“So I tell my teacher, “I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to do. I’m actually crying. What do I do?” And she was of course upset that I stopped in the middle of the scene, but she was definitely understanding that it was my first time and something weird is happening. And she told me that I had a breakthrough. And I remember thinking, in that moment, like slowing down, looking around at all the other students, and they’re like on the edge of their seat and like they’re all completely silent and they were all experiencing it with me, and it was just an incredible feeling. And I think it’s that feeling I just love so much and I’ve been wanting to chase ever since.”
I had the pleasure of talking with Gavin Goudey, whose first acting class went spectacularly off script. He was 13, sitting across from another student, performing a scene in which a boy describes a nightmare about his mother’s death. Goudey had experienced a similar nightmare in elementary school. As he began telling the story, something unexpected happened. He started sobbing. Frightened by his own reaction, he stopped the scene and turned to his teacher. “I’m actually crying. What do I do?” he asked. He had come to learn how to act. He hadn’t expected acting to reach so deeply into his own life.
His teacher called it a breakthrough. The other students had fallen silent, watching from the edges of their seats. Goudey remembers the extraordinary feeling of having an entire room experience something with him. What began as a moment of panic became the discovery that would shape his future. He wanted to experience that connection again.
His childhood had prepared him for a life of change, although not necessarily the Hollywood variety. Growing up throughout Southern California, Goudey moved frequently as his father, a contractor, purchased houses that needed extensive repairs. The family would renovate them together, then move on to the next project. His parents had him and his older sister when they were young, and raising the children became a collective undertaking involving grandparents, aunts, and uncles. Goudey speaks about that upbringing with considerable affection. He was at his grandmother’s house during our conversation, a reminder that the family network that helped raise him remains central to his life.
Acting, meanwhile, was already part of the family history. His grandfather had worked as an actor after immigrating to the United States, while his mother and her siblings had performed as children. Their stories fascinated him enough to ask his mother for acting lessons. But knowing people who had performed was different from building a career of his own. For years, being an actor meant studying, auditioning, and continuing to work without much visible evidence that the industry was paying attention.
One of his earliest teachers gave him a philosophy that helped make sense of those years: “An actor acts.” Goudey remembers the awkwardness of telling people he was an actor and immediately being asked what he had appeared in. The implication was that the work didn’t count until someone else recognized it. His teacher’s advice offered another definition. Taking classes, rehearsing, and practicing the craft were enough to make him an actor, regardless of whether he had booked a role.
His first commercial booking came in 2023. National advertising campaigns, student films, and theater work followed. Then came James Gray’s Paper Tiger, a substantial leap from the smaller productions he knew. Suddenly Goudey was working alongside Scarlett Johansson, Miles Teller, and Adam Driver, established performers whose careers he had admired from a distance. He describes the transition as jumping into “the deep end,” learning to operate on a major film set while surrounded by people with decades of experience.
What he remembers most vividly, however, is the generosity of that environment. Gray jokingly described the production as “a nauseatingly happy set.” Goudey learned by observing the actors around him, absorbing lessons that years of classroom training could not entirely replicate. Despite the scale of the production, he found a surprisingly personal connection to the material.
In Paper Tiger, Goudey plays Scott, a young man whose family relationships are tested by circumstances beyond his control. Before filming, Gray discussed blurring “the line between Scott and Gavin,” encouraging the young actor to bring elements of his own experience into the character. Goudey recognized the pressures of adolescence, particularly questions about college, the future, and the gradual movement toward independence. The character’s complicated relationship with his family resonated with someone who had grown up surrounded by relatives who helped shape his identity.
Gray also offered him a deceptively simple acting lesson: “The camera’s got you. All you have to do is think.” For someone whose first experience of acting involved an uncontrollable eruption of emotion, the instruction represented another way of understanding the craft. He was learning that a camera could capture something powerful without an actor having to demonstrate every feeling.
Following its premiere at Cannes, Paper Tiger opened the New York Film Festival in September 2026. Goudey found himself standing before a packed theater as Gray introduced the cast. When he initially booked the role, he had been concerned primarily with doing justice to the screenplay. He had barely considered where the film might take him. “How did I get here? This is insane,” he remembers thinking. Even now, he seems reluctant to treat the occasion as proof that he has arrived. “I’m just getting started,” he insists.
Away from the cameras, Goudey’s habits are refreshingly ordinary. He enjoys an elaborate skincare routine, finds comfort in walking outdoors, and values the mental clarity of fresh air and running water. He also believes that actors must resist allowing their work to consume every part of their lives. Experiences beyond rehearsals and auditions, he argues, are what eventually give performances their substance.
