Harvey Guillen

Hi Harvey! How are you?
I’m good thanks!

You star in the show, Huge. Can you tell us a bit about it?
Sure! So "HUGE" is a show on ABC FAMILY on Monday nights at 9PM. It’s based on SASHA PALEY book and WINNIE HOLZMAN (MY SO CALLED LIFE/WICKED) is the producer and the writer with her daughter Savannah Dooley...Now the show takes place at CAMP VICTORY a weight loss camp... the show follows 6 teenagers and the struggles they go through ....they are all there for different reasons and each one of them has different goals and wants. They are all dealing with different issues love life, confusion, homosexuality you name it...and it's the story of their journey to finding out who they are, which is something we can all relate to!

What’s your character Alistair like?
"Alistair" is very sweet and lovable; he likes to have fun! He would never want to hurt anyone's feelings, because he himself has been hurt a lot. He's the kind of person you would want as a friend: he's weird and different but he's realizing that it's ok, and it’s ok to be different. Another thing about Alistair is that he has secrets, a lot of them, and you have to wait and see what they all are.

Your character struggles to fit in. Have you ever had similar issues?
Yeah. Alistair has a hard time fitting in,and I think we can all relate to that. Growing up I moved a lot and would have to make new friends at new schools. Every school was different, but I realized being nice goes along way and I always knew how to make people laugh, so that was my safety net I relied on. Unfortunately Alistair doesn't have that net, but he has a lot of other great traits.

Where did you draw inspiration for your role?
You know drawing inspiration for this role was hard,in the sense that people aren't always nice towards Alistair. I had to put myself in a dark place and a place of fear, the fear of people knowing the truth about you…It's an awful place to be in, always looking over your shoulder and worried about saying the wrong thing because people might get clues into who you are...I had to go back and remember keeping secrets from people that only you might have known and that awful feeling of thinking you were bad, and in a way self-loathing. I feel Alistair feels that all the time, so I went back to when I was little and I too kept secrets whether to not get in trouble or just because I promised a friend. Whatever the case, it's always awful to carry a secret.

Harvey on the 'Huge' set with Nikki Blonsky

The show deals with obesity. How do you feel about the topic?
You know we as Americans are dealing with that right now. The word OBESITY is everywhere, and we are all shocked at how America’s youth is "bigger" than it has ever been in the past. Well we also have to take into consideration how we got here! Things have changed...Everything is processed now; times are hard. Sad to say but it's cheaper and easier for a family of four to go into a drive through and get 4 cheeseburgers to feed the family instead of an organic head of lettuce and tomatoes…Everything is on the go, so I feel we might need to stop take a look and make a change. I know it’s hard (I'm on the same boat) but it’s small changes that lead to a BIG DIFFERENCE.

Do you think the show exposes the ugly truth?
I don’t know if the show exposes the ‘ugly truth’...It does however put a mirror up at how people are treated differently when they are plus size, and if you take away the idea that these teens are at a weight loss camp, the journey that they are on and the pain that they feel can be relatable with anyone of any size. The show does expose the ugly truth, about life. Life isn't always perfect, and it’s ok because it's your life and you call the shots.

Have you had any embarrassing moments on set?
You know I haven't had too many embarrassing moments...I must say that all the boys on set have had some kind of accident where they got hurt or scratched or what not...I'm the only the boy on set who hasn't! I'm just waiting for when I trip or fall! I feel like it's coming...So it evens things out! But as of now, nothing bad, although there are stories…Nikki has a couple of good ones, but I wouldn't feel right telling you... ask her!

The cast of Huge

What are your goals for the next 5 years?
My goals for the next five years are........ season 5 OF "HUGE:?? More films under my belt, a Broadway musical, and would love to do more TV....I'm really happy in the place I am now and if I'm working in any of these areas I know I will continue to be!

Who is your role model and why?
I would have to say my grandma....she always put others before her and went out of her way to make people happy, and that's what I want to do. Make people happy and to make them laugh; make you forget your troubles even for brief second.

How can fans contact you?
Fans can contact me through Facebook! Just look for HARVEY GUILLEN. You can also follow me on TWITTER. Again just look for HARVEY GUILLEN...I'm actually really good at returning mgs so if you write to me, I will most likely write back. THANKS FOR ALL THE SUPPORT!