Interview by Paul Salfen, Text by Christine Thompson for AMFM Magazine
In the terrifying world of MGM+’s hit series From, few characters burn as brightly — or feel as deeply — as Jade. In an exclusive interview with AMFM Magazine, actor David Alpay pulls back the curtain on what it’s like to portray the town’s most emotionally raw resident, describing him as “somebody whose skin has just been ripped off… every nerve ending is exposed.” As Season 4 hurtles toward even darker revelations about the Man in Yellow, Jade and Tabitha’s discoveries, and Boyd’s breaking point, Alpay teases a rollercoaster of twists that will leave fans stunned. Read on for his thoughts on keeping secrets, finding the heart of his character, and why this role feels like a dream.
In the ever-darkening mystery of MGM+’s hit series From, few characters capture the audience’s fascination quite like Jade. Portrayed with raw vulnerability and electric intensity by David Alpay, Jade has become one of the town’s most compelling residents — a man whose journey toward unraveling the nightmare’s secrets mirrors the viewers’ own desperate search for answers.
As Season 4 unfolds, the stakes ratchet higher. The closer the residents get to the truth, the more terrifying the revelations become. Who is the Man in Yellow, and what does he truly want? Could Jade and Tabitha’s discovery finally unlock the path home? As Boyd struggles to hold the fractured community together amid his own physical and mental decline, a new arrival threatens to shift the balance even further. Some doors, once opened, may never close again.
In an exclusive conversation with AMFM Magazine, David Alpay reflected on the thrill of bringing Jade to life, the challenges of keeping secrets in a breakout hit, and what fans can expect from the season ahead.
The Joy of Discovery — and Keeping Secrets
Alpay admits there’s a special satisfaction in watching audiences experience the show’s twists for the first time. “I get more joy out of watching people’s reactions when they get to see it for the first time,” he shared. “I never tell anybody anything. It’s nice to just let them discover it.”
Filming Season 4 meant Alpay had to sit on major developments while surrounded by excited friends and family. “We’re recording this before episode five comes out,” he noted with a laugh, “so nobody’s seen it yet as far as my circle is concerned. It’ll be fun to get to share it next week.”
Finding the Heart of Jade
For Alpay, every day on set feels like a gift — particularly the scenes featuring his character. “The Jade scenes are really special that way. I kind of feel like I’m the luckiest actor in the world,” he said. “I get really brilliantly written scenes, lots of fun to play, so many ways to interpret them.”
His preparation is meticulous. Alpay reads scripts immediately, aims to be off-book within a day, and spends days or weeks walking around town with the pages in hand, searching for fresh angles. “I try to find a way of seeing it that isn’t the first obvious way of seeing it. And usually when I figure that out and unlock something, I get to come to set, I feel like I have a secret.”
He lights up describing standout moments from the season, including a particularly moving scene featuring Robert Joy. “I love how Robert Joy did ‘Leaving on a Jet Plane’ on the piano,” Alpay recalled. “This man so broken-hearted, remembering his wife who he hasn’t seen in 40 years, and playing the song for his son who he never thought he’d see again. Wow, man. Just incredible honesty in that moment.”
The North Star: Total Exposure
When it comes to inhabiting Jade, Alpay has a vivid internal compass. “He’s just naturally very expressive. He’s reactive and he feels everything,” the actor explained. “I try to imagine Jade as somebody whose skin has just been ripped off of him and every nerve ending is exposed. So anything that he hears, he feels… He doesn’t have the guile to sort of disguise it. He just expresses it.”
That visceral quality, Alpay believes, pulls the audience deeper into the story. “It’s important to have that so that the audience feels like they’re on that journey with him.”
Advice for the Next Generation
Beyond the horrors of From, Alpay offers grounded wisdom for aspiring performers. “Anybody can be an actor,” he said. “Start in theater, start with community theater and then build up to it. Find your voice, find what makes you unique and what story it is that you have to tell within yourself.”
He speaks from experience. Early in his career, Alpay stepped back to figure out his own artistic identity. “I watched as much as I could… read as much as I could to figure out what it is that made my voice unique and special. It takes a lifetime of practice.”
A Dark and Twisty Ride Ahead
As for what’s coming in the rest of Season 4? Alpay teases without spoiling: “There’s a lot of twists and turns and not all of it is cheery and roses and flower petals. It’s going to be dark. It’s going to be intense. And the audience is in for a very interesting roller coaster ride.”
With its signature blend of supernatural dread, emotional depth, and relentless tension, From continues to prove why it has captured such a devoted following. And for David Alpay, playing Jade remains an actor’s dream.
Catch new episodes of From Season 4 on MGM+. What are your theories about the Man in Yellow? Drop them in the comments — just don’t spoil the ride for everyone else.