There is something revealing about the distance between the frightened 13-year-old who interrupted his first scene and the young actor now finding his footing alongside some of Hollywood’s most recognizable names. Goudey has already experienced a professional opportunity that many performers spend years pursuing, yet he remains preoccupied with how much he still has to learn. The boy who once wondered what to do with an unexpected emotion is discovering how to bring those feelings to the screen, and how much of himself he is willing to reveal along the way.
Yitzi Weiner: Gavin, it’s so nice to meet you. Before we dive in deep and talk about your great work, our readers would love to learn about Gavin’s personal origin story. Can you share the story of your childhood, how you grew up, and the seeds of all the amazing creativity that’s come since then?
Gavin Goudey: Yeah. I mean, I grew up all around Southern California. My parents had me and my sister when they were very young. So it’s been really interesting growing up, because my mom was my age now when she had me, and my sister’s two years older than me. So, growing up and kind of becoming closer to that age, it puts into perspective what that must have been like, because I couldn’t imagine having two kids right now. That’s insane.
So it’s just given me a lot more appreciation for them and what they went through, because they made it work and I’m very, very grateful for them. My dad is a contractor and we would buy the biggest fixer-upper on the block, the one that needed the most love, and we would just renovate it ourselves and we’d move on to the next. And we did that for years. And we’re finally now settling down, which is nice.
But yeah, with my parents being young, it kind of took a village, which I love. Like at my grandma’s house, I’m at my grandma’s house right now. My grandparents helped raise me and all my aunts and uncles helped raise me. So it’s just been, I’m very proud to be a member of my family because I love them all so much.
Yitzi Weiner: That’s great. Amazing. So tell us the next chapter. Tell us how you entered the entertainment industry.
Gavin Goudey: Yeah, I mean from a young age I was always really interested in acting. When my grandpa moved to the States, he worked as an actor, and my mom did too when she was a kid and all of her siblings. Growing up, I would always hear stories about it and just be very, very intrigued. So when I was 13, I wanted to act on that. So I asked my mom if I could take an acting class and she found a studio close by, and it was from that first class. I remember it very, very vividly where I fell in love.
I just knew that this is what I need to do for the rest of my life. I need to keep doing this. I need to keep learning more. The story I remember very vividly: I had gotten assigned a scene about a best friend telling his best friend about a nightmare he had where his mom had died. And I had had a nightmare where my mom died when I was like in the fourth grade. I remember that very vividly as well.
So when we were in those two chairs in the middle of the room, and I got to explaining the nightmare, describing it, I just completely bawled my eyes out. And I was so caught off guard by that too, because I wasn’t expecting that to happen, because going into this I had no idea what acting really was. So I didn’t know that was kind of the goal, right? So I stopped in the middle of it because I’m bawling my eyes out and I’m kind of scared, like, what the heck’s happening?
So I tell my teacher, “I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to do. I’m actually crying. What do I do?” And she was of course upset that I stopped in the middle of the scene, but she was definitely understanding that it was my first time and something weird is happening. And she told me that I had a breakthrough. And I remember thinking, in that moment, like slowing down, looking around at all the other students, and they’re like on the edge of their seat and like they’re all completely silent and they were all experiencing it with me, and it was just an incredible feeling. And I think it’s that feeling I just love so much and I’ve been wanting to chase ever since.
Yitzi Weiner: That’s amazing. So you probably have some amazing stories from your career and I’m sure this is difficult to single out. Can you share with our readers two stories that stand out in your mind from your professional career?
Gavin Goudey: Yeah. I mean, this is like the very early steps of my career and it’s been insane the steps I’ve taken so far. Really has. But I think the actual act of filming Paper Tiger was just beyond incredible to me. It was a dream. It was really perfect. James called it a nauseatingly happy set and it was exactly that. I learned a tremendous amount from each person on that set. They’re giants in their craft. And it’s still kind of hard to believe that I was there, but so incredibly grateful for all of it.
And I think, another story is when I went to the New York Film Festival because, when I first booked this, I did not look that far in the future to see where this would be going. I was really just worried about getting my job done and doing the script justice and the story justice. So that was just an incredibly lovely surprise and it was such an amazing experience. We were the opening night selection for the New York Film Festival and it was so surreal. James introduced me and the cast on stage and it’s a huge theater. It’s just completely packed. And it was just an incredible moment of like, how did I get here? This is insane. And it’s just been, the gift that keeps on giving. I’m just so deeply grateful and so excited to see what’s next.
Yitzi Weiner: Amazing. There’s a saying 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 in entertainment and the lesson that you took away from it?
Gavin Goudey: Oh my gosh. I mean, it’s kind of difficult to point to one. I mean, I’ve made so many mistakes and that’s a good thing because you do learn a lot from your mistakes. But I think it’s just like, you know, I recently watched one of my very, very first auditions and I immediately had to turn it off because oh my god, it was definitely something.
