If you’re an avid TikTok scroller, Joseph Purcell might look familiar. And not because he’s an influencer but because he’s become a breakout in the microdrama space, which regularly promotes their projects on the social media platform.

In recent years, microdramas, which are vertical, mobile-first series, have taken Hollywood by storm. And as these streaming platforms such as CandyJar, ReelShort and DramaBox continue to pump out addictive shows, there’s bound to be some breakout stars. That’s where Purcell enters the picture.

When the 26-year-old actor, son of Prison Break star Dominic Purcell and stepbrother to Miley Cyrus, decided to follow in his father’s footsteps, he was determined to forge his own unique path into Hollywood. That’s when he got introduced to the microdrama space through his good friend and fellow actor, Evan Adams.

“I was like, he’s getting flown to Texas. He’s making money as an actor. Fans are responding to his work. I’m like, who am I to snub my nose at anything at this point? I haven’t done anything,” Purcell tells The Hollywood Reporter.

Since making his vertical debut over a year ago, he’s become a frequent face in multiple series. Though he’s enjoying the experience and exposure that microdramas offer, he’s also ready for a new challenge. “I’m still waiting for the month of preparation film that hopefully comes around soon,” he admits.

Below, Purcell opens up about what the quick preparation process looks like for microdramas, how verticals are becoming a training ground for actors, acting advice he’s gotten from his father and his goals of pivoting to more traditional films.

Growing up with your dad working in the industry, what role did that play in your decision to also pursue a career in entertainment?

As a kid growing up, I was always asked if I wanted to become an actor. And I was particularly shy when I was younger and still kind of am, but that was the last thing I ever wanted to do. And not just because I was shy, but I love sports. I really, really love sports and I wanted to be an athlete. I wanted to be a basketball player. I wanted to be a soccer player. I lived in Australia. I wanted to be a cricket player. There were so many sports I genuinely loved and acting was just the last thing. But when I made the decision, I was like, “OK, well he did it.” Not that it can’t be that hard, but there must be something about his wiring that I also share. So it made it a bit easier to believe in myself.

Did you learn anything from your dad’s career that you’re applying to your own, or ever ask him for advice? 

Anyone who I respect as an artist or whatever it may be, I try to pick their brains. I try to pick his brain, but he’s very just like, “Dude, just learn the lines and do the thing. If you have it, you have it,” kind of thing. He’s very straightforward and he doesn’t try to make it as complex as I want to make it.

The microdrama space has really popped off in the last year, especially. How did you first get involved with verticals? 

It’s definitely taken me by surprise for sure. No, I was learning Meisner [acting technique] in a little black box theater kind of school in North Hollywood, Playhouse West, and my good friend, he’s also doing crazy things in the microdrama space, Evan Adams. And this was at the start of his endeavor into it. And I was like, he’s getting flown to Texas. He’s making money as an actor. Fans are responding to his work. I’m like, who am I to snub my nose at anything at this point? I haven’t done anything. So I started auditioning and I got a supporting role callback for a vertical called His Nerd and right after the audition, they asked me if I wanted to audition for the lead. And I did the audition, got the lead role and everything just took off.

These streaming platforms are using TikTok to promote a lot of these microdramas. Do you ever come across them on your own social media, and if so, what’s your reaction to seeing yourself? 

I will admit when I do go online, I do look up myself from time to time and see what’s going on. So yeah, I’ve seen the buzz and it’s funny, but they’re all things I’ve seen before I filmed them. It doesn’t feel like too much. I’m much more interested in putting in the work and trying to do good work.

With the vertical shoots being so short, what’s your preparation and filming process like?

The preparation, you get a week to do it. You get a week to learn the lines, you get a week to learn the character. And I’d say it’s less about learning the character and for me at least, it’s learning the lines, learning the script and just getting familiar with it and then letting yourself relax and listen to your acting partner and see where it takes you. There isn’t much character work to do. And these microdramas, not that they’re all exactly the same, but they’re all pretty similar. So once you get one or two down, you’re kind of like, OK, I get how to do this. I’m just going to keep rolling with whatever I’ve been doing.

You also starred in her first horizontal last year with Tubi’s Glamping. What’s the difference between acting for a vertical vs. horizontal format? 

