Benito Skinner is the gift that keeps on giving.
The handsome actor and TV creator's latest show, Overcompensating, is the passion project that he's thrilled to finally share with the world.
Skinner plays Benny, a closeted former football player, who has a hard time coming to terms with his sexuality while venturing off to college. The plot hits home for Skinner, as he had a hard time navigating his own coming out journey at a young age.
"It was inspired by my experience of coming out and feeling so confused the entire time, even when I started to come out. I hadn't seen that on screen yet. I felt guilt, I felt confused... I didn't know who I was anymore. I didn't know if people would still love me," Skinner tells PRIDE.
As Benny's story progresses each episode, audiences will certainly resonate with his mixed feelings as he deals with the pressures of becoming a young adult in college.
"I see the beauty in so much of it and I think the beauty is finding the people that you can come out to. I think for so many of us, it's these safe spaces created by women that are around us. That was the inspiration and I was like, let's also put it at college and make it disgusting!"
Shenanigans certainly play out in all of the diverse storylines on Overcompensating. It's college after all, and these characters also explore their sexualities through some very steamy and awkward hookups.
"This feels true and honest and this is how my experience was. Sex can be terrifying, bizarre, weird, hot... I think you can have sex dreams in college! All of these should feel how they really feel. If it felt honest to us, we were going to have it."
Benny isn't the only character to deal with some identity issues while trying to life his best life in college. Skinner's costar Wally Baram plays Carmen, who experiences her own fair share of chaotic situations that leave her questioning everything.
"I would not make these choices, but it's part of [Carmen's] journey. The rest of her journey is so messy and beautiful in a way that I really related to. She just can't quite figure out how to make it work socially. It was nice closure in a way," Baram says.
As if the intriguing plot wasn't juicy enough, Charli xcx also makes a cameo as herself in the hilarious series and provided the majority of the show's soundtrack from her iconic discography.
"Charli has been sonically impactful forever. At some point in the show, we would love to have a little bit more XCX World. Maybe you'll hear some of those unreleased tracks! The Angels are really fed. It was like, first takes that you're watching. I'm so excited for her and for people to see it," Skinner concludes.
Overcompensating premieres Thursday, May 15 on Prime Video. To see the full interview with Benito Skinner and Wally Baram, check out the videos at the top and bottom of the page.
