In our Q&A series POPSUGAR Crush, we get to know some of our favorite celebs’ more intimate details — from their first celebrity crush to their best love advice. This month, we’re crushing on “The Other Two,” “Scream,” and “She-Hulk” actor Josh Segarra.
Josh Segarra has had a big year. Last summer, he starred as Pug, a very sweet and kind lawyer, in Disney+’s “She-Hulk” alongside Tatiana Maslany. In March, he entered the “Scream” franchise as a new love interest for Sam (Melissa Barrera). And this May, he returned to Max’s “The Other Two” for season three as Lance, the shoe designer-turned-nurse with a heart of gold.
In this week’s episode of “The Other Two,” released June 22, Lance’s ex Brooke (Heléne Yorke) discovers that he’s been named People’s Sexiest Man Alive — and she absolutely loses her mind. Segarra’s own reaction was more subdued. “I texted my mom and my sister,” he tells POPSUGAR; they were People magazine subscribers while he was growing up, so he knew they’d get “a kick out of it.” “A lot of giggles, a lot of laughing through tears emojis,” he says.
“It’s a very big fake honor,” he says with a laugh. “I’ll take it. I’ll play the part as much as they need me to.”
And while things for Lance and Brooke (who started the season engaged) may seem dire with just one episode remaining, Segarra says, “There’s always hope. . . . They’re always going to be connected.” Lance especially is bonded to Brooke’s whole family, too, and would do anything for them. “That’s his Brookie monster,” he adds.
“He always looks at things as glass half full,” Segarra explains of Lance. “And that is a very, very fun character to play.” And it is a type that Segarra has been playing a lot recently: the lovable, gregarious himbo who’s both supportive and kind. Pug on “She-Hulk” falls into this category; Segarra tells POPSUGAR that Pug sees himself as a “a mini hero everyday” who uses his law skills to help actual superheroes. And his “Scream 6” character, the very sweet and supportive Danny Brackett, is a card-carrying member of the himbo club, as well.
Does Segarra feel weird getting typecast as these lovable, wide-eyed hotties? “It’s a fun world to live in, so I appreciate that,” he says, calling the roles “gifts.” “To get to go to work and get to live in these characters, the world is a little bit brighter. They’re very compassionate characters, very loyal characters, very clear in their actions. I take it as an honor.”
It was also an “honor” for Segarra to become part of the franchise’s legacy with “Scream 6.” “I remember vividly watching the first ‘Scream,'” Segarra says about what it meant to join the storied franchise. “I remember exactly where I was. I remember the buddies I was with. And I have certain scenes from one stuck in my head.” He’s also the “biggest fan” of David Arquette (who starred in the first five “Scream” films), and loves Courteney Cox.
But, as a love interest of the main character, heading into “Scream 6” it seemed like a real possibility that Segarra’s Danny would be either murderer or a murderee. And Segarra thought that too. “When we started that audition process, they didn’t give us that third act of the script,” he explains. “I thought I was gonna be a killer because it reads that way. And then for my callback I had to do the confession monologue from ‘Scream 5.’ ” It was only once he got cast that he found out he wasn’t the murderer — and that he wasn’t on the chopping block, either.
“I was very happy to not die,” he says, and he’s very excited about the chance to return in another sequel. “He loves Sam,” he says of Danny. “He sticks up for [Sam]. He’s loyal. He gives her space when she needs it. He understands what she’s been through.”
“I am somebody that wears my heart on my sleeve.”
Part of the reason why it’s so easy for Segarra to step into these characters’ vulnerable, loving shoes is because of the example his own parents set for him growing up. “My dad and my mom are very, very supportive parents,” he says. They said, “I love you,” often, and Segarra frequently thinks about the example they set when it comes to raising his own kids (he shares three sons with wife Brace Rice). “I want them to always feel like they can talk to me, and that it’s okay to cry,” he explains. “I am somebody that wears my heart on my sleeve.”
His kids, he says, love seeing him when he pops up on screen, though it is a little confusing for them sometimes. His oldest son, who’s 6, is confused by what’s live and what’s not when watching TV. If it’s sports, Segarra will answer yes. “She-Hulk” was more troubling; his son wasn’t sure if She-Hulk was real. “That’s Dada’s friend Tatiana, and she is an actor like Dada and is putting on a costume,” he remembers telling him. “He’s like, ‘Okay,’ and I kind of just see the wheels turning.”
