Sean Kaufman stars as Steven in The Summer I Turned Pretty, which is based on the book series by Jenny Han. New episodes of the second season premiere weekly, Fridays on Prime Video.

Belly used to count down the days until she could return to Cousins Beach, but with Conrad and Jeremiah fighting over her heart and the return of Susannah’s cancer, she’s not sure summer will ever be the same. When an unexpected visitor threatens the future of Susannah’s beloved house, Belly has to rally the gang to come together—and to decide once and for all where her heart lies.

“It’s really interesting because those are two of the most important scenes, to me, in the Steven and Taylor relationship,” he tells me, referring to their dance sequences. “I think it’s really important because well, the first one, the ballroom scene, it’s where the deb ball took place in the first season and I think that’s kind of like a huge moment for Steven where he takes a look around at what once was, you know, what he did once have in this moment and also, literally kind of the exact space that his world came crashing down and everybody’s world came crashing down.”

Kaufman continues to express, “So, to be able to go back to that same place a year later, now with somebody who has been by his side for his whole life and not just in that fantasy of the first season, in the fantasy world of Cousins, when the fantasy came crashing down, he’s able to go back with someone who’s been by his side. And the ‘Party in the U.S.A.’ is the same thing where it’s like, yeah, they’ve been doing this dance since they were kids. They’ve been doing it since they were kids and for him to do it at a party with her, and look to his left and there she is doing it, and they’re having fun together, it’s a big realization for him like, ‘Oh, I can’t hold this in anymore. Whatever we have going on, I can’t.’”

I had the chance to speak with the actor about his character’s valedictorian speech, the big moments in Steven and Taylor’s relationship, how the laser tag sequence was filmed, his thoughts on the love triangle, and much more!

Watch my interview here:

Please note: this interview was done prior to the SAG-AFTRA Strike. In support of the strike, please donate to the Entertainment Community Fund.