Paul, for his part, was the epitome of patience, and Sean explains why. “Paul has always been head over heels in love with Sonny,” notes Sean. “If Sonny said, ‘Let’s be friends,’ Paul would say, ‘We’ll be friends, but I’ll still love you.’ If Sonny said, ‘Let’s be lovers,’ Paul would agree to be lovers. Paul has always been infatuated with Sonny, so he would do whatever he wanted. He’s been waiting patiently for Sonny to say yes. Now, all the restrictions and obstacles between them are gone, and Paul couldn’t be happier.”
Love Is Love
The two actors, who are both straight, have found the challenges of playing a gay couple no different than playing a heterosexual pair. It all comes down to one thing.
“Love,” declares Sean. “For me, love is love.”
“We both know what love feels like,” concurs Smith. “We’re both in serious relationships, and we do our best to convey that. It’s no different if we’re with a woman or a man onscreen. We still have to fake and convey that feeling. And you start to really get into the character you’re playing. When I’m in a scene, I really believe I’m Sonny, and I’m like, ‘I really love this guy.’”
“It’s the same for me,” adds Sean. “As Paul, I love Sonny, and I’m telling the story of that love.”
Real-Life Friends
What helps the dynamic and chemistry between Smith and Sean is the fact that the two actors are friends, who genuinely like and respect each other.
“Freddie is so professional,” says Sean. “When he shows up on set, he is Sonny. And I show up as Paul. We both truly feel the emotion between the characters, and we care for each other. We have a great time working together. We enjoy being around each other. It’s easy to fall in love with someone you like,” adds Sean with a smile.
Moving forward, viewers can expect happy times for Paul and Sonny. And Smith, for one, is ready for it.
Love Ignited
“I think it’s important to share their story and to tell it correctly,” notes Smith. “There’s been time for Sonny to heal, and now he’s going to find love again. I think viewers are going to be extremely excited about it.”
“The only constant in life is change,” adds Sean. “Therefore, you must grow and evolve. Everyone wants Sonny to find love. Everyone wants him to be happy. Enough time has gone by [since Will’s death]. Now, the fuse has been lit between Paul and Sonny. When it finally strikes, it’s going to be dynamite.”
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