If there is one thing about Mason Gooding that you should know, it is that he is extremely likable. His humble disposition, witty sense of humor and natural confidence seems too good to be true. (Yet, they’re all facts.) And yes, you are instantly drawn to his cheeky grin and irresistible charm, but his presence can make anyone feel welcomed—both on- and off-screen.

Mason’s acting is a self reflection of himself: nothing short of authentic. The 25-year-old was first inspired to go the acting route by none other than his family. His father, actor Cuba Gooding Jr., has been in the entertainment industry since the late ‘80s, while his grandfather, Cuba Gooding Sr., was a part of the successful soul group, The Main Ingredient. It is no wonder why Mason’s talent seems so natural—it has always been a part of him. But other than his family’s influence, Mason first got the acting bug during his adolescence. Acting allowed him to “look into his psyche” as a child, and fall in love with storytelling. And when Mason began acting more, he became aware of the responsibilities that come with portraying real people and stories. In his opinion, despite popular belief, it is more than just having a natural drive for the art. The real hard work, and for some, challenge, that comes with the territory is having genuity—a quality he possesses so very easily.

“I feel like as actors,” says Mason. “It’s our job to exude empathy and understanding of others and other people that exist, either before us, around us, or with different lifestyles than us, with the most objective, and at times, loving and judgment-free sort of perspective. And again, if we achieve that, then it’s a job well done.”

When looking back at his first few projects, there is not one that Mason doesn’t look back on with admiration. From Everything’s Going To Be Okay to Let It Snow, Mason has been a part of highly acclaimed projects that have been an impressive part of his résumé. But one project that he’s exceptionally proud of, one that is actually his first feature film, is none other than Olivia Wilde’s comedy film Booksmart. In the movie, Mason plays the dreamy, bleached-blonde jock, Nick: a character who Molly, portrayed by Beanie Feldstein, undoubtedly falls for. (Remember that iconic dance number?) He describes his then-self as “fairly socially awkward,” which from an audience’s perspective, you can’t even tell. Playing a character so different from him, as well as working with a large assembly of people, taught him that creating good cinema requires working with like-minded people and stepping outside of your comfort. 

“[Booksmart] allowed and afforded me both as an artist, and as a person, the understanding that making art is not simply something you do for yourself, but something that you do for a great many,” he says. “Booksmart was sort of the first foray into what it means to be a part of a collaborative team that works to share their art with everybody.”

Another project that he owes much of his occupational and personal growth to is Love, Victor. Love, Victor is a Hulu television series inspired and set in the world of the film Love, Simon. The show follows the journey of Victor, played by Michael Cimino, as he struggles with his sexual orientation. In addition to a predominately POC cast, Love, Victor discusses real-world issues, including LGBTQ+ rights, race, feminism and other social matters, all in two very compelling seasons. These discussions will continue as the series heads for its third season. As Mason looks forward to filming with the cast and crew again, he credits each of them for making him a “better performer.”

Mason portrays basketball star Andrew in the show, who at first seems like a stereotypical jock, but eventually goes through major character development towards the end of season one. In similar ways, Mason has grown with the character. Being exposed to LGBTQ+ issues, learning about the community’s history and challenges has been an “enlightening” and “wonderful experience” for him—all thanks to the show’s content and viewers. 

“The fan base has procured me a desire to both do the legwork, and the due diligence, to understand the plights, the beautiful aspects, [and] the ever-changing aspects of the queer community that, to my own fault, before Love, Victor, I was not as privy to,” he says. “I couldn’t be any more grateful.”

Going into the New Year, Mason is most excited about showcasing his character, Chad, in the fifth adaptation of the horror movie franchise, Scream. Mason describes this new installation as a “welcome update” that expands off of the original. Returning Scream actors, such as David Arquette and Courteney Cox, will be reprising their roles for this installation. All of whom made the experience for him extremely “insightful” and “cathartic.” But unlike the previous movies, he argues that Ghostface is even more of a mystery than ever before, stating that every single detail and character “matter in the end.”

Acting in a horror/thriller film is a new endeavor for Mason, since he has worked with romance and comedy genres for most of his career. The decision to join the cast, and the legacy of Scream, was due to both the influence of directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, and the obvious: being a “huge fan” of the franchise. 

“When it sounded like there was room for me in the project,” says Mason. “My interest would be an understatement.”

When discussing the differences in preparation for Scream versus his previous projects, Mason notes that “comedy and horror are very similar in execution;” an advice he was given by Gillett. Along with the cast, this made the transition into horror easier. And in typical Mason-fashion, the level of care that went into his performance was based on timing, a bit of mystery and being present, while also not minding “a good cheap scare.” 

Outside of Love, Victor and Scream, 2022 will be filled with other exciting releases for Mason: Moonshot, I Want You Back and Pools, to name a few. But if you’re still anxious for what else he has in store (and finding out who Ghostface is), you’re just going to have to wait and see.