Believe it or not, it's been 20 years since Degrassi: The Next Generation first aired! To celebrate, we spoke with actors Eric Osborne and Amanda Arcuri about their roles as Miles and Lola on Degrassi: TNG and Degrassi: Next Class. From their favorite scenes to film together to where they see their characters in the future, we learned so many Degrassi secrets. Here's everything we talked about:
1. What was your first impression of each other?
Eric Osborne: We had only really interacted like a few times, so I remember it being kind of strange [that] one day, they all of a sudden threw us together in all of these scenes. But it was cool — as soon as we did them, it was sort of like, “Oh okay, yeah. This is cool, I can see how this works.” I mean, it was obviously great working with you from the beginning, and it just seemed like there was, I don't know, a nice chemistry.
Amanda Arcuri: Yeah, I agree completely. I always say it, but I got so scared when I started working with you, Eric. Because you're, like, a really good actor and I respected you on the show. And so, working with you made me so scared because I was like, “Who am I? I’ve never acted before! Like, what is this?”
I remember also, I think we were at some awards show, and the [Degrassi] writers were sitting beside me. They were like, “Okay, so who do you think Lola is going to be in a relationship with? Which brother?” And I was like, “I don't know, Hunter?” Because we were in the same grade and the same age. And they were just like, “Hehehe.”
EO: I always just remember feeling like you were extremely natural and, like, very grounded, to the point where you didn't feel like you were a character. It was like you were a person. So I think I felt similarly, like a kind of sense of reverence or respect [for you] and being like, “Oh my goodness, I don't want to mess this up.”
2. What was your favorite scene to film with each other?
EO: I think some of the more intimate scenes. I really liked those moments because it really felt like we were just talking. We had these interactions that seemed to come from a place that was genuine and sincere and deep. So I guess when I think back over time, those are the kinds of scenes I remember. Like the scene before we kissed for the first time, when we were just talking on the bed, I liked that one.
AA: Yeah, that was a nice one. We were so close to each other, and I was like, “Oh my god, does my breath smell right now?” [laughs]
But my favorite scene was when you came into the dressing room. That was a very nice one, very special. Everything that we did together was just chill vibes. We understood the assignment, you know?
EO: That’s exactly right. Yeah, that’s a great way to put it.
3. Miles and Lola’s relationship definitely became an unexpected fan-favorite pairing — were you surprised by the fan reaction to it?
AA: No, I don’t think so. I think we knew people would be shocked, but I mean, it’s just...it’s iconic.
EO: Yeah, I guess I sort of felt similarly. It was shocking at first, and I didn't see it coming. But as soon as we started doing the scenes together, it became very clear that they made a lot of sense. And since it was so enjoyable to work with Amanda, I think that probably showed through. I liked this storyline a lot.
4. Amanda, Lola had the first abortion storyline on Degrassi since 2003 — what was that like? It was one of Lola’s first big, serious plots, so were you nervous to film it?
AA: I was terrified the entire time, just because I wanted to do it justice. And there were a couple of workers on the show that had gone through an experience like that [with] abortion, so it just meant more to me to do it for them. I do think you need to have a sensitivity with it because it's something people struggle through, and it's not always an easy decision to make. I had to calm my nerves in every single scene I did. I was freaking out, like, “Is it good? Is it good? Is it good?”
And you were nominated for a Canadian Screen Award for your performance, right?
AA: I was, which was amazing. It definitely took me by surprise. I mean, I didn't think I had the skill set as a young person coming into the industry.
EO: You just always seemed so sincere and so grounded, even if you felt like you didn't have the experience to do it. It came across as, like...so, this is silly to say, but so human. I think you have a very special thing that is hard to come by.
AA: Eric, thank you! No, but there's still a couple of scenes that I watch back on with the abortion where I'm like, “Oh my god, I wish I could do this differently, knowing what I know now.” [Writer’s note: Amanda and Eric revealed that they filmed the scene where Lola tries to tell Miles she’s pregnant “about 100,000 times” before they felt they got it right.]
5. Eric, Miles was the first character on Degrassi to explicitly label himself as bisexual — what was it like portraying his journey?
