To prepare for his role on “Overcompensating,” Benito Skinner needed to get stiff. His character on the college-set sitcom he created for Prime Video is modeled on his 18-year-old self: a closeted golden boy from the American heartland who’s desperate to keep it that way.
“I knew that I was going to have to tap back into this portion of myself that I had shame about and that I would cringe at,” Skinner says. “Which is funny, because I used to cringe at myself as a kid for being so obviously gay.”
He portrays Benny, a college freshman in the throes of an identity crisis as he navigates an obstacle course of boys (the bro kind), booze, and more boys (the cute kind). As the creator, executive producer, and star of the series, Skinner had plenty of work to do without also holding a seance to channel the spirit of his teenage self. Today, however, the 31-year-old is anything but closed off—as the 1.4 million TikTokkers who follow his pop culture–savvy, wig-centric videos can testify.
To get into the mindset of a character Skinner describes as “so much about restraint,” he watched old footage of himself and worked with acting coach Nancy Banks to recapture the low, almost monotone voice he used at the time—the kind that signals to the world: “Why yes, of course I’m very straight.” He also stuck to an intense gym regimen to rebuild the muscles he had when he was a wide receiver on his high school football team in Boise, Idaho.
Over the course of the first season, Benny becomes more self-actualized thanks to his budding connection with his classmate Carmen (Wally Baram). Only around her does his real self begin to emerge. Skinner says he loved the more authentic mannerisms his scenes with Baram brought out. “It became fun for me, which maybe healed something within me. I’m sure I’ll find out in 10 years.”
Here, he tells Backstage about the importance of specificity and why actors should always fight for the part they want. “Overcompensating” premieres May 15 on Prime Video.
On the pilot, a young Benny experiences a sexual awakening when he watches Brendan Fraser in “George of the Jungle.” It’s one of many hyperspecific details in the show relating to queer pop culture. How did you decide what references to include?
I learned early in my career that hyperspecific is always the way to go, whether it be in sketch or standup. That’s where I would get the laugh. We’ve seen so many queer stories onscreen, but I haven’t seen [a reference to] “George of the Jungle.” That was my “big bang” moment—so that’s what I wanted to happen in this story, because it’s part of my story.
At the time, it all felt so serious; the stakes felt so high. Hopefully when people watch “Overcompensating,” they can point things out and be like, “Oh, my God, I’m back [in that time in my life] again. I feel it, and now I can laugh at it.”
Was it fun to play with the physicality you used as a defense mechanism when you were Benny’s age?
Exactly. I could laugh at it. Some of the most fun moments in the show were when I got to be in scenes with Adam DiMarco [who plays popular older student Peter]. I would break when we were filming those scenes, because I was like, Oh, my God, I can’t believe I used to do this and sound like this; I am a flaming homosexual.
What performance do you think every actor should see?
Robin Williams in “Good Will Hunting” is shocking. He can do everything; he can do emotional, he can do funny, he can do big and physical. All of his performances should be studied.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
You have to just do it, and do it so much. Take opportunities—unless they feel sketchy, obviously; nothing will ever just fall into your lap. It’s such a scrappy, scrappy industry. I promise you, if you think you’re the only one who wants something? There are so many people who audition for all these shows.
It sparks energy in me as an actor to be like, No—I have to fight for these roles. You have to love it, and you have to want it. It is such a fight, but I know you have it in you. You’re gonna do it. Let’s go. Oh, wait. I was just kind of talking to everyone reading this. To younger me, I’d be like, “You’re gay.”
This interview has been edited for clarity and length.