Charles ‘Chic’ Smith is new to Riverdale, but that doesn’t mean avid fans haven’t been waiting for his arrival since the beginning. Of course, he is Alice Cooper’s only son, making him Betty and Polly’s brother. As for whether or not his father is really Hal Cooper, well, that’s still up for debate. But, regardless of Chic’s origins, there is an actor behind the character and his name is Hart Denton. He chatted with [Teen Vogue](https://www.teenvogue.com/story/riverdale-hart-denton-interview-chic-cooper?mbid=socialtwitter)_ about what the process has been like joining the Riverdale cast, how he landed the role and what it’s been like keeping all these secrets from fans so desperately wanting to know.
In terms of fitting in with the rest of the Riverdale gang, it all happened seamlessly. He said, “It’s so organic. I have friends on other shows; they’re dumbfounded when I tell them how close we all are with one another. We genuinely love spending time together. Vancouver is such a removed place from where most of us grew up or came from, so we’ve been pulled out of our habitats of comfort. We’re exploring this city and finding things, and going different places, and getting to know one another. It’s been the most incredible thing I could ever ask for.”
Hart legit can’t stop gushing and we’re crying over here. Like, can we join the cast of Riverdale, too?! He continued, “[The cast] was ultra generous in allowing me into this family. And we all say that to one another, that we truly are family. We feel so close, and we all have each other’s backs. This world can be a very nasty place, especially when there is a microscope on things that we do or say. We’ve found so much comfort in being…family. That’s all it is. We really are. It’s more than just friends, and it’s more than just coworkers or acquaintances. It is actually a family, and it’s been the best thing I could ever hope for and ask for.” UGH, OUR HEARTS.
Before becoming super close to some of our favorites like Cole Sprouse, Lili Reinhart, KJ Apa, and Camila Mendes, he had to audition for the role. Duh. Hart explained, “Basically, [the studio] called me on a Friday. They said, ‘You have an audition on . . .’ I believe it was a Tuesday. So I watched the entire first season over the weekend. Just studied it inside and out, and fell in love with it, got obsessed with it, went in and felt like I was supposed to be a part of this world. It just clicked, it just fit so well, and now here we are.”
Before Riverdale, like many of the cast members, he hadn’t quite gotten his big break yet. Hart said, “I mean, honestly, I was the quintessential struggling artist who had less than a dollar in his account and couldn’t afford to print out the sides to take to the audition and had to memorize it on my phone. And then my life changed in a matter of three days. It’s been a whirlwind, and the most amazing thing I could ever ask for.”
Obviously, things happened for the right reason and we couldn’t imagine Chic being played by anyone else. But with all of this dream job success comes some hardships, and that includes keeping the storyline from the fans. It’s no secret that Riverdale fans are hardcore obsessed over the show and will quite literally do anything to find out what’s really going on. However, Hart has learned that his lips must stay sealed.
He said, “It’s very difficult because I love talking to people. I try to respond to as many fans as I can through social media, and I try to keep it, ‘Thank you guys so much, sending love. Thanks for the support.’ They’ll ask me certain questions, and I just can’t answer them. I’m aware that Riverdale is much bigger than one thing here and there. I have to be very careful with how I work around certain things, and I can’t say so much. It’s really hard to bite my lip, but it’s also very exciting.”
We’re anxiously waiting for him to slip up just one time. Kidding.
Watch: See K.J. Apa and Cole Sprouse’s Most Bromantic Moments
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