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As Jack Trotter moves beyond the Van Rhijn household and into the world of entrepreneurship, Ben Ahlers reflects on the character’s growing independence, the personal experiences that inform his performance, and the challenges of navigating a changing social landscape.
For Ben Ahlers, playing Jack Trotter in HBO’s The Gilded Age has become an experience that extends far beyond the character’s journey on screen. Over the course of the series, Jack has evolved from an ambitious young footman into an inventor and aspiring entrepreneur, navigating newfound financial independence and a world of possibilities that once seemed inaccessible.
One of Jack’s most defining characteristics is his ability to approach life with curiosity, gratitude, and optimism, even when circumstances are uncertain. For Ahlers, that outlook is rooted in the character’s early experience of losing his mother.
“I think actually from losing his mother at such a young age, you can kind of go any number of directions after such a profound loss,” Ahlers explained. “One of the directions you can go is this sort of immediacy of presence and gratitude.”
Rather than allowing hardship to diminish his enthusiasm, Jack embraces the relationships and opportunities available to him. His friendships with Bridget and the mentorship of Mrs. Bauer and Mr. Bannister have provided a sense of belonging within the Van Rhijn household.
Ahlers also found unexpected parallels between Jack’s experiences and his own life. Having left home at 18 to pursue acting in New York, he understands the uncertainty of entering unfamiliar environments without an established support system.
He also spoke about losing his own mother a few years ago, an experience that deepened his connection to Jack’s emotional journey.
“I know firsthand the sort of existential both horror but also breakthrough that an event like that can bring,” he shared.
That personal connection has informed his approach to dreamwork and character preparation, allowing him to explore Jack’s circumstances through imagination, reflection, and his own lived experiences.
“Dreamwork with Jack was actually just dreamwork for myself,” Ahlers explained, describing how the process made it easier to inhabit the character once he arrived on set.
Ahlers first began developing Jack during the pandemic, when The Gilded Age was among the productions able to resume filming in 2020. At the time, he was actively trying to cultivate gratitude and optimism amid widespread uncertainty.
That mindset naturally became intertwined with Jack’s personality.
“I was having so much fun on set,” he recalled, describing the excitement of joining an HBO production and working on what was then the biggest opportunity of his career.
While Jack’s sensitivity and awareness were already present in Julian Fellowes’ writing, Ahlers believes his own emotional circumstances helped bring those qualities to life.
“I believe that Jack is kind of calling on the best parts of myself,” he said.
For an actor who recognizes that certain roles can require accessing darker emotional territory, spending time with Jack has offered a particularly rewarding alternative.
“To just live in like a big ray of sunshine with him is such a great way to spend six months of every year,” he reflected.
As Jack transitions from domestic service into the world of business, Ahlers has introduced subtle changes to the character’s physicality and voice.
Having initially worked with dialect coach Howard Samuelson to establish Jack’s speech patterns, Ahlers has continued adjusting his vocal performance to reflect both the character’s development and his own growth as an actor.
Previously, Jack maintained a clear distinction between his private personality downstairs and the more formal demeanor required of him while working upstairs.
Now that he is no longer employed by the household, those boundaries are beginning to disappear.
“I do think he is trying to step into a form of masculinity and maturity for himself that isn't fully realized yet,” Ahlers explained.
The deeper vocal register reflects Jack’s growing confidence, but also the uncertainty of defining himself outside the expectations of his former position.
Despite the external transformation, Ahlers believes Jack’s fundamental values remain remarkably consistent.
“He is so hardworking. He is so kind,” he said, emphasizing that Jack has never been particularly motivated by fame, wealth, or social power.
Jack’s success with his alarm clock invention has opened doors that once seemed unimaginable. But with that success comes a different kind of pressure as he begins developing an electric mixer.
Ahlers compared the challenge to an artist creating a second album after an unexpectedly successful debut.
“There's more pressure, I think, even just on himself to see, am I made? Was that just dumb luck? Am I really made for this?”
Unlike the alarm clock, which Jack developed out of necessity, the electric mixer represents a deliberate attempt to build a career as an inventor.
That distinction presents an entirely new challenge.
Ahlers also highlighted the importance of Larry Russell’s involvement in Jack’s initial success. Although the two shared the financial rewards of the clock invention, Larry provided access to business opportunities and influential people Jack could never have reached independently.
Now, Jack must learn to navigate the entire process himself, from developing an invention to manufacturing and selling it.
While he possesses considerable technical ability, entrepreneurship demands a different set of skills. Ahlers suggested that Jack is still learning to project confidence even when he does not necessarily feel it.
“As much as Jack, I think, is becoming more confident, I actually think he's presenting as confident,” he explained.
Discussing the electric mixer, Ahlers pointed to Jack’s understanding of the labor involved in household tasks and how technological advances could offer greater freedom to those performing them.
For his earlier clock storyline, Ahlers immersed himself in horology, learning from watchmakers and timekeeping enthusiasts in New York. The experience gave him a deeper appreciation for the patience, discipline, and technical knowledge required to understand intricate mechanical systems.
Reflecting on the uncertainty of the modern world and the parallels between contemporary technological change and the rapid industrial developments depicted in The Gilded Age, he suggested that Jack offers a useful reminder to remain present.
Imagining how his character might respond to an uncertain future, Ahlers offered a simple philosophy:
“We'll find out. Make sure that you're enjoying it and loving the people around you.”
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