Training Day

Season 1 Vuzu AMP (*103) 21:30 Action

Before being cast as LAPD Detective Kyle Craig in single-season action show Training Day (2016-2017), Justin Cornwell had exactly six acting credits to his name. Of those, one was voicing an animated character, one was voicing a videogame character and the other was an uncredited role in 2015 crime drama film Chi-Raq. “I thought I blew the audition,” says the 28-year-old. “But clearly I did something right!”

And it wasn’t just his acting skills 1

that the Training Day producers liked. Justin is 1.96m tall and 90kg of intimidating muscle thanks to his training routine of boxing, running and basketball. “I think they liked that I could be a tough cop,” jokes the actor.

Something he wasn’t expecting for 2

the role was being taken on outrides with real-life LAPD cops. Justin reveals that going into tough neighbourhoods “was difficult” because the “violence needed just to survive a day is simply mindboggling”.

The Pennsylvania native almost 3

gave up acting in primary school but his mom Robin and late stepdad Jackie pushed him to follow his dreams.

One thing he missed after moving 4

away from his grandparents in Ohio was their video store. “They had every movie you could imagine and a couple of videogames,” says the actor.

He moved to Chicago in 2011 to be 5

an actor but it took three years to get onscreen work – he was in an ad for massmart store Walmart in 2014 as well as the Ohio lottery. “But hey, everyone has to start somewhere,” he laughs.

And if acting doesn’t work out, 6

Justin admits that “I’m probably better at writing scripts, so at least there is a plan [Laughs].