How Hunter McVey Went From OnlyFans Modeling to Starring in ‘9-1-1: Nashville’

Everybody loves a “star is born” story, à la Mervyn LeRoy stumbling upon Lana Turner at Schwab’s Pharmacy (which was solely partly true — it was Hollywood Reporter founder William Wilkerson who found her at High Hat Café).

However Hollywood has modified bit since 1936, and so has the character of its in a single day success tales. Simply ask 26-year-old Hunter McVey, a health mannequin and influencer who suspects his OnlyFans account could have contributed to his personal, immediate transformation right into a primetime TV star.

“Who is aware of?” McVey tells THR in addressing his dalliance with OnlyFans, which lasted lower than one 12 months. “It might have been a part of the rationale I’m right here at the moment.”

Clearly somebody on the market preferred what they noticed, as McVey — who had by no means acted earlier than, a lot much less stepped foot on a Hollywood soundstage — was assigned an appearing coach by twentieth Tv and flown to L.A. from his hometown of Nashville to audition for a key recurring function on 9-1-1: Nashville: that of stripped-turned-firefighter Blue Bennings.

Earlier than his return flight had even landed, his telephone pinged him that he had gotten the half. Realizing he was meant for greater issues, McVey shut down the OnlyFans account, telling his following in a farewell video message, “I recognize your help over this journey. I can not thanks sufficient. And I’m not simply saying that as a result of it allowed me to vary my life and alter my household’s life.”

We caught up with McVey over Zoom to search out out extra about how he defied the chances to turn into Hollywood’s subsequent large factor.

Let’s begin on the very starting, Hunter. The place are you from?

I used to be born in Franklin, Tennessee. I don’t have too many reminiscences in Franklin, as I spent most of my early childhood in southern Indiana outdoors of Evansville. My yard was a cornfield. I moved to Northern Virginia for the later a part of my childhood and went to high school at Virginia Tech. Once I went to high school in 2017, my mother and father made a full-circle transfer again to Franklin, so I spent summers and winters in Franklin till 2021. Once I graduated, I moved to downtown Nashville.

And what introduced you to Nashville?

I wished to be near household, and I used to be working a gross sales job at a monetary agency in faculty on the time, they usually had an workplace outdoors of Nashville.

How did you get into modeling?

I in all probability did 4 or 5 completely different jobs earlier than modeling. I offered insurance coverage in 28 states. I did advertising for a CBD firm. I labored at a hospital and offered full-body CT scans. I began posting on social media whereas I used to be working that job on the hospital. I made a purpose for myself to put up each single day for a 12 months and thought that may enable me to turn into self-employed. In about seven to eight months, I used to be making sufficient earnings to give up that job on the hospital.

What had been you posting that you just had been making the earnings?

All types of movies. First it was health, diet movies. Then it changed into private care, way of life, clothes, skincare, haircare, mindset movies. Then I acquired contacted by modeling companies and began modeling. I began a clothes model. I began a podcast. I began a number of companies, some I acquired to launching, some failed. Then we acquired to appearing in Might of 2025.

I’ve seen articles on-line that say you had been on OnlyFans. Is that appropriate?

Sure. It was an incredible stepping stone for me and it positively served its objective. Once I began modeling, I figured most of my viewers — and that was a whole lot of hundreds of individuals, truly — got here in simply due to the way in which I seemed. So once I was posting value-driven content material about well being and health, I’d discover the views weren’t doing as properly as a result of most individuals are there simply to see my modeling pictures, see me shirtless.

And I discovered a platform [in OnlyFans] the place I might put up all of my modeling pictures, all the behind the scenes footage and an area for my followers to get higher related with me. I’d get 40 or 50 DMs about it each single day about folks asking me to make one. So I mentioned, “ what? If I could make the identical or extra amount of cash with modeling from house and I get to have my time and never should journey, why not?” I met some nice folks on there. The followers had been nice, and it was a stepping stone when it comes to my profession.

Who is aware of? It might have been a part of the rationale I’m right here at the moment. The final two years of my historical past has been trial and error. I’m not scared to fail, and it’s simply one thing that was part of my journey getting right here.

How lengthy had been you on it?

All informed, possibly seven or eight months.

Did you ever do full nudity on OnlyFans?

No.

