Alex Heartman, who plays The Red Samurai on the children’s show Power Rangers Samurai , has had a good year.
Heartman was recently nominated for the Kids’ Choice Awards, alongside actors such as Tim Allen, Jim Carrey, and Modern Family ’s Ty Burrell. Speaking over phone recently, he described it as a “great experience”, saying he had no idea he was so popular. “I grew up with Tim Allen!” he said.
While he is clearly popular with his audience, he says he hasn’t particularly struggled with the early fame (he is only 22). “One of the benefits of being on a children’s show is that they don’t mob you quite as much as a teenage audience,” he said.
The Power Rangers franchise has been criticised for its depiction of violence to a young audience.
“I know it’s been controversial,” he said. “But the show is not really about the violence, it is about adversaries and coming out on top”. Heartman said he had “no worries about playing the role”, adding that “the action is part of the adventure, and is only ever done against monsters.” He sees himself as fairly similar to The Red Samurai (who is called Jaden). “Jaden is quiet, and concrete in his ideas,” he said. “I could compare myself to him”.
Heartman, who plans on staying in the film industry, intends to move beyond kids’ television, saying that he would love to reach “adult audiences”. “I’ll definitely still be in the film business, perhaps in a few big blockbusters, and behind the camera as well,” he said.
Power Rangers Samurai airs on Nickelodeon at 6 p.m. and on Sonic TV at 7 p.m. Season 2 begins in mid-August.