EO: It was interesting because I kind of navigated it in a similar way to how Miles did at first, where I didn't quite label [his sexuality] at all in my head. I was just like, “Oh, he's attracted to whoever, and it's more about the person than it is about anything else.” Then there was that scene where Miles, he kind of took ownership over his ability to label himself as bisexual. And it just clicked for me, the importance of being like, “I don't need to feel ashamed of this; I don't need to feel like it's something to hide — I can own this, and it can be an important part of me.”
At the beginning, I think I was very much in the same boat of like, “Well, why do I need to?” I understand how we can [also] just go from person to person and, you know, not really need to put a name on it, and that's totally cool as well. But yeah, it was interesting because it made me think about it in a different way.
The way Miles’ relationship with Tristan was written, specifically some of Tristan’s remarks about Miles’ bisexuality, has garnered some more criticism in recent years. Do you have any thoughts on that?
EO: I think at the time, I was just trying to focus on the relationship and how Miles registered it. And I think I was playing into Miles and his sense of shame about it. Like, if he feels like this, then it makes sense that Miles would feel ashamed of ... not having a label, and not being able to figure this out and, I guess, navigate his own identity within all of it. So I think I probably registered it as Miles taking cues from other people to see how he should feel. If I went back and watched it now, I probably would have different thoughts about it.
I think that’s something people appreciated about Miles’ relationship with Lola, that she was totally accepting from the get-go.
EO: Yeah, Lola was just such an accepting, loving character. And I think that's probably why she works really well with Miles, too. They both have this kind of flexibility and intuitive sense of loving people that comes out in different ways but complements each other.
It seemed a lot less strained [with Lola] than some of [Miles’ other relationships] did. I remember there just being so many leagues and leagues of conflict between Miles and every other relationship he had. And obviously there was some [conflict] in this one too, but for some reason, it just seemed a little bit more, like, effortless.
6. Are there any characters from the earlier seasons of Degrassi: The Next Generation that you would have loved to play?
AA: Manny! Imogen was really cool too. Also, I watched the season with Munro [Chambers] when Eli first came out — I was watching it like crazy.
EO: Yeah, probably Eli!
7. Eric, do you have a favorite Lola scene?
EO: The abortion scene was something that I was particularly struck by. Amanda always brought a very particular energy and kind of life to the scenes that drew your eye in and grounded your attention, and it was always such a joy to watch.
AA: Oh my god, I have a fan! [laughs] Thank you.
And Amanda, do you have a favorite Miles scene?
AA: Miles’ scene when he was on horse tranquilizers...is that what you were on? Ketamine? And then Tiny [almost] punches him [for sending Lola dick pics]. I remember we were on set like, “Is there anything on the phone?” and looking. [laughs]
8. If there’s ever a Degrassi reboot, would you be down to make guest appearances? If Miles and Lola were to come back as adults, what do you think they’d be up to?
AA: Yeah, it’s where we got started! Maybe Lola would be, like, a social media marketer or something in fashion design. I mean, Amanda doesn't know anything about it, but Lola does.
EO: Yeah, that’d be fun. I hope Miles figured out some way to make a sustainable living out of [writing]. But, I mean, I guess his parents are pretty rich anyway, so it's not quite as much of a struggle. [laughs]
9. When the show left off, Lola was kind of starting something with Saad, and Miles was leaving for university in London. However, the Degrassi writers tweeted a few months ago that Lola and Miles are in touch and that he even “writes fanfiction for her” — do you think your characters find their way back to each other?
EO: I hope so. I mean, it was such a powerful, passionate thing for both of them. It was an important part of their lives. I think that it would be a shame if they just never interacted again. I’d hope that they would find a way to rebuild some kind of relationship.
AA: Yeah, if it wasn’t for Saad, I think Lola would have gone to prom with Miles ... [maybe] the year after. [Writer's note: Amanda also revealed that she'd always wanted Lola to go to prom with Miles in the first place, especially since she didn't get the chance to get dressed up and have a "real" prom on the show.]
So, do you think Lola and Miles get back together?
AA: In the future, when we’ve learned all of our lessons. Right?
EO: Right — yeah! When we’ve learned all our lessons.
Thanks for chatting with us, Eric and Amanda! I don't know about you, but I'm manifesting a Degrassi reboot, hopefully with Miles and Lola returning as a couple at some point. You can stream Degrassi: Next Class on Netflix, and watch all 14 seasons of Degrassi: The Next Generation on YouTube.