With a magnetic onscreen presence that amalgamates smouldering intensity with raw vulnerability, Drake Rodger is emerging as one of Hollywood’s finest new actors. 

After captivating audiences with his breakout role as John Winchester in "The Winchesters", Rodger now shifts gears (quite literally and figuratively) in MOTORHEADS; Amazon’s new offering revolving around the exploration of youth, street rebellion, and car culture. 

As Ray Young, a charismatic chop shop owner with a murky moral compass, Rodger successfully balances the physicality of action-packed sequences with his intricate range of deeply felt emotions; embodying his role like a ritual- disciplined, immersive, and often instinctual. 

Amazon’s sleek new drama might be significantly rooted in car culture and personal unrest but there's more to Rodger's arc. As Ray Young, he doesn’t just portray the character, he skillfully exposes the tension between Young's surface charm and the fractured relationship he shares with his family. 

Whether he’s navigating high-speed tension or moments of stillness, it's quite a sight to witness Rodger disappearing into his role as a man caught between brotherhood, rebellion, unexpected camaraderie and the weight of heavy expectations. 

In this exclusive story for ReVamp, Rodger delves into his evolution as an actor, his experience walking the fine line between a hero and an anti-hero through 'Ray Young', memorable sequences, the personal connection he found with his co-stars in MOTORHEADS, his highly-anticipated involvement in the upcoming "Prison Break" series, and much more! 

Beginning our interview, I have to obviously mention your surreal performance in Prime's newest offering, "MOTORHEADS". First of all, huge congratulations on the premiere of the series!

Playing the character of Ray Young; who is often described as a charismatic yet a morally complex figure, what was it really that drew you to Ray and how did you prepare to embody someone who showcases to be an amalgamation of a hero and anti-hero?

Thank you so much—I’m really glad the character resonated with you. What initially drew me to Ray was the opportunity to step into the role of the antagonist, which was a new and exciting challenge for me, having primarily played more traditionally heroic characters in the past. My approach to Ray was similar to how I tackle any role: it begins with justification. I don’t believe anyone truly sees themselves as the villain, so it was important to me to understand Ray’s choices by building a detailed backstory and internal logic for his actions. That allowed me to explore the complexities of a character who embodies both heroic and anti-heroic qualities in a grounded, human way.

Ray’s dynamic with his younger brother Curtis is filled with tension and unspoken love. How did you approach building that kind of layered sibling relationship on screen, and did you pull anything from personal experience?

I tend to approach every role by drawing from personal experiences—or by adapting real-life dynamics to fit the context of the scene or character. With Ray, that approach felt especially natural. I have an older brother myself, so I leaned into that relationship while shaping Ray’s bond with Curtis, using it as an emotional foundation and then filling in the gaps where the script called for something different. Uriah, who plays Curtis, and I had a lot of in-depth conversations about the nuances of their relationship. We both felt that their dynamic was a core element of our characters, and it was important to us to ground it in something honest and emotionally layered.

The world of MOTORHEADS is soaked in car culture and street racing. 

In terms of your research route, I'd love to know if you did any hands-on prep like learning mechanics or performance driving in order to help bring more authenticity to your role?

As part of my preparation for the car and street racing culture portrayed in the show, I took performance driving and motion picture stunt driving courses. The goal was to gain a deeper understanding of the practical limits of a vehicle and what it actually feels like behind the wheel in high-pressure situations. While I wasn’t performing the major stunts myself, the training definitely helped me bring a greater sense of authenticity to the role—especially in terms of physically portraying someone who’s completely at home in that world.

How did you find the balance between Ray’s raw, rebellious edge and his softer, more protective brotherly instincts, especially in scenes involving Curtis? 

At the core of it, if you strip everything else away, I think the most basic human instinct is the desire for connection. Ray lives in a world where he’s often perceived as a threat or labeled the villain, and over time, he begins to embody that role—almost as if he has no other option. But when it comes to someone like Curtis, who knows him for who he truly is beneath the exterior, that relationship becomes essential. Whether Ray is fully aware of it or not, the desire for that bond is what grounds him. Balancing his hardened, rebellious exterior with those more vulnerable, protective instincts came down to honoring that emotional truth—his deep craving for real, meaningful connection...to be seen as who he could be versus who he is currently.