OK. However there have been tiers that folks might pay to subscribe to you?

Yeah, I did a number of completely different tiers. I believe I had a free web page, I believe I had a $10 web page at some factors. It simply switched. There have been other ways for advertising functions to cost folks.

So then let’s get to appearing. You had by no means acted earlier than?

Appropriate.

Had you ever aspired to appearing earlier than?

Not likely. It was very out of the blue.

So inform me about it, since you did very properly, in a short time.

I form of acquired thrown into the fireplace, however that’s among the best methods to be taught in life. I believe the chance itself got here up as a result of I had submitted an audition tape for a task in a JFK Jr. sequence that Ryan Murphy and FX had been engaged on. I noticed it come throughout my inbox from one in all my modeling companies. I had by no means submitted for an appearing audition earlier than, however one thing about it sparked my curiosity and I informed my fiancée that it could be a good suggestion to submit for it. I believed it could get me in entrance of a few of the appropriate folks, though I didn’t know methods to do it.

I filmed it and it was a horrible audition tape. I did a number of issues fallacious. I used to be trying the fallacious means. I used to be studying it fallacious.

I assume you had been auditioning to play JFK Jr.?

Appropriate. And so I submitted that. I didn’t hear something again then. A few month later, my modeling agent was like, “Hey, there’s a present that’s filming in Nashville quickly. They’d love to do a studying with you. Would you wish to hop on?” And I used to be like, “Yeah, certain, why not?” And we hopped on with [20th Television vp casting] Eric Souliere on Zoom and did a studying.

They invited me out to L.A. for an audition at Fox Studios. Nancy Banks was phenomenal for 48 hours earlier than the audition in L.A., getting ready me and serving to me and getting my confidence there

Nancy Banks is who?

She was the appearing coach that was employed for earlier than my L.A. audition. I met together with her for 2 days.

Employed by who?

Employed by Fox to arrange me on methods to audition.

OK, let me simply cease you there. I do know you’re new to Hollywood, however you realize that that’s very uncommon, proper? That they’d not rent an appearing coach for somebody earlier than they’ve truly auditioned. They assume you are available in understanding methods to act, then possibly get you an appearing coach after or no matter. However clearly they appeared to need you sufficient to rent a coach that can assist you audition to get the half.

Since I’m new, I’ve by no means requested anybody else a couple of related scenario, however it does make sense what you’re saying. I assume they noticed one thing in me the place in the event that they’re going to spend the cash to fly me on the market, possibly they need me understanding and dealing with somebody that is aware of what they’re doing for not less than a day. I used to be very grateful whoever made that call to present me some assist with Nancy Banks.

When was the primary time you met Ryan Murphy head to head? Was it at that audition in L.A.?

I nonetheless haven’t met Ryan Murphy head to head.

Actually? It’s his present.

Appropriate. However he has a whole lot of exhibits. He’s a really busy man.

He didn’t wish to see you or meet you in individual, provide the stamp of approval?

I hope he would wish to meet me. I hope he was simply busy. Nobody informed me if he didn’t wish to meet me or not.

So who was at that large L.A. audition? It was the showrunners?

Yeah, it was the showrunner, Rashad Raisani, and Eric [Souliere] and Stephanie [Levinson, 20th TV executive vp] from Fox. It was the three of them in there. After which somebody recording the audition.

So then you definately had the audition. Then you definitely’re flying again to Nashville and also you get the decision.

Sure, that I acquired the half.

Are you aware the historical past of the half? Was it tailor-written for you?

I used to be informed there was about 1,000 individuals who auditioned for the half. It was the primary one which they began trying to fill and it was the final one they ended up filling.

So that you get again to Nashville after which what occurs?

I get again to Nashville. They name me and say there’s a forged dinner in an hour. So I run over there; I meet the forged for the primary time on Friday night. Then we began filming the subsequent Thursday. They flew in one of many members of Nancy Banks’ group, the appearing coach, and his identify is Daniel. And he spent the subsequent 4 or 5 days working with me about eight to 10 hours a day, going by way of 200 pages price of scripts, going by way of the fundamentals of appearing.

Did you be taught something cool throughout these classes? Something that helped you?

I used to be simply extra targeted on making an attempt to not die in 5 days.

Die of what?

