Ben Marshall Is Ready for His Leading-Man Era

Ryan Lowry//Hearst OwnedBurt Reynolds’s 1972 centerfold in Cosmopolitan was, simply put, a major moment in pop culture. It was our magazine’s—any magazine’s—first time featuring a man in that kind of spread, and it cemented Burt’s status as one of America’s sexiest men. In homage, we’re continuing the Cosmo Centerfold series, in which we showcase the hottest celebs of our time. You’ll have to pick up an actual Cosmo to see it in the flesh. Enjoy!It’s hard to miss Saturday Night Live season 51 breakout star Ben Marshall. Even in his unassuming white t-shirt and jeans, the 6'5" comedian stands out with his shock of red hair and unflappable grin. Along with his nervous-yet-affable energy, Ben brought with him to Cosmo HQ his emotional support friend, Brady, who assures me in an impassioned speech that Ben is a “supremely nice person.” And I can confirm: Ben Marshall is, above all things, genuinely kind.Even after five seasons at SNL (four as part of the comedy trio Please Don’t Destroy, one as a full-time cast member), Ben is far from jaded. When I ask the 31-year-old Savannah native what he thinks about the adage that “nice guys finish last,” he looks almost disappointed in me, citing Conan O’Brien (who, for the record, is not his actual father) as an example of someone who was able to get ahead without leaving others behind.“It’s boring and obvious, but I really just love comedy,” he tells me. “I love laughing with my friends. I feel so lucky to get to make stuff with people that I like and laugh all the time.” He then laments (not for the first time during our interview), “I’m trying to think of anything else I could tell you about myself that’s remotely interesting,” but for me, his candor is a big part of his appeal. Ben knows exactly what he likes (comedy, books, basketball, Kurt Vile), and he isn’t interested in pretending to be something or someone he’s not.Something else he’s not interested in: discussing his personal life. He makes it clear that only certain parts of his biography are available for public consumption, and I respect his commitment to protecting his privacy as his star continues to rise. Ben is even reluctant to speak on what’s next for his career (“I’m lucky to be in a position where I can say no to some stuff,” he says) or whether he has a timeline for himself (according to him, he’s “just kind of feeling it out”), but he does have a great idea for a rom-com, as well as an embarrassing dating story involving prom and a pair of crutches.During our conversation, the 72 Hours star opened up about everything from body image struggles to kissing famously hot men on TV, and be warned: If you didn’t already have a crush on Ben Marshall, you’re about to.Ryan LowryJacket Dsquared2, shirt Acne Studios, top from The Society Archive, shorts Everlast, boxers stylist’s own, socks Coach, boots Ugg.Seth Meyers pointed out how often you were shirtless this past season on SNL, and more recently in the 72 Hours trailer, you were shirtless once again. Be honest: Were you manifesting your Cosmo Centerfold?Yeah, everything was very calculated. [laughs] No, god, I never imagined myself taking my shirt off in anything. And then it just kind of happened.You did it once and said, “That’s not so bad. Let’s do it again.”Something like that. It was so funny shooting 72 Hours, where we knew that we had to have our shirts off, but we were shooting that part toward the end of the summer, so all summer, we were obsessed with what we were eating and working out. Mason Gooding has, like, the most amazing body in the world, and we were all just extremely jealous and competitive with him.I know you play basketball. What else do you like to do to stay active?I lift weights a little bit, but it’s a lot of basketball. I do a pickup game with comedians on the Lower East Side, which is fun.When did you decide to pursue theater over basketball?I guess there was a moment in high school. I was, like, getting really into making videos on YouTube and photography, so I switched to this arts high school in Savannah called Savannah Arts Academy. I didn’t really do much theater or anything that we had, but I would always like act in videos that we were making.You never did the school plays?No, never.I thought this was going to be a full High School Musical situation.High School Musical but for film. And I’ve never fallen out of love with basketball. I still play all the time.Now you play with Adam Sandler, so I feel like things worked out.[Laughs] Yeah.Back to 72 Hours: Tell me more about your experience filming it. What was it like working with Kevin Hart?Kevin Hart is the nicest guy in the world. It was kind of crazy. He was improvising so much and, like, setting us up to improvise. Sometimes older comedians don’t give it up as much, but he really gives it up.In what way?Just laughing and saying things like, “Oh, that’s great, that’s great; do that again.” That kind of thing.Sweater Isabel Marant, t-shirt Rag & Bone, jeans Bluemarble, sunglasses Oakley, necklace Eliburch Jewelry.I never imagined myself taking my shirt off in anything. And then it just kind of happened.