Kindly walk me through the overall creative process for this role. Like when you begin portraying a character like Ray, what’s your entry point- do you start with his backstory, physicality, vocal tone, or something else entirely? 

Every role requires a slightly different approach, and over time I’ve learned to trust my instincts when reading a character. I usually get a strong sense early on of which aspects I feel naturally confident in and which areas might challenge me more—and that often guides my starting point. With Ray, my entry into the character began with his exterior: how he presents himself physically, how he carries his presence in the world. From there, I dug into his backstory, which was essential in understanding the emotional layers beneath that tough exterior. Those two elements—his appearance and his history—formed the foundation for how I built him from the inside out.

The show taps into themes of escapism, identity, and legacy through the lens of car culture.

I'm very curious to know your own connection to that world. Would you perhaps call yourself a gearhead in real life?

I wouldn’t call myself a gearhead in the traditional sense, but I do have a genuine love for driving. What initially drew me to the show was that feeling I remember from driving alone for the first time—that rush of freedom, like the world suddenly opened up. There’s something powerful about that moment, and I think it taps into a deeper sense of identity and escapism. It’s not just about the cars; it’s about what they represent: control, possibility, and the ability to carve out your own path. That emotional undercurrent is what really resonated with me.

What was your experience meeting the cast for the first time? And do you have any favourite on-set/behind-the-scenes memories from working with them on this production?

Meeting the cast was definitely one of the highlights of working on Motorheads. From day one, everyone was incredibly warm, down-to-earth, and genuinely invested in building real friendships beyond the work. One of my favorite memories from the shoot was when a group of us drove a few hours out of town to spend a holiday weekend together at a lake house. It was such a peaceful, grounding experience, and it gave us all a chance to connect outside of the fast pace of production. It’s a memory I’ll always hold onto and one that really solidified the sense of camaraderie we had on set.

Is there any memorable sequences from working on this show that you absolutely can't wait to get everyone's reactions to?

Oh absolutely! There's a race sequence that Ray's involved in that was so much fun to film and I can't wait to see how people respond to it.

Do you have any on-set habits or post-scene rituals that help you either embody the mindset of the character or decompress after particularly intense scenes?

Not particularly—I usually try to stay grounded and be myself between takes. Of course, I respect the space needed to mentally prepare for certain scenes, especially the more emotionally intense ones, but I haven’t yet felt the need to remain fully in character throughout a project. So far, I’ve found that stepping in and out of the mindset when needed allows me to stay present and keep a healthy balance on set.

MOTORHEADS represents yet another shift in genre for you. Now that you have immersed yourself into such diverse roles, what element surprised you the most from working in distinct genres, and how did it help you stretch creatively as a performer?

Working across different genres has taught me a great deal about how to assess a project and where to focus my energy and preparation as a performer. Each role challenges me in new ways and forces me to adapt, which has been invaluable for my growth. What’s surprised me most is how much each genre brings out different aspects of my craft—whether it’s emotional nuance, physicality, or timing. There’s still so much I want to explore creatively, and I truly see every role I’ve taken on as a stepping stone that prepares me for whatever comes next.

You're also about to start shooting for Hulu's Prison Break! Is there anything you can tell us regarding your exciting involvement in this show? 

I have to be careful not to give too much away, but I can say that I’m incredibly excited for everyone to see what we’re working on down in West Virginia. It’s a real honor to be part of such a beloved and iconic universe. We’re approaching it with a lot of respect for the original series, while also aiming to bring something fresh and current to the table. I hope fans of Prison Break will feel that balance—something new, but deeply rooted in what made the original so special.

What's next for you, Drake? Besides two of these exciting projects, anything currently in the pipeline that you'd like to tell us or your fans about? 

Beyond Motorheads and Prison Break, I’m really excited about a feature film that a friend and I have been developing together, which is currently in the financing phase. It’s been a rewarding creative process so far, and I hope to have more updates to share with everyone in the coming months.

Lastly, I'd love to know if there's any message that you wish to convey to your fans and supporters currently reading this interview? 

I’m incredibly grateful to all my fans and supporters—thank you for taking the time to read this interview and for your ongoing interest. It truly means a lot to me, and I hope I’m making you proud with the work I’m doing.

MOTORHEADS is now streaming on Prime.