There’s no better way to end off Week 11 (can you believe it?) in Quarantine than hitting the couch (or wherever you get comfy) to binge watch Netflix‘s newest releases. Just yesterday, the streaming platform dropped its latest original comedy Space Force that features not only familiar faces but some new (and cute ones), too.
Produced by Greg Daniels (“The Office”) and starring Steve Carell, Space Force tells the story of Mark R. Naird (Carell), a decorated pilot with dreams of running the Air Force. His world is suddenly turned upside down when he is instead tapped to lead the newly formed sixth branch of the US Armed Forces: Space Force. The workplace comedy series follows his journey as he is tasked to find new recruits, train them and prepare them for their ultimate goal to get “boots on the moon” per the orders of the President.
In addition to Carell, the series stars John Malkovich as Dr. Adrian Mallory, a Space Force scientist and parody of Dr. Strangelove; Ben Schwartz as F. Tony Scarapiducci, Space Force social media director; Dana Silvers as Erin Naird, Mark’s teenage daughter; and Tawny Newsome as Angela Ali, a Space Force helicopter pilot; with supporting roles from the late Fred Willard as Fred Naird, Mark’s father; Lisa Kudrow as Maggie Naird, Mark’s wife; and Jane Lynch as Chief of Naval Operations.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CAsgeoUnJiD/
A one to watch from the cast is newcomer Alex Sparrow, as he plays Yuri “Bobby” Telatovich, a Russian working at the base who is dating Mark’s son Erin (Silvers). While we don’t know his true intentions, Mark believes Yuri is mainly interested in using her to get secret information.
On how he landed the role, Sparrow tells Celeb Secrets, “I was in Stockholm recording a song and in the middle of the night and I put my phone up next to the refrigerator, sent a self tape and eventually forgot about it. Then one day I was back in Moscow doing shows and concerts, and all of a sudden I got a call back saying I had to be in Los Angeles and that I booked the role. I went straight to the airport to make it on set.”
“When I finally made it, my first scene was with Steve Carell. And as I was learning my lines, I see him and say hello and he said, ‘hey Alex great self-tape and we’re happy to have you.’ He’s such a nice, sweet incredible guy. Such a professional. I was just watching him while he was working and I thought it was so cool because I am always learning.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4mY2asIjWk
While Sparrow is making a name for himself here in the United States, the actor (and musician!) is no stranger to the spotlight. The Russian dual threat’s accomplishments are absolutely mind blowing. He’s won Russian versions of Dancing and Skating With The Stars, The X-Factor and a Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards for Favorite Actor… twice.
Living in Los Angeles with more accomplishments being added daily, Sparrow also writes and performs original music, with his latest single being “Let’s Stay Home Tonight.” Written last year, Alex decided to release the song last month considering we are all sheltering in place due to the Coronavirus.
“The essence of this song is that you don’t need to be out and about, chase the next rush and make big plans – it’s about living in the moment and appreciate what you have,” Sparrow says. “I wrote this song a while back and have thought about the right timing of when to release it. And if not now, then when?”
The thing that makes Sparrow so special is his determination to be the best version of himself, no matter what obstacles come his way. As he was beginning to take his first steps to his international career in the US, he got into an accident, followed by massive stroke, which paralyzed the left side of his body. During two years of rehabilitation he had to work hard to get his life back, and had to learn from scratch to talk, to walk, and to sing again as well as new language… English.
“When I first came to America, I didn’t speak any English. Most of my fans are Russian and when I told them that I was going live in English [with Celeb Secrets], they told me they wouldn’t be able to understand it. And this is what I was before I came to America. I couldn’t even order a coffee,” he said on our IG Live earlier this month.
“I learned by listening to music and watching movies with subtitles. It’s been really hard because I don’t have many friends here in the US so I didn’t have many opportunities to practice. I did go to an acting studio in LA and it helped me a lot.”
“Anything is possible. If you don’t know something, you can learn,” he continued, “Use this time in quarantine to take a book or go online and learn something. Seven years ago I had a massive stroke on the right side of my brain and basically everything I knew or could do I forgot. When the doctor came to my hospital and started to speak, I realized I didn’t remember his language. I had to recover and I did. Never give up!”
Make sure to follow Alex on Instagram at @mr.alexsparrow and let us know if you’ve watched Space Force and listened to his music by either leaving a reaction at the bottom of the post or by sending us a tweet at @celebsecrets.
