Paradise: Sterling K. Brown, Julianne Nicholson & James Marsden on Grief, Power, and Connection

When Paradise first premiered, audiences were immediately drawn into its intricate web of grief, power, and fragile human connection. In a recent conversation with In Creative Company, Sterling K. Brown, Julianne Nicholson, and James Marsden reflected on the layered journeys of their characters, and why the series has struck such a deep chord with viewers.

Sterling K. Brown on Holding Grief in Check

For Sterling K. Brown, who plays Xavier, much of the performance lives in restraint. His character, still reeling from the loss of his wife, must keep emotions locked away both on the job and at home with his children.

“He’s just trying to figure out how to do the best he can until he can do better,” Brown explained. “His job and his kids are all he has left. The challenge was letting that bubbling under the surface show without it spilling out.”

As the season unfolds, Xavier begins to allow space for love again—both for himself and for his daughter. Brown teases:

“Maybe we get to be happy… and then maybe we don’t. Gotta watch Season Two.”

Julianne Nicholson on Sinatra’s Transformation

Julianne Nicholson’s Sinatra undergoes one of the most striking arcs in the series, from ambitious businesswoman to a figure hardened by devastating loss. Nicholson credits creator Dan Fogelman with crafting a rich, character-defining episode.

“That second episode, ‘Sinatra,’ was such a gift,” she shared. “It’s a beautiful exploration of one woman’s life. It helped audiences see her as more than just a villain. Dan gave her humanity.”

Her grief over experiencing loss becomes the fuel for Sinatra’s attempt to control everything around her, a doomed effort as Nicholson admits:

“You can have all the money in the world, but there are things bigger than you that you cannot control. That starts to eat away at her. and it all ultimately falls apart.”

James Marsden on Playing an Unconventional President

When James Marsden was first approached about the role of Cal, the President of the United States he hesitated.

“Something inside me crashed,” Marsden recalled with a laugh. “I thought, ‘I don’t know if I can do this.’ But Dan told me it wasn’t the usual cardboard president. He’s imperfect, a hard-drinking guy who doesn’t really want the job.”

That complexity made Cal fascinating to play. The character wrestles with broken relationships and self-doubt while navigating the world’s most powerful office. Marsden embraced the duality:

“Exploring his faults and regrets, and then seeing what happens when the power dynamics shift—it was really interesting. That’s when I thought, okay, maybe I can do this.”

Friendship, Power, and “Bromance”

One of the most compelling relationships in Paradise is the evolving friendship between Xavier and Cal. Onscreen, their bond is equal parts genuine affection and political tension. Offscreen, Brown and Marsden found it came naturally.

“The friendship we built in real life easily transferred on camera,” Brown said. “But I was always cognizant, he’s still the President of the United States.”

Marsden added:

“I think Cal looks at Xavier as the guy he wants to be, stoic, disciplined, a good father. But he also wants to crack that exterior, get him to loosen up. It’s a really nuanced male friendship, with deep love and respect, even when things get complicated.

Despite the politics, power struggles, and high-stakes drama, the cast agrees that Paradise is ultimately about the search for connection. Whether it’s Cal’s desperate need for validation from his father, Sinatra’s futile attempts to control her world, or Xavier’s struggle to balance grief with hope, every character is fighting to hold on to the relationships that matter most. And that, perhaps, is why Paradise resonates so deeply.

Watch the Conversation Below:

Q&A on the Hulu series Paradise with actor & executive producer Sterling K. Brown, and actors Julianne Nicholson and James Marsden. Moderated by Mara Webster, In Creative Company.

A Secret Service agent investigates the murder of a former president in a seemingly peaceful community.