“And then we’ll read like a Ninja Turtle book before bed, And he’s like, ‘Are the Ninja Turtles real?’ And I’m like, ‘You know what? They are real bro. They live in the sewers. And they protect us here in New York.'” Segarra adds, “He’s an actor’s kid. He’s got to have a big imagination.”
Keep reading for more revelations from Segarra, including how he proposed to his wife.
Who was your first celebrity crush?
Topanga on Boy Meets World or Kelly Kapowski.
When you were single, what was your favorite pickup line?
I met my wife at a bar at a buddy’s birthday party. He introduces us, and she’s like, “Yeah, nice to meet you.” The way she tells the story is, “I could tell you were an actor. I was not going to be talking to you. I’ve dated you 32 times before, okay?” Fair enough. But I was waiting to talk to her and she was talking to a bunch of other people. Then I see her grabbing her bag to leave and I walk up to her and I was like, “Yo, where are you going?” She’s like, “Oh I have to get up early tomorrow, I have to work.” And I was like, “But we didn’t even get to talk tonight. What if we’re supposed to get married one day and we just completely miss this opportunity?”
She still says, “I know you said that to other people.” I honestly don’t think I ever said that to another girl. But I cannot confirm nor deny that.
What’s your favorite flirtatious emoji?
I like the one with the fake mustache and glasses, like you’re hiding incognito. And honestly, I’m always sending some hearts and a nice little kissy face.
What’s your favorite form of self-care?
I like to sweat first and foremost whether it be hot yoga, pilates, or just gym time. But the second part of it is just hanging out with my family. I like picking the boys up from school. I love taking them to school. I love doing bedtime reading a story or making up a story. I love singing to them before bed. They love Rufus Wainwright’s cover of “Hallelujah” because of “Shrek.”
What’s your coffee order?
Café Bustelo, I’ve been drinking it my whole life. I have vivid memories of my abuela Blanca, my grandma, putting seven spoons of sugar in her coffee. That’s why I like it sweet and light.
Are you a dog or cat person?
We have a little pup named Susie. She’s 10 years old. She’s the first dog I’ve ever had, and my wife and I got her when we moved in together.
What’s your ideal date night with your wife?
We love “Top Chef,” so one of our favorite things to do is Google what “Top Chef” contestant has a restaurant in whatever city we’re in. For dessert we’ll get maybe some Magnolia banana pudding, maybe a Levain cookie, maybe some Cold Stone Ice Cream, and then go see a show or movie.
“The best relationships and the best friendships are conversations.”
What’s the best love advice you’ve ever gotten?
The best relationships and the best friendships are conversations. You have to be able to have conversations with your partner. If you can’t talk to your partner, who can you talk to?
A friend of mine said to me a couple years ago, if you’re fighting, just remind yourself in the middle of the fight, “I know we’re mad at each other right now. But me and you are on the same team.” And all of a sudden that shifts the entire framing of the conversation
What’s your favorite thing to cook?
It’s chicken parm. I grew up going to the Olive Garden. It’s still my favorite restaurant to this day. You can’t beat that breadstick and salad combo. It’s either chicken parm at Olive Garden or fettuccine alfredo with grilled chicken, but my favorite thing to make is chicken parm.
What’s your favorite gift you’ve ever received?
I’m a sucker for wrestling action figures, just like, like a vintage Hasbro WWF action figure. That’s the jam.
What’s the most romantic thing you’ve ever done or that somebody has done for you?
I’m pretty proud of my proposal story to my wife Brace and I think she would agree. My friend Tracy told me to make sure that her nails are done, because she’s gonna take pictures with the ring. So I got a gift certificate to the nail salon and gave it to my friend Heather and said, “Tell Brace that your mom got you this and you need to use it.” Then my buddy Patrick worked at Tao Group in New York, so he got us a night at Beauty & Essex. I texted about 40 of our friends to meet us there that night if they could come and to not respond to the text. Every single person that I texted was there at the restaurant that night waiting for us.
We had dinner that night at a restaurant that she loved on the Upper East Side, and I wanted to propose to her a Belvedere Castle, where we had our first real kiss. So I had my friend Patrick lie and say we needed to meet him on the Upper West Side so we had an excuse to walk through the park. We walked through Central Park. I proposed to her at the castle. She was completely taken by surprise. Her nails were done. She was dressed up because she thought we were going to this party after, turns out the party is for us. So it was a lot of moving parts, but I’m really proud of it. It was a very, very good night and we’ll remember it forever.
“The Other Two” season three finale airs June 29 on Max.