Evan Nikolas Fields on ‘The Wayfinders,’ Learning to Trust His Abilities, and Saying Yes to Collaboration
“My teacher said, ‘You never deny someone else’s creativity. If you deny someone’s creativity, you’re not letting them flourish or yourself flourish. Together you’re a team.’ That really stuck with me. I never deny anyone’s creativity now. I will never say no; I will do what needs to be done to get the point across.”
I had the pleasure of talking with Evan Nikolas Fields. For a young actor navigating the sprawling, sun-bleached machinery of the Hollywood ecosystem, Fields remains refreshingly humble. He is a product of the environment, born and raised in Los Angeles, inhabiting the suburban stretches of the Valley from West Hills to Sherman Oaks, yet his entry into the industry wasn’t a calculated maneuver by stage parents or the result of a lifelong hunger for fame. It was, by his own admission, the result of middle school procrastination.
Fields recalls his origin story with a sense of humor about his younger self. He had originally hoped to fill his school schedule with art or horticulture, but his tendency to wait until the last minute left him with limited options. “The only other option was a hybrid of choir and drama,” Fields says. “So I did that. Choir was cool; I learned how to sing from my diaphragm. Second semester was drama.”
It was in that second semester, under the tutelage of a teacher named Mr. Amigo, that something clicked. Fields learned the mechanics of the stage, improvisation, cold reading, and commanding an audience. It led to a quiet creative epiphany: “I feel like I could do this for a living.” In Los Angeles, proximity is power. As Fields notes, “There are not even eight degrees of separation from someone in the industry; it’s more like two.” A connection through his mother’s hairdresser led to an agent, and a career was born.
However, the transition from drama class to professional sets came with hard-learned lessons about ego and collaboration. Fields admits that early on, fear often stifled his improvisation. He would shut down ideas to avoid looking foolish. It was Mr. Amigo who corrected his course, teaching him the golden rule of improv. “If you deny someone’s creativity, you’re not letting them flourish or yourself flourish,” Fields recalls his teacher saying. “Together you’re a team.” It is a philosophy he carries into his professional life today: “I will never say no; I will do what needs to be done to get the point across.”
That openness has served him well in an industry defined by rejection. Fields views the constant chorus of “No” not as failure, but as redirection. He cites his role in the Netflix film He’s All That as proof. He had auditioned for a different project entirely, didn’t get the part, but left enough of an impression that the casting team remembered him for the high-profile teen rom-com.
Working on He’s All That provided Fields with one of his most surreal “fanboy” moments. A self-described “huge Scooby-Doo fan,” Fields found himself sharing scenes with Matthew Lillard. The encounter stripped away the professional veneer and revealed the kid underneath. “He’s also giant; he has to be 6’6” or something,” Fields says. “I was looking at him like he was a god.” Lillard, disarming the tension, asked Fields to run lines, creating a memory that remains a career highlight.
Currently, Fields is tackling his most significant challenge yet: the role of Flynn in the Angel Studios sci-fi/fantasy series The Wayfinders, which is streaming now. The project marks a shift from guest spots to the heavy lifting of a series regular. “I haven’t had a lot of time in my career with one character where you can really see his arc and his change,” he admits. The role required a deep dive into character psychology, mirroring his own professional growth. “When I first started playing him, we were similar in that we didn’t trust our abilities,” Fields says. “Flynn has a chance to be a hero, but he’s conflicted… For myself, this is the very first time I’ve been a series regular… At first, I didn’t trust my abilities.”
Fields describes the show with genuine enthusiasm, specifically praising the production’s commitment to practical effects over digital backdrops. “It has little to no green or blue screen. Everything is shot on location,” he explains, comparing the dual-world narrative to the Narnia universe he grew up reading.
Balancing this rising career with a semblance of a normal adolescence required unconventional choices. By the 10th grade, the demands of auditions and shooting schedules forced Fields to leave his prestigious high school for an independent study program. The rigorous academic environment was replaced by a weekly “packet” of work. “I would finish the packet in one day and just sit there for the rest of the week with nothing to do,” he laughs. While he questioned the decision at the time, looking at his current trajectory, he acknowledges it was the necessary path.
