John Henry Ward Dishes on Recurring Role in ‘The Girl from Plainville’

John Henry Ward is an up-and-coming actor who has appeared in several projects since making his way onto the acting scene in 2017, but audiences now will most likely recognize him from Hulu’s new true crime drama series, The Girl from Plainville.

Following the events leading to the 2014 death of 18-year-old Conrad Roy and his girlfriend Michelle Carter’s conviction for involuntary manslaughter, the series was created by Liz Hannah and stars Elle Fanning, Colton Ryan, and Chloë Stevens Sevigny. Ward plays Adrian Peters, a recurring character that has made quite an impression.

OFM caught up with Ward to talk more about his role, the series, and more.

Let me begin by asking, what did you enjoy the most about being involved with The Girl from Plainville?

Probably the people. I had a lot of fun with my co-stars, and I got to know them very well. Also, just being part of what I think is a very important story. Being in Savannah was great as well. Ate a lot of oysters (laughs).

All your scenes are with Elle Fanning. What was it like working alongside her?

She definitely made my job easier. She is such a great actor, and it was very easy to work together and play off each other. She’s incredible. If you’ve watched the show, you can see that she’s totally in it. We would be talking before the scene, and then she kind of just drops into it. That was wild to see.

For those who have not yet watched, what makes the series worth checking out?

I think if you’ve heard of the case, then you might have some preconceived notions or opinions. The show brings a new perspective to the broader story and the details that were overlooked during the media coverage back in 2014.

Were you at all familiar with the case before auditioning or signing on with the show?

Vaguely, probably as much as anyone else. I remember the headlines, the very black-and-white “girl texts boyfriend to kill himself.” After I did the audition, I did a little bit of research, and then I got the callback. That’s when I was like, “OK, I’m going to watch the documentary, read the Esquire article,” and that’s when I realized there was a lot more to this than I initially thought.

What made you audition for The Girl from Plainville?

I saw Liz Hannah and Elle Fanning’s names, and I was immediately on board (laughs).

Can you talk more about your character, Adrian, and how you personally connect with him?

What I wanted to bring to Adrian was, he reminds me a lot of queer people I knew in my life during high school and college—queer people I feel like I could go to, or who could come to me when I was feeling emotionally on the fringes, or even socially, and I could talk to without any judgment. I think queer people being ostracized by society makes them more of an empathetic group of people. That’s how I see Adrian. He’s more willing to hear Michelle because he understands what that’s like. That’s how I identify with him as well. I always try to do that.

This your first recurring role. What did you take away from the experience?

Having my first recurring role, the first day I was on set, I was like, “Oh, I have a lot more freedom here to make a choice and decide who my character is.” It’s been a while since I’ve had that freedom, so that was cool. It was also kind of a scary realization. Like, “Wow, I’ve got to kind of step it up a little.” Luckily, I had some time between the first episode and the fifth episode to get it all together.

Do you know how the series has been received by audiences?

Yeah, I think it’s been received pretty well. There are some people who aren’t super happy about it being made, but I think the performances are being very well received.

Are you a fan of true crime in general?

A little bit. I’ll listen to a true crime podcast every now and then, as long as it’s not too much. Some of them can start to creep me out.

Is there a certain type of crime you are most interested in reading and learning about?

I like a heist or con person. I was fascinated with the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum robbery in Boston, where they stole some Rembrandt paintings. The case has never been solved.

Have you always had a passion for acting and storytelling?

Yeah, definitely. As a kid, I wanted to be a director, but then I got a lead in a play in middle school and just kept doing that.

What are some future goals you would like to accomplish with your career?

I’d love to direct and write some projects, but other than that, I just hope to keep working.

Before we wrap up, are there any other upcoming projects or anything else you would like to mention or plug?

Nothing I can talk about at the moment, but just follow me on social media for updates!

Stay up-to-date and connect with Ward by following him on Instagram @johnhenry.w. The Girl from Plainville is now streaming on Hulu.

Photos courtesy of Brandon Hayden