It’s funny because the Tubi movie, the horizontal, it felt similar to a vertical. I think the screenplay was 94 pages and we had 11 days to shoot it. It was pretty flat out and I only had one or two takes to get it right. But I think the main difference was the amount of people on the set on the shoot days. It was a little bit more intense, but very similar and a great experience. But yeah, I’m still waiting for the month of preparation film that hopefully comes around soon.

Having starred in several microdramas, what’s your favorite that you’ve done? Do you have a favorite type of character to play?  

Yeah, I actually do. I’m usually in high school (Laughs). I’m 26 years old [in real life], so I’ve just gotten used to it, I guess. But one of the last ones I did [Falling for My Bodyguard], I was playing a bodyguard who was supposed to be 22 or 23, and I was still in high school, but I wasn’t a high schooler. And one of the lines was like, “What are you talking about super senior or whatever?” And it was kind of funny, but it felt more serious. He wasn’t a kid and it resonated a bit more with me. So just anything a bit older or a bit more serious, for lack of a better word.

With the success you’ve seen with verticals, are you getting any calls from traditional Hollywood?

Slowly. Recently, I’ve had a few really cool auditions from great casting directors. I haven’t heard much from that, but I’m starting to get those auditions and that’s a huge thing. That’s something that I’ll never take for granted. Auditions are hard to come by these days; it feels like I’m auditioning for projects that I’d obviously love to be a part of. And then starting this journey into the vertical world, I would’ve never thought that it would present an opportunity like that.

Having such a pulse on the space, where do you see microdramas going? I know Disney and Nickelodeon have long been considered training grounds for actors, but do you think the next generation of talent is also training in the vertical space as Hollywood cuts costs and volume of projects? 

One hundred percent. So many actors are super talented that aren’t able to get traditional work, but they’re young, they’re hungry and these verticals are giving them the platform to exercise their muscles. And I don’t see why it couldn’t be that kind of launching platform. And there’s so much exposure on these verticals now that it would be silly not to take the opportunity.

Outside of verticals, do you have a dream role or genre? Is your overall goal to move to more traditional Hollywood projects? 

I’m very much pulled into anything that’s raw and real and gritty and kind of dark. When I first decided to become an actor, Beautiful Boy, Aftersun, Manchester by the Sea, My Own Private Idaho, films like that that just made you really feel something were always so compelling to me. And being able to be a part of something like that would be so fucking awesome. But also a Fight Club or a Gladiator, those movies that are respected by the film community, but then also by current culture, the movies that can bridge the gap. And Marty Supreme and Sinners and One Battle After Another started to do that again.

You spoke about advice from your father, but you also have another family member who has also seen a lot of success in the industry — have you asked Miley Cyrus for any advice?

Not yet. You and me were talking earlier about, do you feel like this has changed your life? And I have people to compare fame to, as a reference, which celebrities don’t usually have. So when I think about my fame, I’m like, “No, no, no.” Miley is on another level and then my dad is, so I don’t feel “famous.” But I haven’t asked her directly about this stuff. I think if it ever gets bigger, I would definitely, because she’s a boss. She’s so inspiring and someone that I’d love to pick her brain about, but I don’t feel like I have reached a level where it’s necessary yet.

When you’re not working, what does your perfect day off look like? 

I love this question so much. I’d lie if I said I hadn’t thought about this answer. The perfect day — I’d say wake up, and that’s the first blessing, walk down to a little coffee shop, preferably a European-style coffee shop, maybe by the beach, drink five shots of espresso. I love coffee so much and I drink so much of it, but go for a swim, walk back home and then it starts thunderstorming. Read some of a good book and then go see a movie. And then when I come out of the movie, it’s like sunset, the rain’s cleared, the concrete’s wet, smells great, it’s a vibe. I go home, maybe invite some of my friends, some of the people I love over, and we just have some champagne or some wine, go in the hot tub or go in the pool, whatever it is, and then maybe go out for the night and just have some laughs.

If you had to describe what makes Joseph Purcell, Joseph Purcell, what would you say?

Before Timothée Chalamet coined the expression, I’ve always been a big dreamer. I’ve always dreamed big. I’ve always had the belief that whatever I actually loved, I could do. And every single one of those dreams has failed except for this one (Laughs). This one’s still going and I’m so glad it’s this one because it’s brought me the most personal fulfillment, and it’s been the most engaging, and I hope it keeps going. Definitely just a big dreamer, a big stupid dreamer and I hope I never stop doing that. Also falling in love with the things that inspire me. I think being inspired is the fruit that makes a dream possible.