Despite the solitude of independent study, Fields has found community on set. He speaks warmly of the “lifelong friendships” formed in the trenches of production, mentioning co-stars like Vince Mattis, Sam Buchanan, Issy Knopfler, and Tamara Smart. “It happens when you’re with someone for four months and see each other every day,” he says. “I’m glad I’ll have them in my life forever.”
As he looks toward the future, Fields remains a student of cinema, citing actors like David Jonsson (Alien: Romulus) and Fred Hechinger (The White Lotus) as contemporaries he admires and hopes to collaborate with. But amidst the ambition and the glitz of premieres, he holds tight to a simple piece of advice passed down from his Nana: “Question everything, stay curious, and always be open to knowledge.” For Evan Nikolas Fields, that curiosity is just getting started.
Yitzi: Evan, so good to meet you. Before we dive in deep, our readers would love to learn about your origin story. I know your character has a great origin story, but can you share with us the story of your childhood, how you grew up, and the seeds for all the amazing work that has come since then?
Evan: Nice to meet you as well. I was born and raised in Los Angeles and I live in the Valley, West Hills, Woodland Hills, Calabasas, Sherman Oaks, that region. I started out in theater, which happened on a whim. I was in middle school and, being a procrastinator, waited until the very last minute to pick my elective. I think I wanted to do art or horticulture, but those were already full because school started in two days. The only other option was a hybrid of choir and drama.
So I did that. Choir was cool; I learned how to sing from my diaphragm. Second semester was drama. I had a really cool drama teacher named Mr. Amigo, I still talk to him today. Through him, I learned improvisation, how to cold read, and how to man a stage and talk in front of an audience. I had an epiphany one day in middle school where I thought, “I feel like I could do this for a living.”
If you live in Los Angeles, there are not even eight degrees of separation from someone in the industry; it’s more like two. My mom’s hairdresser knew someone who had an agent. They came to a show, I got signed, and I’ve been an actor ever since.
Yitzi: You probably have some amazing stories from different parts of your career so far. Maybe this is hard to single out, but can you share with our readers one or two stories that most stand out in your mind from your acting career?
Evan: One story that really pops out involves the movie He’s All That. I didn’t know it, but my main scene was with Matthew Lillard. I’ve loved him ever since I was a kid. I was a huge Scooby-Doo fan. Waiting to do my scene, I was really nervous because I hadn’t seen him all day. Then I got a tap on my shoulder, looked back, and it was him. He asked, “You’re playing Jamal, right?” I said, “Yeah.” He said, “Oh wow, I’m playing the principal. Our scenes are together. Do you want to run lines?” I said, “Yes, I would love that.”
I ran lines with Matthew Lillard a couple of times. I basically had to tell him, “I just got to say I love Scooby-Doo. It’s incredible. I think you’re perfect for that.” He shared some cool stories from being on set with [Freddie Prinze Jr.], and it was really cool to see him in person. He’s also giant; he has to be 6’6″ or something. I was looking at him like he was a god. That is probably the main story that stands out to me.
Yitzi: It’s been said that sometimes our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Do you have a story about a funny mistake that you made when you were first starting and the lesson that you took away from that?
Evan: Definitely. A really good lesson, especially in theater where I started, and even in front of the camera, is that when it comes to improvisation, you’re never supposed to say no. You’re never supposed to deny someone’s idea within a scene. When I first started drama and we would do improv, if someone came up to me and said something on stage, I would always deny it because I was afraid I wouldn’t know what to say next or that it wasn’t within my ability.
My teacher, Mr. Amigo, basically said, “Nope, you never deny someone else’s creativity. If you deny someone’s creativity, you’re not letting them flourish or yourself flourish. Together you’re a team.” Never deny anyone’s creativity and always go with the flow. That’s the one takeaway I’ve learned from a mistake I made in the past. I never deny anyone’s creativity now. I will never say no; I will do what needs to be done to get the point across.
