Through his breakout role as Skylar in Netflix’s hit series My Life With the Walter Boys, Jaylan Evans has learned and grown up alongside him. His character’s presence as a pillar to friends and the community have solidified him as one of the show’s standout stars. Across each season, audiences have watched Skylar experience the ups and downs of being a teenager in Colorado. From celebrating friendships to dealing with heartbreak, the 27-year-old actor has traveled a unique path back to the past as his current self.
Following last season’s turbulent ending of his romantic relationship with Nathan Walter, fans are eager to see what’s next for Skylar in a new period of self-reflection and healing. Ahead of Season 3’s official release, we had the pleasure of chatting with Jaylan Evans about his personal journey on and off-screen. Read our exclusive interview with him below.
Sweety High: In celebration of Season 3, what are three pieces of media you’ve been into lately?
Jaylan Evans: I’m gonna have to go with Canada’s Drag Race All Stars, Season 1. It’s the first season that they’re doing an all-star season, and it feels fitting because we shoot in Canada. Also maybe like Project Runway, the latest season. Law Roach has joined the judging panel on the show and I typically find myself in agreement with a lot that he has to say, so that’s fun. Then of course, My Life with the Walter Boys Season 2. Gotta prep for Season 3.
(Photo credit: Kendall McClelland/California Smoke Photography)
SH: What has it been like to develop a character like Skylar over multiple seasons?
JE: It’s been super sweet. I feel so much gratitude to be given the opportunity to keep coming back to a character over the span of several years. That’s increasingly becoming a rarity in the industry, so it’s not something I take lightly.
I’ve experienced Sky’s growth throughout high school while growing up myself too in my real life. I’m continuing to shape and define my viewpoints on love, loss, challenges, ethics, forgiveness, growing pains and authenticity. Getting to bring all of that new life experience into my work as the same character has been such a treat.
SH: In what ways do you feel the most similar and different to Skylar?
JE: I truly feel like I’m getting to nurture my inner child and turn back to those high school days, because I was very much like Skylar. I’ve always been confident and grounded or so I’ve been told, especially for my age, even as early as 12, 13 years old. But I don’t think I knew back then. It took growing up and looking back retrospectively to see that within myself.
It wasn’t always a pleasant experience. I feel like when you know and love yourself, other people don’t necessarily like that. It’s quite odd, so it was a huge challenge understanding that in my younger years. I’ve also always appreciated styling and been passionate about looks. When I was in high school, I was such a prep. I’d come to school in a button down and bow ties, just because. It’s Monday morning, 9 a.m. I’m walking to class in khakis, a blue button-down with a blue and pink bow tie. Looking back, I have no idea what I was thinking but in the moment I just liked it. I felt put together and clean. It was my form of authenticity at the time.
I also feel like Skylar is so involved and open when it comes to his community. He feels so connected to Silver Falls, right? The high school, his friend group, the girls, even the Walter brothers. He’s kind of like a light to the Silver Falls community. It feels like it’s a bit of me too. I feel interconnected with everybody in my life: my family, my friends, my community. Just being of service and someone who hopefully brightens people’s day. I think Sky and Jaylan both recognize that.
As far as differences, I’m a certified lover boy and maybe not as guarded per se as Skylar. He’s open, but less so when it comes to intimacy. I feel he’s grown and come around romantically since Season 1. But thinking back, I would’ve never reacted that way to Nathan. Like, he wrote you a song. I’m simping, that’s so cute. No way would I have been weirded out by that. If they’re a stranger like, okay, maybe that’s creepy. But it’s Nathan Walter like, you know this guy. It’s sweet.
(Image courtesy of Netflix)
Also read about: 96 Memorable Quotes From Seasons 1 and 2 of My Life With the Walter Boys as Instagram Captions
SH: What was your initial reaction to finding out about the love triangle between Skylar, Nathan and Zach last season?
JE: Yeah, I was shocked. It felt so unexpected, it was a gag. We’re all familiar with the love triangle trope, but it’s always two guys wanting the same girl, right? I don’t think I’ve ever seen it done before with three guys. Maybe it has, and I just haven’t seen it. So, it felt so fresh and exciting. And boy, was it fun to shoot. I feel like Carson, Corey, and I had some really fun moments on set together.
The jealousy, the frustration, the sneakiness and tension. Maybe not fun in real life, but in the series, behind the illusion that it’s all pretend, it was so exhilarating to go there and lean into those circumstances. And I got to show a different side of Skylar, so that was awesome.
SH: Season 2 closed out Skylar and Nathan’s relationship with a love confession and a heartbreaking conversation. How did you prepare for that scene?
JE:It was kind of the same way I’d prep for any scene. Who am I talking to? Who is this person to me? Where are we? How do I feel about this person at this moment? What’s happening? What do I want or need from them? Is there anything in my way of getting that? Why is this important right now?
Once you’ve answered your questions and have a good grasp of what’s happening in the scene, you can walk in on the day and kind of just throw it all away. Just be, you know. We’re human beings, not human doers, as I like to say.
SH: Sometimes choosing peace means walking away from someone you love. What advice would you give to someone facing a similar situation like Skylar?
JE: You can love someone and know that being together is not what’s best. That’s almost harder than walking away with the love already lost. It takes a lot of strength and self-awareness to show up as Skylar did at the end of Season 2.
