Starring in Prime Video’s latest friends-to-lovers hit Every Year After would give any actor licence to join the loverboy club. But Michael Bradway is going the extra mile.

“Men these days aren’t fighting for their women enough. Go watch The Princess Bride.” Unlike his character Charlie in Every Year After – Prime Video’s latest sugar-coated, deliciously addictive TV series – actor Michael Bradway seems to know a thing or two about love. In both a practical and theoretical sense, he’s gearing up for his wedding to fellow actor Veronica St. Clair and names the 1987 cult classic as his favourite film of all time. Emotionally avoidant readers can leave the room now, before we continue.

It’s easy to imagine Bradway finding his footing within the world of Every Year After, based on BookTok’s beloved 2022 novel by Canadian author Carley Fortune and brought to life by Sex and the City and Gossip Girl showrunner Amy B. Harris.

In the summer of yearning, it seems audiences have never been thirstier for the genre. Every Year After is for the orphans of The Summer I Turned Pretty. Friends-to-lovers-maxxing, the story unfolds around a holiday ritual of sorts, following Bradway’s Charlie Florek, his younger brother Sam (Matt Cornett), and their lakeside best friend Persephone Fraser (Sadie Soverall) as they slip back into their old dynamics, you guessed it, every year after.

Against the breathtaking backdrop of Barry’s Bay, the whimsical Ontario lakeside town that becomes a character in its own right, the story unfolds with all the delicacy and tenderness of first love, without shying away from the heavier stuff – grief, betrayal, the weight of impossible decisions, and everything that comes with them. Throw in a cast of piping-hot up-and-comers, and you’ve got the perfect recipe for a binge-watch you won’t be able to tear your eyes away from.

On the heels of Every Year After’s release, Bradway sat down with Wonderland to dissect the moment, talking all things love, finding family on set, and what’s next in his lover boy era. Keep reading…

Hi Michael! Thanks so much for chatting with us. How’s summer treating you? What’s been keeping you busy lately?

Hey! Summer’s been crazy. The Tribeca Film Festival, planning a wedding with my Sweetheart, and watching Every Year After on Amazon Prime… busiest summer of my life so far.

Massive congratulations on the show’s success. How has it been taking in all the attention surrounding this story?

What makes this so special is the fact that Every Summer After and Carley Fortune have such loyal and passionate fans. As an actor, it’s so surreal to be able to read a great novel and then bring one of the characters to life on screen. Especially a character like Charlie! The fans have been incredibly supportive. I’m so fortunate to be able to step into his shoes for the fans of ESA. It’s a one-of-a-kind ride.

Did you always dream of being an actor? What was your creative upbringing like?

No, actually. I started modeling at a young age but it wasn’t until my senior year of high school when I was in my school’s production of Fiddler on the Roof that I actually thought I could/should seriously pursue acting. My mom always encouraged my sisters and me to try new things and do what made us happy. If I didn’t have that support I probably wouldn’t have taken the leap.

Do you remember some of your earliest influences in the industry, or any characters that helped shape your approach to acting in those early days?

Definitely! Ryan Gosling is someone I’ve always looked up to. He has the total package: incredible range, funny, and still prioritises his wife and kids. He’s a north star for me.

How did Every Year After find its way to you? Do you remember your first reaction to the script?

I was filming Chicago Fire and living in Chicago when I first auditioned for EYA. Sometimes there are characters you read that feel so right that you can immediately imagine yourself on set and saying the words. Charlie felt like that for me.

What is it about this story that you think has made it such a fan favourite?

Carley’s writing first and foremost. Also, people love a friends-to-lovers story because it’s both fun and dangerous at the same time. When you’re attracted to your best friend there’s an imaginary “point of no return” line. It can give you butterflies reading their friendship evolve and turning each page to find out if that line gets crossed or not.

What’s your favourite love story of all time, and why?

My favourite love story of all time is from the movie The Princess Bride. It was one of the first movies I remember watching as a kid. That and the Lion King. It’s both romantic and campy, which is also important in a real relationship. It shows that if two people are meant to be together, nothing can get in the way. Also, men these days aren’t fighting for their women enough. Go watch The Princess Bride.

How would you describe Charlie to someone who hasn’t read the books?

Charlie is the life of the party, super outgoing, and very charming. From the outside, it looks like he’s got it all figured out, but in reality he buries his emotions. Losing his father at such a young age makes him afraid to truly open his heart and trust people because he’s afraid that if he does, they may be taken away from him.

Actors often have that one scene that unlocks a character for them. Was there a particular moment during filming when Charlie suddenly clicked for you? And what do you love most about him?

Yes, two scenes. The first was when he calls Percy to let her know Sue (his mom) passed away. It shows how much he cares about both his mom and Percy. That is such a strong part of who Charlie is. The second is the scene when Sam finds out Charlie invited Percy to Barry’s Bay. It told me how mischievous Charlie can be but also how strong he is too.

What I love most about Charlie is that no matter how stacked the odds are against him, he’s always going to try to make things better. He doesn’t quit.

What are some of your favourite memories from set? How did you and your castmates build chemistry, and did those friendships extend off-screen as well?

Every day on set felt like summer camp. We would drive to Minaty Bay and Bowen Island, film scenes of us swimming in the lake or playing on the dock. In between scenes we would chill by the water and play card games all day. Matt [Cornett], Joe [Chiu], and I would play golf as much as we could off set as well. Matt’s a really great golfer and Joe and I were beginners so we were constantly laughing at Joe’s slice or my shots that would go straight for the bushes. Matt became one of my best friends during our chemistry read and that friendship has become stronger every day since.

If you could play any character from a book, who would it be and why?

I love this question. My favourite book of all time is Donna Tartt’s The Secret History. One of my dream roles is to play Richard Papen. People describe him as deeply insecure and an unreliable narrator, but I understand what it’s like to be a fresh college student looking for more out of life. He’s the narrator of the book and because of that it almost feels like he can’t truly succeed or win because he’s telling someone else’s story. Like a spectator. It would be a fun challenge to explore him further.

Looking ahead, what excited you most about the future?

I’m getting married to my best friend, Veronica St. Clair, next year. It’s a cliché but when you know, you really do know. She’s an actor as well, and I’m looking forward to producing our dream projects together, too. Life’s a lot more fun when you get to share it with your best friend.

Words – Sofia Ferreira
Photography – JJ Geiger