When Brandon Lessard first pursued acting, he never expected to one day star alongside industry titans like Samuel L. Jackson and Pierce Brosnan. But with the release of The Unholy Trinity, that milestone has become a reality. “No, no, I definitely did not consider that when I was first starting my acting career,” Lessard said with a laugh. “But I’m very grateful that I’ve hit that stage and that I am where I am today.”
A Love for Westerns and History
The Unholy Trinity arrives as the Western genre is enjoying a resurgence, with series like Yellowstone, Justified, and American Primeval and Lessard believes audiences will find something familiar yet fresh. “I think they can expect a classic Western,” he said. “We have all of the elements that you’re used to. But it’s a fresh story and I certainly think that audiences won’t feel like they’ve seen this before.”
Lessard has made a name for himself in period pieces and Westerns, both by design and by circumstance. “I am a huge history buff and I love period pieces and the Western genre as a whole,” he said. “One of my favorite movies of all time is The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. These movies happened to be the cards that I was dealt.”
His first film, Broken Ghost, was shot in Montana with director Richard Gray, who also helmed The Unholy Trinity. “Through that first project, I met a couple of other people that took a chance on me as a young actor,” he said. “I kind of got ingrained in that Montana film scene, which is very much a Western film scene.”
Working with Legends
Despite having worked with some of the most recognizable names in the business, Lessard remains humble and grateful. “I am incredibly blessed to have worked with Sam Jackson and Pierce Brosnan who are fantastic actors,” he said. “I would be even more blessed if I got to work with Kevin Costner and Clint Eastwood.”
He isn’t necessarily chasing marquee collaborations, though. “What I look forward to the most is the next project and the people that I get to work with—the fantastic personalities, the incredible talent.”
He also values collaboration deeply, especially when it comes to his creative partnerships on set. “Art is a collaboration. Art is… a dance with a 200-person crew,” he said. “The more personal, the better. When you develop a rapport with anyone—whether it is a director, an actor, or even a costume designer or a DP—you can feel open to just any note that you might have.”
Learning Through the Work
Reflecting on what he gained from filming The Unholy Trinity, Lessard spoke about the impact of working opposite seasoned actors and the power of subtle performance.
“I learned a lot from Sam and Pierce just in terms of not just how grounded they are in their characters, but the subtlety that they bring,” he shared. “There’s a scene in the film… very early on where my character is sneaking up on Pierce Brosnan and I’m planning on killing him. His back is to me… I’m locking in on every tiny thing, every small movement.”
“You’re not even thinking about the camera,” he added. “You’re focused on the man opposite from you and what he’s thinking. That subtlety and that connection with the fellow actor is definitely something that I was aware of before, but I feel like it was heightened with this project.”
Facing Struggles and Moving Forward
Like many actors, Lessard acknowledges that the path isn’t always smooth, even if outsiders only see the successes. “It’s a tough career,” he admitted. “You’re essentially saying, ‘Hey, I’m here. I think I have meaning. I think I am someone who deserves some of your time.’ And that’s a bold thing to say.”
“I had a lot of people who took a chance on me as an actor when I didn’t deserve that chance,” he said. “And I’m very grateful for the opportunity to show my stuff… Who knows where I’ll go from here? I’m still going to fight for roles and try to be the best artist I can be.”
His message to other artists? “You have to have faith in yourself, and it’s going to get tough. But you can do it.”
Advice for Young Actors
To those just entering the industry, Lessard offered a blend of encouragement and realism. “You’ve built for yourself an incredible instrument through your conservatory. Keep that instrument tuned,” he advised. “There is always something that you can do while you wait—whether that’s writing a short scene for yourself, filming a short scene for yourself.”
He added, “A mistake I made just coming out of college was not joining a studio class… You don’t keep it by magic. You have to keep working at it. And when asked to sum up his advice in 10 words or less? He said simply: “Have faith in yourself.”
You can see Brandon Lessard in The Unholy Trinity is playing now in theatres.
