.JPG)
Michael Evans Behling has had a busy year filming The CW's hit teen sports drama All American and keeping up with several side projects. That's why now, with the holidays around the corner, the star is fully embracing his chill "me-time," which he has officially christened as his “grandfather era.”
“I went out last weekend for about 30 minutes and felt so out of place. I was like, I just want to be home, on my couch, with chips and my video games. So I feel like in my grandpa era or happy dad at home era. I just want to sit on my couch and catch up on Netflix.” Fittingly, the 26-year-old actor is chilling at home in Los Angeles when he catches up with Teen Vogue over Zoom.
Although Michael prefers staying booked and busy the rest of the year, he has a newly-found appreciation for balancing work and play. “I want to keep the same chilling vibe in 2023, but at the same time, I want to be more proactive and tackle more of my goals and new hobbies,” he says. 2023 might not be here quite yet, but Michael is already off to a great start.
.jpg)
.jpg)
Irish Spring, the iconic body care brand known for its signature green bar of soap, has partnered up with the actor, who also happens to be a long-time user of its products, to help promote its launches, including the latest holiday gift set.
“I used Irish Spring in high school after track meets and football games. It was always the original clean body wash,” Michael shares. “I reached for it in the shower because it truly did what I needed it to do. It kept me smelling fresh throughout the entire school day, even between lifting weights and practices. I smelled fresh for a long time, which was the main thing that I loved about using Irish Spring.”
These days, more and more brands are starting to take an interest in skin and body care explicitly targeted to men. However, Michael shares that he's always made an effort when it comes to grooming. “I think I am a man who really cares about his hygiene and wants to look good with my peers and the people around me,” says Michael, who gets visibly excited when it's time to share his skin care routine.
Michael's overall glowy complexion comes in part genes and part easy-to-follow routine. “I always do a quick face wash with Cetaphil,” the star shares. “My key thing is taking care of my under-eye bags. When I'm at home, I'll use the Honest Beauty eye cream underneath my eyes and the moisturizer I love to use from Dr. Hauschka. At night, I'll use a toner to even out the blemishes.”
Skin care might have become one of Michael's go-to pastimes in recent years, but there's another hobby that's always been number one for the star: Sports. “Sports were always very imperative in our household. All my siblings played sports in high school, and my two older siblings played in college,” Michael recounts.
Instagram content
Michael's first foray into sports came by way of football, which he picked up “probably at four years old.” He kept playing until his junior year of high school and then shifted gears to track and field — though it almost didn't happen. “My path of athletics kind of got derailed my senior year because I broke my foot,” Michael shares. Had it not been for a hurdle his mom got for him just after he graduated, which he calls “the most meaningful gift” he's received to this day.
“I had a lot of history in the school, so there was a lot of weight in this particular hurdle that she gave me. It was a sign of a keep going. I did go on to the collegiate level, though, to continue to try to run. But, unfortunately, I re-broke the foot that I broke in high school. It's just unfortunate luck, but it got me to where I am today. Everything happens for a reason at the end of the day.”
As we know, Michael's sports journey didn't end there — though it might not have taken the form he had originally anticipated in his teenage years. A few years later, Michael got the chance to audition for his current role of heartthrob Jordan Baker on All American — and he knew right away that it was the job for him. (In case you need a refresher: In the show, Jordan Baker is the handsome, funny, loving, yet hot-headed football player at GAU.)
“When the opportunity [to audition for Jordan] came across the desk, I was like, 'this is a dream come true. This is like the role. You know I have the experience. I know that football mentality, and it's the exact position I played in school.” Of course, the stars aligned, and the role was his. (Everything does happen for a reason at the end of the day!).
On top of working on All American, Michael has also had his hands in several fun passion projects over the past year. Those include his streetwear apparel line, 5 AM, participating in a brand partnership with American Eagle, an Instagram partnership with Discover, and a new film, titled The Flower That Never Wilts.
Instagram content
Now, as the holiday season quickly approaches, it's only right that he gets the chance to kick up his feet and enjoy some much-earned “me-time.” Next week, he plans to head home to Indiana to spend time with his family before returning to Los Angeles for work obligations. While everyone is excited to see the next phase of his career and watch the evolution of Jordan Baker in All American, Michael has much simpler plans: “I'll probably be spending my New Year's playing video games upstairs with some of my close friends.”
Shop Michael's must-have Irish Spring gift set for the holiday season below! It includes two body washes and a bar of the brand's iconic soap, formulated to moisturize the skin and kill bacteria.
