Hunter Cardinal discusses the evolution of his artistry and what it takes to portray a character like Michael in the first season of “Bet”
With “Bet” making waves as one of the year’s most talked-about series, Hunter Cardinal, who plays as Michael in the show, proves once again that he’s a talent to watch. Known for his work both on stage and screen, the Canadian actor brings quiet intensity and emotional intelligence to his character—who is as complex as the world around him. For those unfamiliar with the show, the story of “Bet” is set in an elite boarding school where—as the title suggests—gambling is a big deal. The show is an adaptation of the Japanese manga “Kakegurui,” and Cardinal’s character, Michael, is an original character made for the Netflix series.
In this special feature for DAMAN, he shares insights into building a layered performance, the influence of his BFA training and the stories that continue to move him forward.
DAMAN: Let’s talk about your appearance in season one of “Bet.” What was it about the role that caught your attention, and how did you start thinking about how to bring him to life?
Hunter Cardinal: Michael grabbed me the instant I saw his defiance was only a mask. He’s the lone student who refuses to gamble—outwardly cynical, yet shielding a child-like, almost fragile hope that the world can still be healed. I began by asking, “What exactly is he protecting?” and then let him guard that tender hope against the slow-burning rage that comes from watching injustice devour the people he loves. The real thrill, and heartbreak, was seeing how long he could hold that fire without letting it consume him.
DA: “Bet” was originally adapted from “Kakegurui”—which started as a manga and was later turned into an anime and a Japanese live-action series. How did you and the team approach honoring that source material while still making something original and fresh for a new audience?
HC: We treated the source material like an heirloom: study its craftsmanship, feel its audacity, then refuse to photocopy it. Once I stepped into Michael, I worked on growing our story from the same soil—determined it would stretch toward its own light. My constant check-in was, “Is this choice fearless enough to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the original, never hiding behind it?” After all, that same audacious spirit reminds us that underestimating someone willing to take a risk is the fastest way to lose everything.
DA: Why do you think does Michael’s story matters in the bigger picture?
HC: Michael carries the quiet wound of discovering that the world doesn’t always keep its promises, that the people we love can suffer for no clear reason. Through him, the series speaks to the part of us that saw that injustice too early and has been aching, screaming, or grieving ever since. Bet doesn’t rush to mend that pain; it simply holds it in the light so we can see it together and know, yes—it hurt, and it was never our fault.
DA: You’ve mentioned how much joy went into creating the series and we noticed a story highlight on Instagram titled “B(e)TS.” Can you elaborate on this?
HC: I started “B(e)TS” as a living scrapbook—little flashes of joy, sweat and friendship the audience rarely gets to see. From day one, our showrunner Simon Barry urged us to trust the final cut but, above all, savor the process itself. That invitation to stay present turned rehearsals, table reads and even snack-run moments into memories worth bottling. Sharing them now feels like passing the camera to the fans and saying: here, feel the warmth that went into every frame.
DA: Who was the most important influence on how you shaped Michael?
HC: Michael wasn’t shaped by a single influence so much as by the space my cast and I created together. Simon set our guiding star of trust on day one, and every time one of us leaped, someone caught them. Inside those arms is where I found what Michael listens for, what makes him flinch, and where his quiet courage lives. Judging by the messages pouring in, that collective wager is landing with audiences, and that’s the best influence I could have asked for.
DA: You studied acting formally, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts. Do you remember what first sparked your love for the art? Was there a moment or project that lit that fire?
HC: It wasn’t a roaring blaze, but a warm fuzzy flame made from quiet laughter on sleepless childhood nights. When my late grandmother was visiting from New York, I’d tiptoe to her room, she would settle me beside her and we’d watch “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” until I got sleepy. Hearing her laugh, feeling that living current between the performer, the audience and her joy, made me feel alive.
DA: How has your BFA training shaped the way you approach roles like Michael, or how you handle creative risks in general?
HC: My classical theatre training gave me a full toolkit, but, more importantly, it taught me discernment. I approach each role, from Hamlet to Michael, by asking a swarm of questions and then deciding which tools the moment actually demands. Sometimes that means deploying rigorous text work; other times, it’s about letting instinct steer and trusting the room of artists around me. Training gave me the courage to risk both—to meet the work as I am and find the scene anew each day.
DA: As an artist, what motivates you today? Are there themes, causes or storytelling styles that really light you up?
HC: What’s driving me most is watching “Bet” ripple out globally and reflecting on how many invisible hands made that possible. A single performance sits on the shoulders of entire communities—family, mentors, crews, even early fans—whose quiet labor rarely gets credit. Celebrating those hidden circles of care, as well as inviting new people into that circle, is the fuel that keeps me creating right now.
DA: Are there any small daily or weekly routines that help you stay grounded or creatively sharp when you’re not on set?
HC: I bake bread—what I call my ongoing “grandpa training.” I’ve been practicing for years so that, one day, my family can wake up to the smell of fresh loaves every weekend. The rhythm of mixing, kneading and waiting grounds me, reminding me to get out of my head and make something nourishing with my hands.
DA: What’s one thing you hope people take away from your performance as Michael?
HC: I hope Michael leaves viewers with enough space to notice whatever part of themselves he awakens. We built him as a kind of Rorschach test: on any given day, you might see a hero, a villain, a scared kid or a furious young adult. That ambiguity is the beauty of it. People write to me describing wildly different reactions, yet each one feels personal and true. Those messages are a gift I never expected, and the truest sign we did something right.
DA: How would you describe “Bet” season one in three words?
HC: Beautiful. Distorted. Mirror.
DA: And to the fans who’ve followed you until now, what would you love to say to them?
HC: This is our win, thank you.
Photography Schlagenhauf
Styling Kimberly Yvette Goodnight
Photo Editor @lensbymi_
Grooming Faye Lauren at Tracey Mattingly using Peter Thomas Roth and Briogeo
Location AE Studio
Text Diar Matahari