Dan Levy on life after Schitt's Creek and being named one of the sexiest men alive

Dec 1 2020, 6:48 pm

In case you haven’t noticed, Canadian actor, writer, director, and producer Dan Levy has been killing it recently.

We’re not just talking about the Schitt’s Creek star and co-creator’s record-breaking sweep of the Emmys this year, where the CBC show racked up 15 nominations and took home nine total wins for its sixth and final season.

Levy, a Toronto native, also just made People magazine’s annual Sexiest Man Alive list, making his debut on the annual roundup with the title of the “Sexiest Man in Quarantine” for the 2020 issue.

In a phone interview with Daily Hive, the down-to-earth actor told us this shoutout on the coveted list was a pleasant surprise.

“I think when you grow up not a popular kid, whenever these kinds of situations arise, it never really feels ‘real.’ You kind of feel like you’re playing the ultimate con,” says Levy.

“But listen, if that’s what People magazine wants, I’ll happily participate. It was very flattering.”

 

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So what granted him the honour of being named the hottest guy during quarantine? What was he up to during that wild time?

Well, like many of us, Levy admits he spent quarantine watching “every movie and television show” he had access to.

In addition to some regulated viewing of reality TV gold like Below Deck Mediterranean and The Real Housewives of Atlanta, Levy says there was a standout when it came to his top binge-watching pick: Netflix’s Sex Education. 

“Such a sweet, lovely, beautiful show. I started it at the beginning of quarantine and watched it all the way through. It was so special, and it was just the most refreshing show I’ve seen of late about growing up.”

Looking at those recent accolades, it’s no question that Levy is having a landmark year career-wise. Still, he shows some love back to his community this holiday season through initiatives like the Reasons for the Season campaign.

In collaboration with Uber Eats, Levy is donating $50,000 to Ronald McDonald House Charities Canada, a non-profit organization he holds close to his heart.

“I’ve had some personal situations that involved some medical attention this year, and I think when you have a loved one that is requiring medical attention, that last thing you want to think about is where you should be staying,” says Levy.

“It is so crucial that Ronald McDonald’s Houses exist; it was a no-brainer to contribute and do what I could.”

Levy also recently completed a 13-week Indigenous Canada course at the University of Alberta in Edmonton and took to Twitter to ask his followers to support the faculty.

He noted that anyone who made a donation to the faculty would see their contribution matched by him.

It’s evident that Levy isn’t letting impressive accomplishments and fame go to his head, as his humble and grounded image are verified throughout our conversation, especially when it came to speaking about what’s next for him after a standout year like 2020.

“I think the one thing I told myself is that I would not compare anything I do in the future to what I’ve done,” says Levy.

“That’s so crucial in terms of moving forward with a clear head and a clear heart. You know, when you go through something as life-changing as Schitt’s Creek was for all of us, you kind of just have to accept that, that is what it is and that anything that comes beyond it is going to be the icing on the cake.”

 

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Levy says he’s grateful for his success to this point, as it’s given him space and time to develop things that really mean something to him.

“I wish I could be more specific,” he laughs when speaking about future projects.

“Hopefully, in the next year, we’ll be able to chat again, and I can kind of fill you in, in greater detail. But it’s ugh…there’s a lot going on, and it’s really exciting.”

Something Levy could share with us were his holiday traditions and how he intends to spend the festive season this year, including Cribbage tournaments with his family and viewings of classic flicks like Bridget Jones’s Diary and Notting Hill. 

“I also tend to indulge more generally around the holidays. Which is saying something because I’m a pretty indulgent person generally when it comes to eating.”

“I think I get it from my dad, who around the holidays just always makes sure that the house is stocked with all the things that are not great for you but ultimately make for a very delicious holiday season,” says Levy.

“We got the chocolate nuts, we got the eggnog, we got the caramel corn, we got the — the endless array of cheese plates, charcuterie.”

When asked if there’s any chance of a Schitt’s Creek movie popping up anytime soon, Levy met the topic with the same level-headedness he’s maintained throughout our chat.

“You know, you also need to give people a beat to miss you,” Levy chuckles. “It’s crucial to let the dust settle, and if the stars align to come back when people least expect it.”

Hanna McLeanHanna McLean

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