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For this month’s feature, WANT had the pleasure to talk with Matt Visser.

You may recognize the talented actor from Showtime’s critically acclaimed limited series Fellow Travelers (2023) or the film Woman of the Hour (2024). However, Matt’s journey into acting began long before these successes. With a creative mind fueled by laughter, excitement, and the company of loved ones, Matt embodies both sensitivity and empathy. Beyond the thoughtful answers shared in this interview, he reveals himself as someone deeply genuine and professional, connecting to the world through the people around him.

From the basketball courts in the U.S. back to your roots in Canada, what sparked your shift to TV and film?

I started acting as a young kid. My mom found an ad in the paper for “free acting classes” and would drop off my brother and me at this odd studio outside of town. The teacher lived on a Murphy bed in the back, and even as a kid, I knew a divorcée when I saw one. As it goes, my mom claims she came to watch one day, and I performed a tragic monologue as a boy in a wheelchair. Apparently, it made her cry, and that was the moment she knew, etc...

Personally, I don't believe this story for one second— it’s great copy, sure, but I don’t buy it. I’ve shown her plenty of auditions since, and her reactions are lukewarm at best. Maybe I’ve digressed.

Anyway, after a few cereal commercials, I put acting aside to focus on basketball during my teens and college years. When my knees started to give out, I decided to give acting another go, and after a somewhat rude awakening in my first couple years, I eventually joined a class with an incredible teacher. Acting quickly replaced basketball quickly replaced basketball as the thing that kept me up at night. So, I broke up with basketball before it would inevitably break up with me.


What impact do you hope Fellow Travelers will have on viewers, and what has the experience meant to you?

I hope Fellow Travelers helps viewers understand just how recently people couldn’t freely love who they love, and serves as a reminder of our responsibility to never let history repeat itself. Around the world, injustices like this still exist, and tragedies continue to unfold. My hope is that the show teaches people to live and love fully and openly, because so many people lost everything fighting for that freedom.

Personally, being part of this project has meant everything to me. While everyone involved in it will undoubtedly go on to do amazing things, the impact and pride of contributing to something so meaningful is something I know we will all carry with us forever. Our showrunner, Ron Nyswaner, compared this experience to Philadelphia and the way its cast and crew were forever connected to that project. It fills me with a deep sense of pride—something I still struggle to put into words. I feel incredibly lucky.

You seem to thrive in creative circles. How does this environment shape your vision of life, and how do you keep your creative fire alive?

I’m definitely drawn to creatives. Being surrounded by people whose taste and creativity I admire is the most fulfilling part of my life. I could have all the accolades and accomplishments in the
world, but what truly fills my heart (as tired as sounds) is creating alongside people I love and care about. And the creative fire stays lit because the work becomes the most fun and satisfying part.


You recently starred in Woman of the Hour, Anna Kendrick’s directorial debut, now streaming on Netflix. Are there any upcoming projects you can share?

Yes! Woman of the Hour is a must-watch—and when Netflix wants you to see something, they make sure you do. I also have a film coming out next year called Anacoreta. It’s been four years in the making and was created with friends by myself and some friends with hardly any money and just a beat sheet. Written, directed, and produced entirely within our friend group, we’re really excited to share it with the world.

My main character trait: I laugh hard, loud (too loud), and often.

The flaw I cannot forgive: A lack of empathy.

What makes me angry: Taking time, life, and opportunities for granted.

The most interesting or unusual thing about me: I’m quite tall now, but I was tiny throughout my entire childhood.

My hidden talent: Worrying about things that will never happen.

The last time I cried: Twice last week. Once when my mom visited for the premiere of a film and told me it was the best week of her life. As a son, there are few things more capable of bringing a tear to your eye—except for the movie The Wild Robot. Fucking hell.

Something that amazes me: Resilience.

In love, I am: A child.

In friendship, I am: Giving.

What my friends would say about me: I shouldn’t be so hard on myself.

The smell that moves me: Jusqu’à toi P.S. by D’Orsay (not an ad), puppies, and the Pacific Ocean—in no particular order.

The sound I love the most: The sound of your people mulling about the house as you slowly wake up.

The gesture that comforts me: Saying “I love you.” I think it’s incredibly important to tell your friends and family as often as you can.

The dish I could eat every day: Steak with chimichurri. Pad Thai.

The ritual that makes me feel good: Showering. I shower more than I’d like to admit—typically three times a day, sometimes more.

If I had a superpower, it would be: Feeling other people’s feelings. (I’m stealing this line from a dear friend.)

What I believe in the most: “Don Williams – I Believe in You” answers this question better than I can.

How I imagine myself when older: My mom tells me she never grew up; she’s always felt the same age inside. I think I’m bound to feel the same. But hopefully, I’ll be better at shutting off, less critical of myself, and more present.

I will never forget: My dad.

The advice that stayed with me: It isn’t words—it’s actions. One day, my dad was driving my brother and me to school when he suddenly pulled the emergency brake, stopping our car right in front of a city bus. The driver leaned on the horn for what felt like forever. My brother and I were confused, anxious, complicit (?). Then, out of nowhere, an old woman, out of breath from chasing the bus, finally caught up. The driver begrudgingly opened the doors, and she got on. My dad pulled away without saying a word. That moment stuck with me.

The place where I could see myself living (and why?): Mallorca. I want to simplify my life eventually, be more present, and disconnect from the grind.

The song that soothes me: Night Moves by Bob Seger.

My idol: My parents, Ian Wilson and Cathie Cline.

My favorite book/movie/show: The book Like Brothers by Mark and Jay Duplass, the movie Another Round, and the show Normal People.

My favourite WANT product: My friend in New York gifted me a leather tote. It’s been my elevated piece.

The project that was the most challenging and how I overcame the difficulties: Fellow Travelers, because of the responsibility I felt to feel adequate among people I admired so much. I overcame it by leaving no stone unturned.

What has evolved the most in recent years in my perception of my work: At the risk of sounding pretentious, it’s the understanding that the work is about the person across from you, not yourself. The non-negotiable is affecting the person you’re in the scene with—it’s not about how you look or come across.

The cause that speaks to me: Cancer research.

Follow @mattviss on Instagram to know more about his inspirations, travels, passions, projects, and more.