Love is in the air for Pride Monthas the television show Love, Victor concludes with its third season. The gay rom-com Love, Simon came out in 2018 and inspired the Love, Victor Hulu series two years later.
Michael Cimino portrayed the lead role of Victor Salazar, a teenager attending Creekwood High School in Atlanta. The story follows the adventures of Salazar as he navigates his sexuality, ongoing family drama and his ever-evolving circle of friends.
Salazar's wingman, Felix Westen, was played by Anthony Turpel, who started the series when he was 19. He reflected on growing up with the cast over the past several years during an interview to promote Love, Victor. Isabella Ferreira played Westen's love interest as Pilar Salazar and agreed with him, "It has been an amazing experience and it is good when you can connect with your peers and cast mates. I learned from them every single day."
Turpel said he will miss the crew and would like more LGBTQ+ stories in the future. He reported that fans of the show had told him since the series debuted that they want more content on the subject. Ferreira observed how so many of the viewers have expressed that they felt seen and represented.
Ferreira described the last day of filming as being "full of tears." "It was bittersweet" she went on to say, "I'm just glad we were there together to experience it for the final time. I think we wrapped it up in a good way, so I hope the viewers like it!" She was recently seen in the Hulu film Crush with another LGBTQ+ storyline also set in high school.
Bebe Wood took on the scene-stealing character of Lake Meriwether beginning with season one of Love, Victor. She said she appreciated Lake's growth as her character eventually learned to love and accept herself by season three.
Another cast member Rachel Hilson agreed with that same sentiment as her character Mia Brooks "learned to speak up for herself and really honor her feelings. In the new season, she really goes for it when she wants something!"
Some may recognize Wood and Hilson as they were both in previous Ryan Murphy projects. Wood was in The New Normal television show in 2012 and Hilson had a part in American Horror Story: Double Feature in 2021. Hilson was in Chicago filming a pilot the day of the Love, Victor interview junket and Wood can be heard singing on her latest EP called 21st Century Hippie.
With Love, Victor drawing to a close, Wood mentioned how happy she was to be a part of something that has impacted so many people in a positive way. She found the entire experience "humbling." Hilson was happy about the diverse representation on the show and plans to pick more projects similar to this in the future.
Actress Ava Capri personifies the diversity shown on Love, Victor both on and off the screen. Her role as classmate Lucy had several shining moments over the course of season three. Capri identifies as queer in real life and currently has a girlfriend. She mentioned having a connection to Illinois through her family that lives in Evanston on a recent phone call about Love, Victor. She confessed that she wasn't out in high school, "I never had the role models to figure that out at that age, but if I had a show like Love, Victor I might have come out earlier. Lucy means so much to me and I hope the role has a positive impact on young people. When I first signed on I wasn't told what her queer arc would be but I was amazed by it when I eventually found out what was coming. I was so honored to play her and I still feel the same way today!"
Capri described Love, Victor as depicting some pain and trauma, but mainly focused on joy and positivity. She already filmed another queer role for Netflix premiering in the fall. She said, "I've played nonqueer characters in the past and will again, but anytime I play queer I am telling a story that I know how to tell and that is a relief to me. I have a real perspective and can stand up for my character in an authentic way."
Her Pride plans include parties and parades promoting Love, Victor. Capri exclaimed," I am so happy to live in LA and be surrounded by an amazing queer community!"
The entire third season of Love, Victor is now available to view on Hulu, as all eight episodes debuted on Hulu and Disney+ on June 15.