Yitzi: There’s also a saying that “No” is not rejection but redirection. Was there a story like that where you got a “No” and that led to an unexpected opportunity or discovery or success or blessing?
Evan: Definitely. As an actor, you hear a lot of “Nos.” You go on hundreds of auditions and hear hundreds of “Nos” and only a couple of “Yeses.” Those “Yeses” are definitely still wins. But the “Nos” can be a “Yes.” I’ve gotten roles from other parts I haven’t gotten. I would have a director session where obviously I wasn’t right for the part, but for some reason, they still had me in mind for something else. That’s actually how I got He’s All That. I auditioned for something else that a writer or director did, didn’t get the part, but he remembered me. I auditioned for this other part in He’s All That and got it. That’s how a lot of “Nos” lead to “Yeses” within this industry.
Yitzi: What’s been the most challenging project or role you’ve taken on so far and why?
Evan: The most challenging role would definitely be Flynn in The Wayfinders, just because I haven’t had a lot of time in my career with one character where you can really see his arc and his change. Trying to act that out, or doing a deep dive into the character to make sure that you portray that on screen, was definitely the most difficult for me.
Yitzi: Now that you mentioned it, let’s jump in. Tell us more about The Wayfinders. Tell us why, in your unbiased opinion, our readers have to watch it.
Evan: Let me start with why people have to watch it. Visually, it is stunning. It has little to no green or blue screen. Everything is shot on location. Even when I watched the trailer, it looked so aesthetically and visually pleasing. The attention to detail and the location scouts did the most fantastic job. I would say you have to watch it just because it is visually so beautiful. Plus, the storyline feels different from a lot of other fantasy shows because it’s split into what feels like two shows: the real world and the fantasy world, and how they collide. I think it’s definitely something that people could relate to.
Yitzi: From your vantage point, what message do you think society should take from the themes of the show?
Evan: That’s a great question. I just hope that society takes in these characters and maybe relates to them in ways through their personal life, if they’re having hardships or struggles, they can relate to these characters.
Yitzi: How would you compare and contrast your personal character, Evan Nikolas Fields, with the character Flynn that you play? How are you similar, how are you different?
Evan: When I first started playing him, we were similar in that we didn’t trust our abilities. Flynn has a chance to be a hero, but he’s conflicted because he’s never been put in that position before, so he’s scared. For myself, this is the very first time I’ve been a series regular on a TV show. At first, I didn’t trust my abilities in playing a character with this arc or taking on a role this big. I think there are similarities in that we both definitely overcame that over time.
Yitzi: Have you read the Narnia books?
Evan: I’ve read the Narnia books and watched the movies. I think they’re incredible. It’s Christmas time, so it’s definitely a good Christmas movie to put on.
Yitzi: How would you compare and contrast The Wayfinders with the Narnia universe?
Evan: They’re both similar in having a fantasy world and a real world. In Narnia, they go through the closet from their real world and enter this fantasy land that’s incredible and beautiful and has so much to offer, but also so much to take. Those are definitely the parallels. I don’t want to spoil The Wayfinders, so I’m not going to say how you get from one place to another, but those are the parallels. We have orcs and half-horse, half-people. I think both shows show off fantasy well.
Yitzi: This is our signature question, the centerpiece. You’ve been blessed with a lot of success now and you must have learned a lot from your experiences. Looking back to when you first started acting, can you share five things that you’ve learned over the years that would have been nice to know when you first started?
Evan: Okay.
- Number one: When I first started out, I learned not to take anything personally. Like I said before, you hear a lot of “Nos” in this industry. These people are looking for something so specific. It could have nothing to do with your acting abilities whatsoever; it could literally just be because they need someone with blonde hair. You can’t take it personally.
