Photo: Justin Patterson
Heléne Yorkeis no stranger to the self-doubt that comes with being an actress.
The Other Twostar, 36, opens up to PEOPLE about season 2 of the hit HBO Max comedy series, premiering Thursday, and the show’s “universally relatable” theme of comparing yourself to others in the social media age. “I’ve actually grown this massive appreciation and fangirl-ness over Gen Z as a whole,” says Yorke.
“There’s an irreverence and a sense of humor, and it’s like, we birthed social media, but they’re schooling us on how it actually works,” she adds. “I’m excited about the aesthetic and generally how they’re able to connect.”
“And I definitely learned that throughCase Walker, who I think is just a stand-up young man,” Yorke says of her young costar, also giving a shout-out toJessica Wang,TansyandThe Other Twoguest starJimmy Fowlieas some of her social media obsessions.
She and Drew Tarver star as Brooke and Cary Dubek, the older siblings of teenage social media superstar ChaseDreams (Walker). As a former dancer and a struggling actor, respectively, they’re forced to grapple with their little brother’s sudden fame, while finding their own place in the entertainment industry. Season 2 sees their mother Pat Dubek (Molly Shannon) enjoying the limelight as well, after landing her own talk show.
Greg Endries/HBO max
Yorke admits she’s faced that sense of insecurity in her own creative journey, having started her career on Broadway, where she often compared herself to others in the industry.
“I think it’s impossible not to,” she says.
“I graduated college when all of the blonde girls in my immediate vicinity wereMegan HiltyandAnnaleigh Ashford, these really talented blonde musical theater girls that it’s hard to not compare yourself,” Yorke adds. “But what I’ve learned from the course of my career is that we’re all one of one and if you’re trying to basically do an impression of somebody else, you’re going to suck at it because nobody’s going to be better at being themselves than they are.”
The Other Twohas gained a passionate following since it premiered in 2019, particularly among LGBTQ audiences, thanks to co-creators (andSaturday Night Livewriters room alums) Chris Kelly and Sarah Schneider.
The Other Two.
Yorke confirms that season 2 is even more queer, noting that the popular gay dating app Grindr is “ultimately a side character.”
RELATED VIDEO: ‘The Other Two’ Star Case Walker On If He’s Anything Like His Character ‘ChaseDreams’
Filled with pop culture references, the show has also gained some celebrity viewers. After season 1 made a running joke of having the Dubeks subletJustin Theroux’s apartment, Yorke had a chance to meet theMosquito Coaststar.
“I met Justin when I went toThe Colbert Showwith Ken Marino. He was on it and he was doing a whole bit with Justin,” she recounts. “I walked into the dressing room and [Justin] like, opened his arms immediately, gave me a big hug. He loved the show. He thought it was so funny. … I think we poke everybody with love, I hope that they know that.”
The first two episodes ofThe Other Two’s season 2 drop Thursday on HBO Max.
source: people.com
