. “Because it's, in my opinion, one of the best ensembles ever assembled.”

Off set, Campbell has been fortunate to receive guidance from another Ryan Murphy favorite: Sarah Paulson. The two met starring as mother and son in the Tony Award-winning Broadway revival of Appropriate. “She's always giving me advice that I take very, very gladly,” said Campbell about visiting her on the set of American Horror Story season 13. “She's an incredible person, incredible actor, and has become a mentor, mother figure in my life. Pretty much anything she says or does or creates, I look up to.”

Catch The Shards when it premieres August 5 on FX.