- Number two: Trust in your abilities. When I first came into the industry, I was definitely green and I took a step back, meaning I didn’t go in 100% on anything just because I was scared that I would do something wrong.
- Number three: There is glory in humility. Learn from your mistakes. Make as many mistakes as possible. Not huge ones, but “little fires” where someone can steer you in the right direction and you learn from that experience.
- Number four: Be more confident in networking. At the time I was green and fairly shy. People asked, “Why would you want to be an actor if you’re shy?” Honestly, I don’t know. I feel much different when I’m on stage or in front of a camera than off-camera. Networking doesn’t have to feel forced. You can have friendships with all these people and stay in contact with them. I definitely do that now more than before.
- Number five: I didn’t know that I would make lifelong friendships from the very beginning of my tenure as an actor. I’ve been on a good amount of sets, but with The Wayfinders, I know these people will be in my life forever, even though we live all around the world. Vince, who plays Cash, lives in North Carolina, and I talk to him all the time. Sam, Issy, and Tamara all live in the UK, but anytime they come out to LA, we hang out. It’s a friendship for a lifetime. It happens when you’re with someone for four months and see each other every day, but these are good people and I’m glad I’ll have them in my life forever.
Yitzi: How did you balance being in school and acting?
Evan: When I was in school, it was tough to balance because I was in drama as well. There were after-school rehearsals, and sometimes I would have auditions that would clash. When I was in the 10th grade, things started picking up. I actually left school and went to an independent study program where you would go to school twice a week and they would give you a packet to finish for the rest of the week. That way, I could be on set or go on auditions.
It was funny because I went from a prestigious high school where I was getting loads of work to this packet. My teacher would give me the packet and I’d ask, “Okay, so this is for one subject. Where are all the other subjects?” And he’d say, “This is everything. There’s no busy work over here.” I would finish the packet in one day and just sit there for the rest of the week with nothing to do. At the time I wondered if it was the right decision, but where I’m at now in my career, I definitely think it was.
Yitzi: This is our matchmaker question. We’re very blessed that prominent leaders in entertainment and business read this column. Is there a person in the US or in the world with whom you would like to have lunch or to collaborate? We could tag them in social media and maybe connect you.
Evan: That would be crazy. There are a lot of people. Can I give multiple answers? First, there is an actor from the UK named David Jonsson. I think he’s incredible. I saw him in Alien: Romulus and I was fascinated by him. I looked him up, saw he had more projects coming up, and decided I was definitely going to see them. He was in Alien: Romulus and then The Long Walk with Cooper Hoffman. I loved that movie. He has another movie coming out called Wasteman which I definitely want to watch. I think he’s super captivating and real on screen. He would definitely be number one.
Second, there is another younger actor named Fred Hechinger. I think he’s had a really cool career and seems like a cool guy to hang out with. He was in the first season of The White Lotus playing the younger brother in Sydney Sweeney’s family. He was also in The Woman in the Window on Netflix with Amy Adams. In Gladiator II, he played one of the brothers with Joseph Quinn. He is a great actor as well.
Yitzi: This is our final aspirational question. Evan, because of your amazing work and the platform that you built, you’re a person of great influence. If you could spread an idea or inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be?
Evan: My Nana always told me this, so I always try to pass it along: question everything, stay curious, and always be open to knowledge. I like to keep it simple. I feel like those are so important in life and don’t really need to be explained.
Yitzi: Evan, how can our readers continue to follow your work? How could they watch The Wayfinders? How could they support your work in any possible way?
Evan: The Wayfinders is available on the Angel Studios streaming platform. Three episodes are dropping next week. My only social media is Instagram at @evannikolasfields, so you can follow me there.
Yitzi: Evan, it was so good to meet you. I wish you continued success and good health and I hope we can do this again next year.
Evan: Let’s do it. I really do appreciate this. This is my second interview ever and I really appreciate the questions.
Evan Nikolas Fields on ‘The Wayfinders,’ Learning to Trust His Abilities, and Saying Yes to… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.