And I think looking at myself now and seeing like the progress that I’ve made since, it’s just been really cool because each mistake you make leads you to it like it’s like a pinball machine. Like you bounce off of it and you learn from it and you keep going. I feel like I keep every mistake I have with me, because it’s important to remember that and to not want to make those mistakes again. But I think it’s, there’s just so many. I don’t know if I can point one out specifically.
Yitzi Weiner: There’s a related idea that no is not rejection, but redirection. Do you have a story like that where you got a no to an opportunity, but that led to an even better opportunity?
Gavin Goudey: Yeah. Like pretty much almost every self-tape that is put out into this what feels like an abyss because you work so hard on doing your tape. You put so much into your audition and then all the lighting and whatnot, cameras. It’s a lot of work that goes into it, and then you send it out there and a lot of the times you don’t hear anything back, and that can be really difficult because it does feel like rejection.
But I think you have to take each one of those as fuel to keep going, and like you said earlier, each one of those moments leads to what you’re sort of meant for. So I think everything that I’ve done, you know, every tape, every rejection, every no has led me to where I am now. And it’s just really cool. Yeah.
Yitzi Weiner: That’s great. What’s been the most challenging project or role you’ve taken on so far and why?
Gavin Goudey: Yeah, I mean I think it’s obviously Paper Tiger. Like I said earlier, I’m in the very early steps of my career and that’s my first film. So it was very difficult to kind of jump in the deep end on a set of that caliber with these giants in their craft and in their field, and to learn to keep my head above water and to operate on that level.
Because before Paper Tiger, I’d done a handful of commercials, I did a few student films, and that’s obviously very different from a set of this magnitude. So it was incredibly challenging, but also so incredibly fulfilling. Like I said earlier, I learned a tremendous amount from each one of these people on set and I just couldn’t be more grateful.
Yitzi Weiner: That’s great. So let’s talk about Paper Tiger. Tell us why, in your unbiased opinion, why our readers have to watch it.
Gavin Goudey: It’s just an instant classic. It really is a really special story and I don’t think there are stories being told like this anymore, or not as often, I should say, because Scarlett described it as a big story inside of a small story. And I thought that was beautiful because it’s like this almost epic tragedy, but also a really intimate personal story about love ultimately, and kind of impossible choices and family bonds.
Gavin Goudey: It’s just an instant classic. It really is a really special story and I don’t think there are stories being told like this anymore, or not as often, I should say, because you know, Scarlett described it as a big story inside of a small story. And I thought that was beautiful because it’s like this almost epic tragedy, but also a really intimate personal story about love ultimately, and kind of impossible choices and family bonds.
And it’s like I’m having a difficult time explaining it because it’s just so incredible. I’ve seen it two times now and each time it just hit me more, and it’s something I think a lot of people will really love. And do yourself the favor and go see it for yourself and form your own opinions on it. It’s really something special.
Yitzi Weiner: How do you compare and contrast your personal character, Gavin, with the character you play in Paper Tiger? How are you similar and how are you different?
Gavin Goudey: Yeah, I think there’s a few things that stand out, but I do think we’re kind of similar on a lot of levels. Before we started filming, I had a meeting with James, Miles, and Roman, who played my brother. And James said he wanted to blur the line between Scott and Gavin. And I thought that was really, really interesting because this is also a story that’s very personal to James.
It was supposed to be a sequel to Armageddon Time, which is a very autobiographical story for James. It became its own thing, but still obviously drawing from experiences from his life. So, I would be playing like James’ older brother. And I think James didn’t want to have a recreation of his family. I think he wanted to avoid that. He wanted to make something, you know, really authentic.
And I think the way to do that is, especially for a young actor, and he’s aware that this is my first time on a set of that caliber. So, I think he has a very good understanding of how each actor operates, because each actor operates very differently and he has an incredible understanding of that. And I think he wanted to kind of help me out by blurring the lines between these two people to make them that much more authentic. So I think we do share a lot of the same qualities, like we’re around the same age, those pressures from parents about college and school and future and that sort of drifting away a bit, but something intense happens and it brings you together ultimately because of it. I think there’s more similarities than there are differences.
Yitzi Weiner: That’s great. What do you hope society can take from the motifs and themes of Paper Tiger?
Gavin Goudey: I like that question. I think they can just take the idea that at the end of the day, love is really what is most important. I think this film is about love and the strength of those family bonds, because in this film this family is put through so many tests and each relationship has its own unique reaction to what’s happening. But in the end, they are stronger because of it, what they go through. And I think that’s really, really special.
It kind of puts these characters, or at least my character specifically, it gives him, you know, the perspective and context and the realization of what’s really, really important to him, and that’s his family and that’s how much he loves his family. And I think that’s just a really lovely and beautiful message that everyone can definitely learn from.
Yitzi Weiner: Amazing. So, this is our signature question. Gavin, you’ve been blessed with a lot of success now and you must have learned a lot from your experiences. Can you share five things that you’ve learned since you started? Five things you’ve learned that someone starting out today can really benefit from.
