Chase Stokes Feels the Pressure to Keep a Surfer Physique forOuter Banks: 'I Want to Naturally Represent Myself' (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Chase Stokes at a Brooks Running Event on Sept. 17, 2024, in New York, N.Y.Photo:Brooks Running/Getty Kevin Mazur

Brooks Running/Getty Kevin Mazur

Chase Stokes' career continues to take off, but he will always be proud of hisOuter Banksroots.The actor, 32, has had an exciting fall with the release of Netflix’sUgliesin September and theupcoming fourth seasonof the treasure hunt adventureOuter Banks, releasing in two parts on the platform starting on Oct. 10.In season 4, Stokes reprises his role as John B, a free-spirited “Pogue” who is always searching for a new adventure alongside his tight-knit group of friends — and he also happens to be an extremely fit surfer. The look isn’t necessarily an easy one to maintain, but staying true to the character means respecting the “super lean” physique he’s meant to represent, Stokes tells PEOPLE.“I just want to naturally represent myself and take care of my body and present that to the world,” he says at a Brooks Running event for the newGlycerin Maxshoe. “I don’t want to show up on screen and look like I don’t take care of myself, because I think that is sort of disrespectful and discrediting to the show and the audience who’s tuned in.“Ahead of the show’s big return, Stokes teamed up with Brooks as they launched their new shoe, the Glycerin Max. The partnership felt like a natural fit for the actor since he’s “always loved to run in some form” and the shoe has become his “go-to” for running, he says.Chase Stokes at a Brooks Running Event on Sept. 17, 2024, in New York, N.Y.Brooks Running/Getty Kevin Mazur"They’re wildly comfortable too,” theTell Me Your Secretsactor says. “I catch myself walking around the house in them, and I’m like, oh yeah, they’re still on my feet. Interesting. Take your shoes off Chase, you’re inside.“Though his career is taking him to new heights, Stokes says he will always be grateful for the opportunityOuter Banksprovided him, taking him froma kid living in his carto a budding Hollywood star.“You can’t slap the hand that fed you,” Stokes says. “You can’t discredit or disrespect the thing that gave you not just the opportunity, but the ability to live a life that I never thought was possible.“He adds that in the early days of his career, he always felt passionate about finding his footing on a young adult show, seeing as many of the actors who have found longevity in their careers started similarly. WhenOuter Bankscame along, he knew that was his chance — and, five years later, he wouldn’t change a thing.Chase Stokes as John B in ‘Outer Banks’.Netflix"I would never mock the show that gave me the opportunity to have the life that I have,” he says. “I will always be grateful for this show and for our showrunners to take a chance on a kid who had little to no credits on his resume.“Stokes isn’t the only cast member whose career has skyrocketed since the premiere of the show in April 2020. Costars likeMadelyn ClineandDrew Starkeyhave gone on to work on successful projects like 2022’sGlass Onion: A Knives Out Mysteryfor Cline and, for Starkey, 2024’sQueer, which is now running on the festival circuit (“His talent is a beautiful thing. I’m super proud,” Stokes says of his close friend).Chase Stokes as John B in ‘Outer Banks’.NetflixHowever, despite all their latest impressive credentials, the main cast is happy to gather once again to shoot the show that started it all, Stokes says.“I think just like anything in life, friendships change. People go different places, life takes you different places,” he says. “But no matter where life has taken us, our safe space has always been the show. It’s always been like when the world gets big and a little bit crazy, the world ofOuter Banksis like coming back to your bed after traveling.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Outer BanksSeason 4 Part 1 will drop on Oct. 10 on Netflix, with Part 2 coming on Nov. 7.

Chase Stokes' career continues to take off, but he will always be proud of hisOuter Banksroots.

The actor, 32, has had an exciting fall with the release of Netflix’sUgliesin September and theupcoming fourth seasonof the treasure hunt adventureOuter Banks, releasing in two parts on the platform starting on Oct. 10.

In season 4, Stokes reprises his role as John B, a free-spirited “Pogue” who is always searching for a new adventure alongside his tight-knit group of friends — and he also happens to be an extremely fit surfer. The look isn’t necessarily an easy one to maintain, but staying true to the character means respecting the “super lean” physique he’s meant to represent, Stokes tells PEOPLE.

“I just want to naturally represent myself and take care of my body and present that to the world,” he says at a Brooks Running event for the newGlycerin Maxshoe. “I don’t want to show up on screen and look like I don’t take care of myself, because I think that is sort of disrespectful and discrediting to the show and the audience who’s tuned in.”

Ahead of the show’s big return, Stokes teamed up with Brooks as they launched their new shoe, the Glycerin Max. The partnership felt like a natural fit for the actor since he’s “always loved to run in some form” and the shoe has become his “go-to” for running, he says.

Chase Stokes at a Brooks Running Event on Sept. 17, 2024, in New York, N.Y.Brooks Running/Getty Kevin Mazur

“They’re wildly comfortable too,” theTell Me Your Secretsactor says. “I catch myself walking around the house in them, and I’m like, oh yeah, they’re still on my feet. Interesting. Take your shoes off Chase, you’re inside.”

Though his career is taking him to new heights, Stokes says he will always be grateful for the opportunityOuter Banksprovided him, taking him froma kid living in his carto a budding Hollywood star.

“You can’t slap the hand that fed you,” Stokes says. “You can’t discredit or disrespect the thing that gave you not just the opportunity, but the ability to live a life that I never thought was possible.”

He adds that in the early days of his career, he always felt passionate about finding his footing on a young adult show, seeing as many of the actors who have found longevity in their careers started similarly. WhenOuter Bankscame along, he knew that was his chance — and, five years later, he wouldn’t change a thing.

Chase Stokes as John B in ‘Outer Banks’.Netflix

Netflix

“I would never mock the show that gave me the opportunity to have the life that I have,” he says. “I will always be grateful for this show and for our showrunners to take a chance on a kid who had little to no credits on his resume.”

Stokes isn’t the only cast member whose career has skyrocketed since the premiere of the show in April 2020. Costars likeMadelyn ClineandDrew Starkeyhave gone on to work on successful projects like 2022’sGlass Onion: A Knives Out Mysteryfor Cline and, for Starkey, 2024’sQueer, which is now running on the festival circuit (“His talent is a beautiful thing. I’m super proud,” Stokes says of his close friend).

However, despite all their latest impressive credentials, the main cast is happy to gather once again to shoot the show that started it all, Stokes says.

“I think just like anything in life, friendships change. People go different places, life takes you different places,” he says. “But no matter where life has taken us, our safe space has always been the show. It’s always been like when the world gets big and a little bit crazy, the world ofOuter Banksis like coming back to your bed after traveling.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Outer BanksSeason 4 Part 1 will drop on Oct. 10 on Netflix, with Part 2 coming on Nov. 7.

source: people.com