Miles McKenna: Riding the Wave of Success with 'Goosebumps' – Only the Beginning (Exclusive)
Miles McKenna spills exclusive details on his thriving career, including his breakout role in 'Goosebumps,' aspirations for LGBTQIA storytelling, and more in an engaging interview with Us Weekly Don't miss out!
Miles McKenna's popularity has been steadily growing for years due to his achievements as an actor, a YouTube personality, an author, and a storyteller - and he's only just beginning. In an exclusive interview with We, 28-year-old McKenna looked back on how his previous successes have paved the way for further opportunities in his career.
“With YouTube, my acting career has experienced a significant boost because I believe YouTube values authenticity,” shared McKenna with Us. “When outsiders think of online content, they often associate it with consumerism, talent, and creating content for others to view. However, in reality, it's about building connections and companionship.”
Rodin Eckenroth/FilmMagic
Before portraying the popular character James on Goosebumps, which aired on Disney+ and Hulu, McKenna gained recognition for creating videos that offered insight into gender identity and various other LGBTQIA+ topics in a relatable manner. Drawing from his own experiences and sense of humor, McKenna brought authenticity and depth to the fictional characters he portrayed on screen.
“Transitioning into acting, has allowed me to infuse a lot of my own personality and authenticity into these characters," he explained. "Because I have a wealth of real-life experiences to draw from. When I audition, I focus on bringing genuine elements to the role rather than trying to be someone else."
McKenna has demonstrated the effectiveness of his approach in various projects such as Hulu's All Night, Prime Video's Nocturne, and now Goosebumps. He expressed his enthusiasm about the freedom he had as an actor to explore a character that he had contributed to building.
"This kind of environment isn't common on every set or with every script. But Goosebumps was a highly collaborative and improvisational production," he explained. "From the beginning, the five of us—Zack Morris, Isa Briones, Ana Yi Puig, Will Price and myself—were fully committed, from our initial auditions to the final camera readings with other actors. The executives recognized and appreciated our dedication, and that's what they wanted to see on screen."
Miles Mckenna in “Give Yourself Goosebumps” Disney/David Astorga
McKenna has found joy in the opportunity to truly embody the character of James, stating, "You follow the script, and then they say, 'Alright, have some fun with it.' It was amazing to see how much of our fun moments made it into the show. I was able to bring my own personality and sense of humor to the role."
Goosebumps, adapted from R.L. Stine's beloved horror novels, centers around five teenagers who band together after unintentionally unleashing supernatural forces in their small town. As they strive to contain the malevolent spirits, the group begins to unravel their parents' hidden pasts.
Throughout the first season, James devoted his time to finding his place within the community, initially concealing his feelings of isolation in the small town of Port Lawrence.
“I appreciate the opportunity to portray a character who is unafraid to be himself yet struggles with his true identity. This is something that everyone goes through, regardless of their sexual orientation. He's really facing confidence issues," McKenna explained. "I was drawn to this role during auditions because it's a universal experience that people can relate to and empathize with."
McKenna commended the "powerful" storyline for providing representation to viewers who might see themselves in James.
"Shows often strive to integrate diversity in a subtle manner. What I admired about Goosebumps is that it wasn't like, 'Here's this person, here's their label.' It was more like, 'Here's this person, that's who they are,'" the content creator elaborated. "It was really important for me, as a trans actor, to portray a queer character without any added layers. I believe that was the kind of representation I was missing while growing up."
Season 1 concluded last month, but many untold stories are still waiting to be shared. For example, there is James’ brief connection with Sam [Aiden Howard] and how it impacts his love life on a larger scale.
“I hope to witness a genuine romance for [James]. What we saw in season 1 felt intangible. He ends up with the guy, but only by not being true to himself," McKenna shared with Us. "We haven't seen him develop a genuine crush that goes beyond the superficial. It would be a valuable exploration, especially after everything he endured in the first season."
Furthermore, the audience will witness James' changing relationship with his mother. McKenna explained, "James now has so many new friends and a strong bond with everyone, especially his mom, in a genuine way. She is the only family he has, so I think it would be very special to see him connect with someone who truly understands him on screen."
Regardless of the direction James' journey takes, McKenna expressed that the role was a "dream" come true, adding, "I had the opportunity to portray a queer character as a trans actor, without focusing on trauma or including numerous themes. We were really focused on one theme, which was self-confidence. James has so much depth and is someone I believe many people can relate to."
McKenna is relentless in his pursuit of new once-in-a-lifetime projects outside of the Goosebumps universe. "Everything I've been a part of has meant so much to me," he said. "It’s always been that thought in the back of my head, hoping I get the role, but still being a fan if I don’t. Balancing comedy and tragedy is crucial to me. Goosebumps was a surreal experience where I could bring my comedic self to the role, but also infuse it with longing, pain, and uncertainty."
McKenna is enthusiastic about continuing to contribute to the representation of LGBTQIA+ stories, expressing interest in projects such as Fellow Travelers on Paramount+ and emphasizing the importance of showcasing both love stories and historical context. Alongside advocating for a speedy renewal of Goosebumps for season 2, McKenna is also venturing into children's literature following the release of his book Out!: How To Be Your Authentic Self in 2020.
"I wanted to create a children's book centered around the theme of self-love and understanding, with a message of reassurance and support. The book is not just for queer people, but it would have been helpful for me during my coming out experience and can be helpful for anyone. I wanted to create a children's book that addresses the coming out experience in a way that everyone can relate to. That's what 'I'm Not a Vampire' will be about." McKenna shared with Us.
One of the most rewarding aspects of his success for McKenna has been the ongoing support from the fan community he has built.
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"I started creating YouTube videos because I felt it was necessary. YouTube was always a safe space for me after school where I could truly be myself. It eventually became a lifeline, where I shared confessional-style content about what was happening in my life," he explained. "I made the choice to be true to myself and come out. And then I had to continue making that choice."
McKenna concluded, "The internet was like training wheels for me to continue coming out and being myself. I went from knowing only three gay people to meeting thousands of gay people, not just through the internet, but also through advocacy. This led to opportunities to work with numerous nonprofits and attend various events worldwide in support of different queer causes."