I’m glad I got to show that because that’s something people need to see, especially our youth, who are so impressionable as they experience similar situations for the first time. But as hard as it may be, you got to take a step back and spend time alone in solitude. Too many times, people jump right into the next relationship trying to fix what was broken in the previous one with someone new. Turning to something else or someone else, instead of turning within. You have to get to know yourself, learn to love yourself, and fill up your cup as that’s the only way you can or should approach a relationship.
As RuPaul says, “If you don’t love yourself, how in the hell are you going to love somebody else?” And it’s so true. Your capacity to love is only a mirror or reflection of how you love yourself. I think we often think about the dream guy or the dream girl, you know, out in search for your person. But many often forget to become the person, you know, the dream boy. Like, how are you seeking this amazing person with all these qualities and attributes when you’re not even that person yourself? So I say, become that.
(Photo credit: Eduardo Fermín)
Also read about: Ashby Gentry on the Evolution of Alex Walter and Season 2 of My Life With the Walter Boys
SH: How has Skylar’s communication through fashion evolved over each season so far?
JE: There’s change, but it’s minimal. His closet is becoming more mature, a bit more sophisticated, fresher, cleaner, maybe more suave. It’s not drastic, because I feel like Skylar has a good sense of identity and who he is. He’s true to himself, and yet, he’s coming even more into his own.
You start high school when you’re 14 and then by the time you’re graduating as a senior, you’re 18. So that’s a huge period of transformation. It’s so funny how each year is so drastically different from each other when you’re that young.
SH: You’ve spoken about how meaningful playing Skylar has been for your Black and Indigenous heritage, as well as showcasing positive representation for the LGBTQ+ community. Are there any dream roles that you’d love to continue exploring this in?
JE: Yeah, every role. Black, Brown, and Indigenous voices deserve to tell all different kinds of stories. Blackness as a diaspora, to be all inclusive. We shouldn’t be limited to roles that only we can play due to the ethnic needs of the storyline. What about a Black rock star, an indie, alt-rock, punk Black lead? What about a Black doctor with locs? What about an Indigenous politician? These people exist. There’s real people out there with these experiences, so let’s represent that the same way we’d represent other walks of life.
Even leaning into things that aren’t necessarily 100% historically accurate, showing blackness in a different light through period pieces, like the 1700s and 1800s. Let’s lean into giving Black and Brown people the opportunity to share stories, without the plot being centered on their race or ethnicity. At the end of the day, isn’t race made up? To me, there’s one race—the human race.
Leaning into that for castings, it’ll open up so many doors for us. I want to see stories with Black, Brown, Indigenous, gay, and bi leads that have nothing to do with their race or sexual orientation. Sure, those moments are to be included, but what if there’s a world where the storyline isn’t solely about one’s identity? It’s stories about humanity and the experiences that they too have on this earth. Those are the dream roles I’d like to see and play.
SH: It’s so interesting to see the change from shows I grew up with to now. There’s definitely still work to be done, but I really commend shows like My Life with the Walter Boys that are giving a platform for more people of color to show their human traits instead of stereotypes.
JE: We’ve come a long way in even just the past 10 to 15 years. The stuff I’m seeing and getting to be in today, like I did not have a Skylar when I was growing up. I had to go out and really search for it, or find little indie YouTube shorts and low budget things that weren’t in the limelight to feel seen. I remember as a kid it was very far and few between, so I totally think we’re headed in the right direction.
SH: How do you think you’ve grown the most, professionally or personally, since Season 1?
JE: I think I’ve grown even more confident and embracing that I’m enough. Not feeling a need to put on or fabricate anything, as an actor and as a person. You know, I’m growing up too. We’re going into Season 4 and I can feel in real time that I’m no longer the same person that I was in Season 1. I’m learning even more about myself, curating a sense of self with my likes, dislikes, hopes, desires and things that I value. I’m putting myself first and becoming the man I’ve always dreamed of.
You’d be surprised how much growing up is just about fostering your inner child and returning to the interests that you had as a kid. We come into this world innocent, naive, impressionable, content and authentic. Then living in this world, we put up all of these walls and boundaries to assimilate to modern day times to be an adult, to function correctly in society. I believe growing up is all about going back inward and removing all of those conditions we put on ourselves. Returning back to the source and the light that we were closer to as kids. That, to me, is a step towards a life free of suffering. This is a journey that I’m on in my 20s as I shoot the series simultaneously.
(Image courtesy of Jaylan Evans)
Also read about: Isaac Arellanes Talks My Life With the Walter Boys and Teases Season 2
SH: During production for Season 3, what was your favorite cast memory on or off set?
JE: When Season 2 premiered, we were actually already out here shooting Season 3. So, we all hung out that weekend and we did this thing called the Pedal Pub. You bike on this trolley wagon thing around town here in Calgary. It’s really popular, and we’ve been wanting to do it. It felt like the perfect opportunity to all come together and celebrate. Yeah, it was just nice to be together and cheers to our hard work.
SH: Lastly, is there anything else you want the fans to know that we didn’t ask about?
JE: I’ll say for my little niche group that have been rocking with me since Season 1, thank you. Thank you so much, I feel your love. And I just want to take a moment to thank each of you from the bottom of my heart. If you like Skylar, if you like Jaylan, then buckle up because this is truly just the beginning for me. I can’t wait to see what’s next and share it with you guys.
Looking for more interviews with the cast of My Life with the Walter Boys? Click HERE to read Carson MacCormac talk about his role as Zach in Season 2.