—Ben MarshallYou said during a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter that you would love to do a rom-com. What would be your dream rom-com scenario if you got to come up with the plot and your character and everything?Oh my gosh, that’s so hard.I can give you some time to mull that over.I would say that a big inspiration would be Forgetting Sarah Marshall. I think Jason Segel is so funny. I love how he’s very emotionally vulnerable and real, but it’s so funny all throughout.Could you see yourself as a romantic male lead? I know in that SNL “Cast List” sequel sketch, Will Ferrell said he wasn’t sure audiences were ready to accept a ginger as a leading man.I think I’m gonna have to push back on Will Ferrell’s character. We’re gonna make it happen for all the gingers out there feeling weird about their faces and bodies.Have you always felt comfortable in your skin or is that something that’s come with age?Oh, god, I don’t know if I feel comfortable in my skin now. I think that is probably something any comedian you talk to will say. I mean, it is so funny being a ginger. It’s, like, you’re not actually facing anything societally that is remotely difficult, but you are just kind of an odd, attention-drawing person. Day Walker, Albino, you’ve heard it all. Wait, what was the question?It’s impressive that you went from being one of Three Sad Virgins to the subject of TikTok fan edits. Have you seen these fan edits?I’ve had friends show me some and be like, “Ha, look at this.” I’m not on TikTok these days, but it’s cool to know that anyone’s watching.Are you pretty online?I’m trying not to be. I got a Brick. I really try to limit it, but it’s hard because you also want to maintain some awareness of what’s going on culturally.You’ve had a few viral moments lately. In your first SNL season alone, you kissed Harry Styles, you kissed Josh O’Connor, and you rode on Finn Wolfhard’s broomstick. So...marry, fuck, kill.[Panics] Oh, no—Add Cosmopolitan as a preferred source in your Google search results.Use your Google account to add this to your settings.I’m kidding, don’t answer that. But really, when did you become the designated kissee for SNL? Did you just raise your hand and say, “I’m game”?Gosh, it was so not planned at all. You know, the Josh O’Connor kiss was the first one. We did the sketch at dress rehearsal and it went great, but then the end was kind of nothing. We just hugged, so it petered out a bit. I don’t know if I said it to him or he said it to me, but we were like, “Kiss at the end, right?” Just to give it something big to go out on. So we did it, but I didn’t realize that the sketch right before it had ended with Bowen [Yang] kissing him on the lips, so I was like, “Damn, this is just the ‘Everyone’s Kissing Josh O’Connor Show.’”Top from The Society Archive, shirt Acne Studios, shorts Everlast, boxers stylist’s own, socks Coach, boots Ugg.After college, I know that you worked at the Y on 14th Street in Manhattan as an after-school tutor. Was that something you did just so you could mention it in your dating app bio?I was an after-school counselor for elementary school kids, so we would pick the kids up from school and then, you know, draw with them and play games with them. I attempted to teach sketch comedy writing to kids who were definitely way too young to understand what that was. It was also a good comedy day job, because there were a ton of comedians working there at the time. Rachel Pegram—who’s a writer at SNL now—recommended me. She’s so funny. There was also Sam Taggart, Joe Rumrill, Eliza Hurwitz, Colby Smith....So it was kind of the hottest place to be in town.Yeah. With the children.Let’s talk dating. Describe your ideal date.Go to the loudest bar you can find. No conversation. Or see a long film. No conversation. Then you each go home to your own apartments, and you go to sleep early.We’re gonna make it happen for all the gingers out there feeling weird about their faces and bodies.—Ben MarshallSounds perfect. Any funny dating stories you care to share?I do have a horrendously pathetic one. My freshman year of college, I was still dating my high school girlfriend, who was a senior in high school. Spring break, I flew home to go to prom with her, and she breaks up with me immediately—but she still wants me to go to prom with her. I’m like, “This is crazy. I’m gonna go play basketball, blow off some steam,” and then I sprain the shit out of my ankle. So I’m at my old high school’s prom with my ex-girlfriend, on crutches hobbling around, just the saddest, most pathetic sight. No hard feelings though. If you’re reading this, you know who you are. It’s all love.Top Commission, pants Ferragamo, belt Emporio Armani. Do you consider yourself a romantic?Um, yeah, I think I am. I think I am. Yeah.What’s the most romantic thing you’ve ever done?Oh, god, probably go to prom on crutches with someone who broke up with me. That’s pretty good. Oh, and one time—actually, never mind.What a tease. Now you have to tell me.One time on a date in college, we hopped a fence at a mini-golf place and were just lying down on the course, looking up at the stars. That was cute.Did you get in trouble?No. Got away with it, but maybe they’ll come find me now.On Jake Shane’s podcast, you were a bit down on getting older. You were 30 at the time; now you’re 31 (sorry). What bums you out about aging?I think it’s just...I don’t know, our time on Earth is so limited. I really like to be alive.What do you think is the best thing about being in your 30s so far?You respect yourself and your needs a little bit more. Like, I would never go to prom on crutches with someone who broke up with me. I’m finally feeling like an adult in a way that people in the past did when they turned 18.Our time on Earth is so limited. I really like to be alive.—Ben MarshallJacket Todd Snyder, t-shirt Bode, jeans Dior, socks Coach, sandals Adidas. Do you find yourself taking more fashion risks?I would genuinely say that what I wore during this photo shoot today was really the biggest fashion risk I’ve taken. You know, boxing shorts with UGGs and a tank top....Not your usual street style?Not my usual, but I loved it. It was fun.How would you describe your personal style?Relaxed, casual, gorgeous.I’m going to circle back to that rom-com question. Any ideas?Okay, a guy works at a pizza shop, right? And he falls in love with...toppings. No, not that, obviously.This is improv right now. This is where the magic happens.Maybe the woman who supplies the cheese. I don’t know. Just write, “Ben incoherently rambles about pizza.”An hour after the interview, I get a message from Ben. “I thought of a rom-com idea,” he writes. “Guy falls in love with his hair transplant doctor in a film called Turkish Delights.”Lead Image: T-shirt Bluemarble, top Tracksmith, pants Dsquared2, pins from The Society Archive, watch from Foundwell, belt Emporio Armani. Styled by Izaake Souza Zuckerman. Grooming by Davide Perfetti for Oribe.