From Brady to Bright Horizons: Benjamin Hollingsworth Breaks Free From Hollywood’s Bad Boy Box
For years, Benjamin Hollingsworth has been the man you couldn’t look away from—the kind of actor who made playing “the bad boy” not only believable but downright irresistible. On Virgin River, his role as Dan Brady, the ex-Marine turned small-town rebel with a complicated moral compass, became one of the Netflix hit’s most layered arcs. Fans loved him for his smoldering intensity, the kind of charisma that made Brady hard to root against even at his lowest.
But Hollingsworth is ready for something new. The Canadian-born actor recently revealed that he’s leaving his “bad boy” typecast behind, trading leather jackets and dark pasts for something brighter, bolder, and, in his words, “more true to where I’m at now.”
Brady: The Role That Changed Everything
When Hollingsworth first stepped into Brady’s shoes, he knew he was tapping into a classic archetype. The ex-Marine with a checkered past, shady connections, and a heart that—just maybe—could be redeemed.
It worked. Fans were glued to his onscreen journey, watching as Brady transformed from Jack’s rival and the town’s troublemaker into someone far more complicated. His romance with Brie (Zibby Allen) gave audiences a glimpse of the vulnerable side hiding beneath the swagger. Hollingsworth gave Brady grit, yes—but also humanity.
“He wasn’t just a bad boy,” Hollingsworth reflects. “He was someone who had been broken and was fighting to put the pieces back together. That’s why fans connected.”
Why It’s Time to Move On
As grateful as he is for Brady and the recognition the role brought, Hollingsworth admits that being typecast can wear thin.
“I don’t want to spend my whole career playing the same kind of guy,” he explained in a recent interview. “It’s fun to play the rebel, but at some point, you want to show that you’re capable of more. That you can play the hopeful leader, the father, the hero who doesn’t always have to come from darkness.”
Hollywood, of course, loves typecasting. Once an actor nails a specific role, it’s easy for casting directors to recycle them into familiar molds. For Hollingsworth, the “bad boy” was both a blessing and a cage. Now, he’s ready to unlock the next chapter.
Redefining His Career
Hollingsworth has proven he’s versatile—appearing in medical dramas like Code Black and branching out into films that demanded emotional depth. Still, Brady remains the role most fans associate with him.
Ironically, Brady’s arc—struggling for redemption, striving to become better—mirrors Hollingsworth’s own career ambitions. Just as Brady longs to be seen as more than his mistakes, Hollingsworth wants to be seen as more than Hollywood’s rebel-for-hire.
And that means stepping into roles that highlight resilience, leadership, love, and even joy. “I want to play characters that inspire,” he says, hinting at a desire to lead projects that feel uplifting.