Justin Hartley receives the aTVfest spotlight award

By Allison Hambrick

This year, SCAD presented the aTVfest Spotlight Award to Justin Hartley for his work on “This Is Us,” an ensemble drama following the ups and downs of the Pearson family at various points in their lives. Following the presentation of the award, audiences were treated to an episode of “This Is Us” directed by and starring Hartley as well as a Q&A with him after.

“Gosh, thank you for recognizing the show,” said Hartley, upon accepting the Spotlight Award. “This is truly the love of my life, the labor of my life, and I’m honored to be a part of it.”

He then called for any actors in the room to raise their hands, and offered them this wisdom: “If I may, I would say about acting, something that I wish somebody would have told me 20 years ago: it’s hard, it gets harder, it’s worth it.”

After the show, Hartley discussed his career starting with the soap opera “Passions” then his starring role as Oliver Queen/Green Arrow on “Smallville.” Of his time on the latter, he spoke fondly of his character, proud of “how he interacted with Clark and what he brought out in Clark and how he moved Clark in a direction where we know he’s going — Superman.” 

Following the end of “Smallville,” Hartley returned to the world of soap operas with “Days of Our Lives,” content with the consistent work schedule and proximity to his daughter that the Burbank-based show provided. Upon reading the script for “This Is Us,” Hartley changed his mind and immediately called his agent. As for his current success, he says that as an actor it is essential to “protect” and “fall in love with” your character, and praises the talent of his co-actors as well as the writers for helping him to craft an authentic performance.

New episodes of “This Is Us” air Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on NBC.