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Tyriq Withers is stepping into the spotlight in a new way, this time on the cover of Numéro Netherlands.

The rising actor, known for his emotionally charged performances, sat down with the magazine to unpack the common thread running through his most memorable roles: the search for connection, understanding, and redemption.

When asked about the kind of characters he’s being drawn to lately, Withers shared, “Yes, there’s definitely a through-line. Many of my roles deal with pain, longing, or unresolved relationships.” He went on to break down some of his recent work, from I Know What You Did Last Summer, where his character Teddy copes with neglect and a hunger for love and friendship, to Reminders of Him, in which he channels grief.

In Family Secrets, he added, “without giving too much away,” he’s playing a character re‑connecting with a father who chose not to raise him, a storyline that once again circles back to yearning, healing and the desire to be seen and understood. Across the projects, the emotional DNA stays the same: a quiet, aching pursuit of belonging.

As for how he stays grounded in such intense roles, Withers spoke to the idea of emotional equilibrium. “I think emotional equilibrium comes from actively listening,” he shared. “My approach is simple: don’t act, react. I focus on listening to what’s happening in the scene and staying grounded in my character’s circumstances.”

He continued, “One of the beautiful things about film is that the camera is always there, watching. It captures the subtle nuances, and those nuances carry the most weight. Because of that, I try to serve as a vessel for the audience, to give them space to place themselves into the moment. When you study the great actors, the ones I look up to, they’ve mastered what I call ‘the art of nothing.’ There’s a restraint there.”

On the cover of Numéro Netherlands, Tyriq Withers isn’t just posing; he’s a reminder that the most powerful performances often live in the spaces between words, in the quiet moments where pain, longing, and hope all overlap.