Remember Owen Thiele’s face. You’ll be seeing lots of it from now on

It seems like Owen Thiele is everywhere at the moment. When he’s not in Benito Skinner’s Overcompensating playing George, Benny’s gay mentor, he’s playing the charismatic Anton in Friends-esque ensemble comedy Adults. When he’s not doing that, he’s working on his semi-autobiographical Amazon series Off Colour, about his unconventional upbringin. Then, to top it all off, while the rest of us are sleeping, Owen’s probably recording his podcast In Your Dreams with Owen Thiele, asking famous friends Emma Chamberlain and Benny Blanco about things like tuna salad, Insta algorithms and dream interpreters. How does he manage such an intense schedule without going crazy?

“Do I feel crazy? Yes, because I only sleep for two hours a night. But in terms of my schedule, no,” the 28-year-old says, laughing. (We can’t tell if he’s joking about the two hours’ sleep thing). ​“I feel really lucky that we’re making young, fun shows and I get to be a part of them.” Calling in from his home in Silver Lake, Los Angeles, he’s dressed in a grey hoodie and a cap that reads ​“I am an Adult”. Owen carries himself with improv kid energy, balancing a bouncy LA brightness with a wry, perma-arched brow, as if he’s constantly at risk of launching into a bit.

Given his upbeat energy at 9am, it’s hard to believe the actor gets so little sleep. ​“My mom only sleeps three or four hours a night and I’ve always been like this,” he explains. ​“Now that I’ve moved out we both text each other the whole night.” Adopted at birth by composer Bob Thiele Jr (The O.C, The Office, Sons of Anarchy) and his wife Amy Kanter, Owen grew up in Beverly Hills, where he caught the performance bug as a kid. ​“When I was four years old, I was dancing on tables and doing Britney Spears choreography. My mom would be cheering me on and recording me and blasting music in the house.”

Owen makes friends easily – that’s something that he and his Adults character Anton have in common, ​“I’m a friend slut,” he says, deadpan. In fact, during callbacks for the role, Owen invited all his fellow auditionees for drinks. ​“And of course, my sick, twisted mind was like, I hope all of them got the role! And then I was like, no, Owen, I want the role. But because I’m deluded and insane, I said we have to all get drinks now. It was gorgeous and that’s what acting should be. There should be no competition, because there will be a role for everyone.” And right now, Owen’s got several of them.

Anton shares a therapist with his housemate in Adults. Who’s someone that you’d like to share a therapist with?

Rachel Sennott. She’s so grounded and deeply funny, that therapist must be doing good work.

Are you superstitious?

I am extremely superstitious. Anytime I say anything about my life, that’s somehow rooted in the future, I have to knock on wood. My great grandmother also told me no hats on the bed. It’s very bad luck.

What’s the best way to make an entrance?

The only way I know how to make an entrance is by being 45 minutes late and holding wine to apologise.

What’s your song of the summer?

I am obsessed with Manchild. I think Sabrina Carpenter actually owns summer.

You often describe your mum as belonging on Real Housewives. Which housewife is she most similar to?

She loves to dance at a party and have a martini in hand, so that reminds me of Lisa Rinna, but she’s hard working so that reminds me of Sutton. She’s a mix between the two of them. She’s insane, and I love her for that.

What’s the most Beverly Hills thing about you?

I’m a horrible driver and everyone in Beverly Hills is a horrible driver because they think they own the place, so they’re just driving super slow and turning in places they shouldn’t turn.

What’s the best way to exit a conversation that you don’t want to be a part of anymore?

I think I would probably compliment something about them and then wave awkwardly.

Who should get their podcast taken away?

Andrew Tate and Candace Owens.

What’s the most embarrassing thing in your closet?

My eight Taylor Swift hoodies that I buy every time I go to her concert.

What’s the best thing to do at 3am?

Call people in different countries.