Gavin Goudey: Yeah. I think one of the first things that my very early teachers instilled into me was that an actor acts. And I mean like, growing up, first starting to train as an actor, there’s always those worries of, you’re telling people that you’re an actor and they say, “Oh, what have you been in?” And you haven’t necessarily been in anything. So they’re like, “Oh, you’re not an actor. What do you mean?” But that’s just not the case. That’s completely wrong. And if you’re going to classes, if you’re actually doing the thing, you’re an actor. Like a painter paints. Whatever you do on the side for money or to live or school, that’s just what you’re doing on the side, right? An actor acts. So if you’re acting, you’re an actor. And I think that was, for me, very liberating. So that’s the first thing.
And then number two is to just trust yourself and your own instincts. I think working on Paper Tiger really instilled in me the importance and power of your instincts and also your thoughts, because James had told me, this is one of the many things he taught me, he said that “the camera’s got you. All you have to do is think.” He really instilled in me the power that the camera has in capturing your thoughts. So all you have to do is think. And it’s really simple, but it’s really powerful, and I’ll take that with me, throughout the rest of my career.
And the third, I’d say don’t take rejection personally. I mean, there’s like a million reasons that you might not book something, and so many of them have nothing to do with your actual ability. And yeah, I think like that pinball analogy, I think it’s like you keep, you know, bouncing off of each no and using it to get you to your next thing. And I think at that point, it’s only a matter of time, because that’s what I tell myself is it’s only a matter of time. Because if you put your all into what you’re doing, you’re really passionate about it, you nurture that passion, it only becomes a matter of time after that.
And I would say the fourth would be to never stop learning. There’s something to learn from absolutely everywhere. And, one of the greatest gifts from working on Paper Tiger was getting to observe artists who I’ve spent years admiring, getting to witness them hone their craft, and actually do the work in front of you. And, the more I learn, the more I realize just how much there is left to discover. So, I hope I never lose that curiosity. That’s really important.
And that leads into my fifth, which is to not forget to live your life, because I think that’s especially important as actors, because our work ultimately comes from the human experience and it’s about the human experience. So, you can spend every waking moment studying your craft, but you also have to get out there and just live life, because, the more you can put in your toolbox and draw from is just the more you can use for your work. And it’s incredibly important and powerful when you have that. So, yeah.
Yitzi Weiner: Amazing, amazing answer. Can you share some of the self-care routines that you do to help your body, mind, and heart to thrive?
Gavin Goudey: Yeah. I have a pretty extensive skincare routine. I love skincare, like cleansers, toners, essence, serums, moisturizer, all of it. I love skincare and I love doing the act of doing it. It’s very relaxing, and I think anything you can do to kind of make yourself all the more confident is go for it. Really go for it. And if it makes you just relax, go for it.
And for my mind, I would say just to get out in nature. I’m a really big believer in the power of, the power that nature has. It’s very therapeutic. And to just go on walks. The power of walking and thinking at the same time is really invaluable to human beings. Fresh air, sunlight, and like to hear running water, it’s really good for your brain. So to just be in touch with nature as much as I can, it’s really important to me.
Yitzi Weiner: Amazing, amazing answer. This is what we call our matchmaker question, and sometimes it works. We’re very blessed that prominent leaders in entertainment read this column and maybe we could connect you. Is there a person in the world or in the US with whom you would like to have a power lunch with, or to collaborate with, or to have a coffee with? Because we could tag them on social media and maybe we could connect you.
Gavin Goudey: That would be incredible. I think the first person that comes to mind is Paul Thomas Anderson. I just am a huge fan of everything he does. I think his filmography is just beyond incredible. I think each one of his films is just, for me, it holds a really special place in my heart. And like Phantom Thread is one of my favorite films ever, The Master. I just think he’s just an incredible storyteller, and I would love to have just a simple conversation with him about it. That would be a dream.
Yitzi Weiner: We’ll try our best to get his attention, and even if he doesn’t respond, it’ll be out there permanently on the internet and it’ll slowly percolate one day.
Gavin Goudey: I love that.
Yitzi Weiner: Well, Gavin, how can our readers watch Paper Tiger? How can our readers watch any of your work? How can they support you and your work in any possible way?
Gavin Goudey: Yeah. I mean, go watch Paper Tiger in theaters, select theaters November 13th, nationwide on the 25th. And yeah, go see that thing. Really, you’re not going to regret it.
Yitzi Weiner: Well, Gavin, it’s been a joy to meet you. Congratulations on all your great work. You’re a rising star and I’m sure we’ll be seeing a lot more of you.
Gavin Goudey: It’s been an absolute pleasure.
Gavin Goudey’s Emotional Breakthrough: From First Acting Class Tears to ‘Paper Tiger’ Star was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.