T-shirt by Rick Owens
Pants by Rick Owens

Zack Morris, an English actor whose career spans stage and screen, became interested in acting at a young age. He attended the D&B Academy of Performing Arts, where he received a scholarship. In 2011, he made his television debut and eventually became a series regular on the beloved BBC soap opera “EastEnders,” for which he was nominated for a British Soap Award. Morris currently stars in the Disney+ and Hulu series “Goosebumps,” based on the R.L. Stine book series of the same name. The series was a hit upon release amongst both fans and critics, and Morris has been applauded for his charismatic and refreshing performance as ‘Isaiah Howard’ the popular, star football player.

**Left:**
Shirt by Applied Art Forms
Pants by Applied Art Forms
Trainers by Harrys of London
**Right:**
Jacket Rick Owens x Moncler
Pants by Rick Owens

What initially attracted you to acting when you were young?
I was always a confident child, who was overly confident. I had a lot of energy and played sports, but it never really stuck. As fun as it was, I could tell it wasn’t my passion, so I wanted to find another hobby that I could exude my energy into. I started drama, dancing, and singing classes and I just fell in love with it and wanted to get good at it. Between that and my love for watching performances in the theatre, movies, and television, entertainment was just something that always drew me in.

Growing up, you attended a performing arts school. Did you enjoy that holistic education versus what a regular school offers?
Growing up I used to train on weekends and do evening classes while attending normal school during the day. Then, when I turned sixteen, that was the first time I did full-time performing arts training. I’m happy I did this later in my life because I loved the balance between the creative side and the academic side.

You booked your first role as a series regular with “EastEnders.” What was it like to star in a long-running British household staple?
It was dope, I can’t lie. I started filming like a week after my eighteenth birthday, and it was the greatest present I could’ve asked for at the time. I knew going into the show was going to add a new level of pressure that I’d never felt before to my career, as well as my personal life. This challenge is one that I’m happy to have experienced so young because all the skills I learned there are transferrable.

What was the audition process like for “Goosebumps?”
It was all virtual. I had two rounds. The first round was a self-tape and the second was a Zoom chemistry read, but, because of the time difference, I didn’t finish the Zoom call until 2 am UK time. I can’t lie, the chemistry read was actually fun because I got to read with so many different actors and play late into the night.

What is the biggest piece of advice you’ve received about auditioning?
Have fun. I know it sounds cliché, but genuinely just enjoy the process and throw yourself in the deep end. Make bold choices and show whoever is auditioning you your personality as much as you can, because people want to work with people, not an industry machine.

Did you want to play Isaiah Howard from the beginning? Are you similar in any way?
Yeah, as soon as a read the sides for Isaiah, I knew this was a character that I would enjoy playing. “Goosebumps,” as much as it is a horror/comedy, has a lot of other genres that run through the story such as action, drama, and romance. With Isaiah, I got to experience all these different emotions, which was creatively fulfilling. There are some similarities between myself and Isaiah, but a major difference is he’s way better at football than I am.

T-shirt by Rick Owens
Pants by Rick Owens
Trainers by Harrys of London

Tell us about the set of “Goosebumps.”
Creating a show of this magnitude comes with its own pressures and challenges. I can say that everyone who was a part of the creative team and cast knew this, so everyone brought their A-game day every day. We wanted to make each moment as good as we could; that was the main objective, and when you have a room full of people who all want the same thing, you’re going to make some magic.

Do you have a favorite memory from the “Goosebumps” set?
I have so many favorite memories from making this show it’s hard to pick just one, but I loved doing the zombie chase on the football field and the pep rally.

What do you hope audiences take away from watching “Goosebumps?”
That you’re strong in numbers, meaning that when things get tough, defeating it on your own is not always the best option; having people around will always help overcome challenges. Not all monsters have to be giant worms.

How does it feel to star in a series on a major streamer?
My team and I created a solid plan for how we were going to move on and progress my career and being a series regular on a major streamer was part of that plan. Whether we were going to achieve it or not was another thing, but I’m fortunate that it came true, and I got to live that experience. Now, we continue to make outlandish goals and try our best to achieve them.

You’ve done several stints in theater. Do you plan on further pursuing it in the future?
Theatre was where I fell in love with the arts, so it only makes sense to revisit it at some stage. This industry is a lot about strategy and timing, so I would have to make sure that it’s at the right time and that it’s the right project for me at that point in my career.

Do you enjoy playing the protagonist or the antagonist?
Each side comes with its own challenges, and you would approach the project differently depending on whom you’re playing. So far, the majority of roles I’ve played have been the protagonist, but the antagonist is definitely a challenge I would welcome with open arms.

**Left:**
Jacket Rick Owens x Moncler
Pants by Rick Owens
Trainers by Harrys of London
**Right:**
Shirt by Applied Art Forms
Pants by Applied Art Forms
Trainers by Harrys of London

Which actors or actresses' careers inspire you?
Coming from the UK, actors who have branched out into the American market and have had successful careers in the United States have always looked impressive to me; people like Idris Elba, Daniel Kaaluya, John Boyega, and Damson Idris. These actors have shown that people like me can make it happen, so I’ll do everything in my power to make sure it does.

Where do you envision yourself in five years?
In five years, I want to have worked on multiple projects in the States, get my personal projects that I’ve been working on off the ground, and do more directing and producing.

Instagram: @_zack_morris
Twitter: @_Zack_Morris

CREW CREDITS:
PhotoBook Editor-In-Chief: Alison Hernon
PhotoBook Creative Director: Mike Ruiz + @mikeruiz.one
Photographer: David Reiss
Talent: Zack Morris
Fashion Stylist: Olga Timofejeva at The Only Agency
Groomer: Aga Dobosz at Carol Hayes Management
Tearsheets by Daniel López, Art Director, PhotoBook Magazine
Interview by Sneha KC, Contributor, PhotoBook Magazine