Before Brandon Sklenar became part of the Dutton family on television's hottest show, 1923, he was a self-proclaimed "weird kid." Sklenar, who is now 31 years old, recently shared with me over a Zoom interview about his childhood in Northern New Jersey and how he would create and live as different characters, similar to Leonardo DiCaprio's character in Catch Me If You Can. "I'd go to school in a character for two weeks.

No joke. I’d have an English accent, or I'd just make up words and languages, and entertain myself that way," Sklenar revealed. "I got pretty good at it." It's no surprise that Sklenar eventually pursued a career in acting.

In 1923, he stars as Spencer Dutton, a war veteran and big game hunter in Africa, who embarks on a journey back to America to help his aunt and uncle save their Montana ranch. However, his plans are disrupted when he falls in love and becomes entangled in a crime of passion. Despite claiming self-defense, Spencer's situation is unusual as it involves a swordfight that ends with his opponent being thrown overboard. As he struggles to reunite with his love and reach American soil, his family faces mounting pressure. Sklenar acknowledges that the Season One finale of 1923 will leave audiences hurting and eagerly anticipating the second part. "It's going to fire people up to be counting the days till the second part airs," Sklenar shared.

Spencer Dutton has become a favorite among fans, evident from the numerous TikTok fan edits and montages dedicated to his character. Sklenar attributes his success to his personal connection with the material and his ability to transform into Spencer, stating, "I felt very confident about my connection to the material and to Spencer. It was the most confident I'd ever been auditioning for a role. It just felt like something that I was supposed to do." Sklenar also opened up about his own experiences growing up, including dealing with social anxiety, dyslexia, and a stutter, which led him to find solace in acting.

"I probably used that in some way to try to fit in," he explained. "And in doing so, you didn't fit in at all because you're just this weird kid who's pretending to be somebody else." When asked about memorable films from his childhood, Sklenar mentioned The Station Agent as his first experience on a film set. He shared his appreciation for the Western genre, fueled by his grandfather's love for Clint Eastwood and John Wayne movies. Sklenar reminisced about going to the video store with his grandmother every Wednesday, which he fondly misses in today's streaming-dominated world. Despite his success on the show, Sklenar remains humble and detached from social media. He recently joined Instagram but maintains a healthy distance from it. He is thrilled to be a part of 1923 and excited to see how Spencer's character evolves in future seasons. In conclusion, Brandon Sklenar's journey from a self-proclaimed "weird kid" to a beloved actor on 1923 showcases his passion, talent, and ability to bring characters to life. Fans eagerly await the next season to see where Spencer Dutton's story takes them.