Die of a coronary heart assault. Of being overwhelmed or pressured of nervousness. It’s large sneakers to fill with the 9-1-1 universe.

I’d be intimidated. I imply your co-stars, definitely Chris O’Donnell, these are main guys with a whole lot of expertise beneath their belt and also you’re a whole beginner, so I’d be scared.

You’re very appropriate. Sure. I used to be terrified. So Daniel and I labored collectively over these 4 or 5 days. He began with the distinction between a scene quantity and a web page quantity. After which we go into the script. Then we go into my perspective. Then we go into speaking about Blue as a personality. Then we go into technicals of what it entails occurring a set and the way they do blocking rehearsals and what all of it means.

It was simply sufficient the place I might get in there for the primary week and snap into it. And as soon as they known as motion, the whole lot else form of dissipated — a lot of the fears, a lot of the ideas. Due to how actual they make it really feel with their units and their 200-person manufacturing crew, you’re very a lot within the zone. Your adrenaline’s going, your coronary heart’s pumping, and so whether or not the nerves are there or not, it’s a really adrenaline-filled scenario.

Perhaps I used to be imagining it, however I felt like between the primary and the second episode, you had relaxed a bit.

I believe you’re appropriate within the assertion of, I used to be in all probability a good bit extra relaxed in episode two than one.

And are you having fun with it? Is it enjoyable? Is it what you anticipated?

I didn’t have any expectations or any time to consider it, however it’s been among the best issues that’s ever occurred to me. It’s been probably the most fulfilled I’ve ever been in any line of labor, in any profession. And it makes me extraordinarily glad to go to work day-after-day. I really feel like a child. I’m current for 12 hours. All of the issues which are tough in regards to the job — the shortage of freedom or time-control of your schedule, your sleep deprivation and the onerous work — all of it falls to the wayside if you’re there and particularly if you’re working round such unbelievable folks and simply with the ability to be taught a lot and be in so many new conditions and be taught a brand new talent. It’s implausible.

Relating to your co-stars, I imply, a whole lot of these folks have spent years making an attempt to get a break and also you kind of present up and get it in your first strive. Are they supportive and exhibiting you the ropes, or are they like, “How the hell did you try this?”

I’m certain it could have been extra of the latter, even when they didn’t say it to me, particularly initially. However I’ve felt nothing however kindness and help from not solely my co-stars however your entire 200-person manufacturing and crew and higher-ups. They performed a giant half in my confidence all through the final six months, as a result of I felt all of those folks need me to do properly.

I positively might inform after they introduced the forged, it appeared like each actor and their mom was offended that they’d give a task like this to somebody with no expertise. And I fully perceive for those who work on your entire life for one thing and haven’t been in a position to get your break, and then you definately see this man who posts shirtless footage on Instagram coming in and taking your job, they’re fully truthful to have their opinion.

However the factor I wish to concentrate on, as a result of I can’t change what folks take into consideration me essentially, is simply to do one of the best job I can each day and attempt to make the 9-1-1 viewers and universe proud. I wish to fill the sneakers that had been there earlier than me. It’s large stakes. I can’t take an excessive amount of else under consideration.

Have you ever completed filming the season?

We’ve got 18 episodes for the primary season and we’ve filmed about 13 of them.

I’ve seen a few of the social media stuff you’re nonetheless doing. You do a whole lot of excursions of the set and stuff like that.

I’ve a Patreon, the place I put up all my behind-the-scenes appearing content material. It’s the journey of me turning into an actor — the vlogs at 3:00 a.m. of me crying within the first month as a result of I’m so pressured and scared and nervous and don’t know what the heck I’m doing. I don’t suppose anybody shared that aspect of a journey like this. And I wished to doc it for myself, but when different persons are , lovely.

What does that price to subscribe to that?

I’ve a free one, and my paid one’s $9.99 a month. I’ve additionally began live-streaming on Twitch and answering query and solutions from the 9-1-1 viewers.

That’s a whole lot of interfacing with the general public. Does ABC or twentieth TV wish to oversee that or offer you any tips?

“No spoilers.” That’s their steerage. I believe they prefer it. I believe they notice how highly effective social media is with reference to even community tv. One clip can turn into a 20-to-50 million-view reel. So I believe it’s simply of their finest curiosity to have as many individuals as they will selling the present.