In the new, well-received Peacock horror/comedy hybrid Hysteria!, 21-year-old actor Emjay Anthony steps into the spotlight with the leading role of Dylan Campbell – a soft-spoken, often overlooked teen musician on the cusp of adulthood, caught in the throes of the "Satanic Panic" of the late 1980s.

When Dylan sees an opportunity to finally earn attention through a false claim of satanic devotion, he seizes the moment regardless of any associated risks. And there are plenty of risks, from religious cults to generational differences, or even the devil himself.

Reflecting on what initially attracted him to the character, Anthony notes that music was ultimately the driving force. The actor then shares, “I related to him a lot because I too am a huge fan of rock and roll, and that generation is known as the best in history for rock music!” This personal connection is evident in his performance, as Anthony seamlessly transforms from a heavy metal-loving guitarist in social obscurity to someone overwhelmed by the attention he gains from creating a facade.

While Anthony’s performance helps the actor shine in this particular role, he’s dually supported by several industry heavy-hitters like Bruce Campbell, Julie Bowen, and Anna Camp; as the story unfolds, these seasoned actors help elevate the narrative, providing a strong foundation for the series. And the combination of their experience with Anthony's refreshing performance brings a unique dynamism to the show. Still, it’s Dylan’s universal story, cloaked in supernatural and comedic elements, that resonates on multiple levels.

Describing Dylan’s journey in Hysteria!, Anthony explains, “Dylan starts off the season as an unpopular, desperate aspiring rock star who no one really pays attention to, or even knows exists, other than his two best friends. But when a much more popular classmate of his goes missing, [he] seizes the opportunity to capitalize off the town’s sudden interest in the occult, by pretending to be someone he’s not, in order to gain traction with his band and the affections of the local high school mean girl. Of course, Dylan makes many mistakes along the way, but by the end of the season, after all the smoke has cleared, he finally comes to terms with who he really is – without having to pretend for anyone anymore.”

This overarching journey is one of both fear and growth, making Dylan a multifaceted character with a compelling perspective that excels on every level. Discussing what makes Dylan so relatable to audiences, Anthony explains, “Although I don’t believe many people would start a cult to impress a girl… I do think that being young, dumb, and in love is something we can all relate to. Dylan starts the season feeling like a total loser, so it’s no wonder that he places his entire self-worth in the hands of a girl when she’s the first one to make him feel special. But by the time it’s too late and his entire town is impacted, Dylan discovers that maybe it’s not worth losing everyone he truly loves, just to be perceived as popular and ‘cool’ by all the wrong people.”

Highlighting Dylan’s best and worst qualities by the time the season concludes, Anthony adds, “Dylan has many ‘bad’ traits for audiences to pick apart throughout the season, but by the end of episode eight, I feel like he’s redeemed himself in a way. He finally broke up with his evil monster of a girlfriend, made amends with his bandmates, and repaired his familial relationships, so I’d say he’s a much more humble guy by then. No high schooler is perfect, but Dylan works to change himself by finally taking responsibility for his actions, so I think his character arc is one that viewers will really appreciate.”

Aside from its balanced cast and characters, the series’ attention to detail is impossible to ignore, with its labyrinthine plot and satirical portrayal of an era filled with paranoia and fear becoming a character in its own right. Reflecting on his favorite aspects of portraying this era, Anthony reveals, “The most interesting part of portraying a character from that era was definitely the metal aspect. I really love the 80s because of the music, so getting to time travel back to the Satanic Panic was really cool because everything was so different and unique. My character’s bedroom has posters of all my favorite bands, my costumes included pictures of Ozzy and Randy Rhoads–my favorite guitarist–and many of my props were related to rock and roll as well. I genuinely felt like this is how I would’ve been during that time period.”

In addition to the era's intricacies, the series boasts creative special effects, makeup, an engaging aesthetic, and a multi-genre approach, offering a unique experience for its team. Looking back on the production of season one, Anthony shares some of his favorite scenes to film, explaining, “I genuinely enjoy being challenged as an actor, so one of my favorite scenes to film this season was the one in episode six where I am buried alive. I have obviously never been buried alive before, so having to portray such terror like that was difficult for me at first. The crew, including my girlfriend who I met on the show, helped a lot by making it feel so realistic, because I was actually in the box having dirt thrown on top, and I was really being tossed around like that, so it helped to have the world created around me to help coerce that performance out of myself. And here’s a fun fact: the dirt that falls into my mouth in that scene is actually just crumbled-up Oreos!”

Having been a part of several horror or horror-adjacent projects from Hysteria! to Krampus and even Incarnate, Anthony has easily earned his stripes in the genre. And considering that the best horror stories tend to explore the complexity and intensity of emotions, it’s become a perfect space to develop his expansive craft. So, would he like to continue this excursion into the depths of horror? “I really enjoy working in the horror genre, mostly because I love watching movies of the horror genre,” he explains. “My girlfriend and I like to binge my old movies like Krampus and Incarnate, so to have Hysteria! now under my belt gives us, and audiences, a lot of material to enjoy. I think it would be particularly awesome to be a part of the Insidious franchise, as that’s our favorite scary series, but I'm also a huge fan of Scream and The Conjuring if they ever make any more of those!”

As viewers continue to be impressed by his stellar work in the first season of Hysteria!, Anthony's status as a promising next-gen actor is undoubtedly gaining momentum. More importantly, his inspiring journey from child actor to leading man in a major series is a testament to his hard work and talent—qualities that have absolutely nothing to do with a connection to the Prince of Darkness.

The first season of Hysteria! is available to stream exclusively on Peacock.