Mason Gooding wanted to show me his wardrobe (two white doors concealed what I imagined was an impressive collection of luxury knitwear), but it occurred to him: “It feels like a mess,” he laughs, sitting down in his chair. The actor happens to be a connoisseur of sweaters, more specifically turtlenecks, and his love for cozy design seems to know no bounds. Currently, he is obsessed with a chunky trainer version “looks like delicious sugar cereal” from the brand’s 2022 resort collection. “I need to be notified when it’s available because I want it more than I want to breathe,” he admits with a cheeky grin.
Kindness would flash and smile over and over during our 30-minute Zoom chat. That’s just one of the things that make the 25-year-old so endearing both on screen and off. (That, and the real excitement he has for his craft along with his enthusiasm for things like sweaters, superheroes, and manga collectibles.)
Despite having spent most of his life in and around Hollywood – his father, by the way, is Oscar-winning actor Cuba Gooding Jr. – he’s completely grounded and real in these moments. Since his breakout role in the critically acclaimed best friend comedy Smart bookGooding has somewhat become a romantic comedy, attracting audiences in a series of interesting projects such as Let it snow and Hulu hit Love, Victor. This month, however, we’ll see the rising star in an entirely different light as he takes on the horror genre in the beloved killer movie. Screaming.
