Bel-Air’s Olly Sholotan Wants to see Carlton Grow

In Bel-Air, Sholotan is charismatic, and he can't wait for his character's future.

Momodu Mansaray/Getty Images

In Peacock’s remake of the classic sitcom, “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” Carlton Banks, played by Olly Sholotan, is introduced as the cocky member of the Bank’s family. He is the son of Philip Banks, played by Adrian Holmes, goes to a primarily white-dominated high school, is one of the popular kids at school, and dislikes his cousin, Will Smith, played by Jabari Banks.

However, in Bel-Air’s first season finale, we see a change in Carlton’s behavior. From helping Will out in the season finale to rooting for him, Sholotan said that “Carlton sees more of himself in Will.”

In a Zoom interview, I spoke with Sholotan about Carlton’s connection with his Blackness, his relationship with Will, and what his future looks like.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

What was it like for Carlton to constantly code-switch when he was away from home, especially in school?

That’s the interesting thing about Carlton, and I have had this discussion with the creators; does Carlton necessarily know what he’s doing when he’s code-switching? He grew up in Bel Air, and that’s all he has ever known. So code-switching isn’t necessarily the thing he’s ever had to do because that’s how he speaks and relates to people. And if anything, the trouble he has come to is when he hasn’t been able to code-switch to Black people and sort of fit in with the Black people at school.

Why does he feel the need to do it?

For me, I would say code-switching is a means of survival. All of us as Black people have to do it [at some point] to survive and fit in at school and the workplace. You can’t speak to everyone the same way. So he sees that as his means of fitting in.

In the locker room scene in the first episode, why did Carlton defend his friends for saying the N-word?

When I think about many things, like, “why did Carlton do this?” I think the answer at the end of the day is survival. He’s the only Black kid on the lacrosse team and one of the few Black kids at the school. When you’re a fish out of the water like that, you have to simulate or die. So he sees that as his means of survival.

When Carlton first saw Will in the first episode, he had animosity toward him. What went on there?

Oh well, I’d say there was this natural distrust. When they first meet, I think Carlton is ambivalent towards Will. Then, he goes back to see his sisters, and he’s like, “honestly, Will is an easy guy,” like whatever. He doesn’t see Will as a threat or an issue. But he builds that deep distrust for Will after [Will] challenges him at school.

How did growing up in Bel-Air, and attending a school like his affect Carlton’s connection with his Blackness? Did it have anything to do with him hanging out with a white crowd?

Yeah, having grown up in Bel-Air, Carlton exists in a sea of whiteness that cloaks his Blackness. And so, in a way, he lacks a sense of belonging with his Blackness, which is apparent throughout the season.

In the seventh episode, Carlton finally stood up to his friend and told him to apologize for every racist thing he ever said. What was the defining moment there?

Well, it definitely was a sentiment that has been brewing for some time. But then, that morning at the lacrosse field, when Connor said, “this is the sport the Black people won’t be able to take from us,” out loud, it kinda pushed it over the edge and made Carlton realize that, “what? Who are you? Why on earth would you say something like that?” So that was probably the moment.

What was it like filming the scene with Jabari Banks where Carlton was vulnerable and had a breakdown?

It was such a beautiful scene because scenes like that are always really tough to do. As an actor, scenes like that are a gift because you get to showcase your acting ability, but also, they’re met with much trepidation because it’s like, “I have to nail this, or it’s painful to watch.” But Jabari is such a fantastic scene partner. In between takes, we’d finish the scene and sit there for a second, and he’d hold me and be like, “yo, you’ve got this. That was beautiful.” So it was indeed one of those magical moments on set.

Did that affect Carlton and Will’s relationship?

Oh yeah, I’d say that scene marked the turning point in what the rest of their relationship serves to be.

I watched Carlton go from disliking Will to looking out for him in the finale. What changed?

There’s something to be said about the compassion that Will gives Carlton. So Carlton internalizes that, and I think at that moment, he’s like, how best can I help my cousin? He doesn’t know what he’s doing. How best can I support him?

Do you think Carlton will ever believe his father again after everything?

You know, that’s tough to say. It all depends on what the writers want to do. But that’s a relationship in which much healing needs to occur. And I think that will be beautiful for people to see; just two Black men coming to terms with [everything] and healing.

Why did Carlton finally accept Will and Lisa’s relationship?

I guess he didn’t have any other choice. He sees that he has to relinquish control at some point because I think Carlton’s life has been a life of overcontrolling. He has constantly controlled everything around him, and you know, at that moment, he even says to Will, “look, don’t hurt her. I have already done enough of that.” He sees there’s nothing he can do if they’re both happy. Who is he to stop them?

How was it shooting the scene where Will decided to leave the Bank’s household?

That was another beautiful and touching scene to shoot. I’m proud of how it turned out.

What do you think Carlton’s future looks like?

I think Carlton has a lot more growth to do. He has grown a lot before our eyes this season, but he still has to do much. And now, for a little while, he has to navigate his world without Will, which means more growth and learning to be independent.