In a compelling new interview with Pop Culture Unplugged, Maxwell Acee Donovan opens up about his emotionally intense role as Ethan in Prime Video’s hit series The Better Sister. The series has taken audiences by storm with its gripping twists, layered characters, and high-stakes family drama—and Maxwell’s performance sits at the heart of it all.
Life After The Better Sister
Maxwell admits the response has been overwhelming in the best way: “It’s been pretty fun. I’ve been hearing from… my third grade teacher who watched it before she realized I was in it!” He’s even caught himself binge-watching the screeners despite knowing the ending: “I was still so invested.”
Playing Ethan – A Character Caught Between Two Worlds
Ethan is a character stuck between love and truth, caught in the emotional tug-of-war between Chloe, who raised him, and Nikki, his biological mother. “He’s torn between two worlds, and he cares about both of them so much that it’s tough to say which one's right in his mind.”
Donovan also spoke about the challenge of portraying Ethan’s inner conflict: “He's underwater when we meet him… Getting to dive into that was really exciting because I hadn't done something so emotionally heavy before.”
Suspense, Trauma, and Secrets
Maxwell shared that the showrunners gave him a roadmap early on for Ethan’s arc, including key secrets and twists. “They told me where to drop hints and when to misdirect the audience,” he explained. “Even on set, we’d sometimes shoot scenes three different ways.”
One of the most pivotal moments for Ethan is when he reveals his secret involving Adam—a deeply emotional scene that required coordination between Maxwell, the directors, and co-stars. “We all got to throw in our $0.10 and see what stuck.”
Lessons From His Co-Stars
Jessica Biel and Elizabeth Banks, who star and produce the show, became mentors for Maxwell. “They both took me under their wing… I learned a lot about how to decompress between heavy scenes.”
What’s Next?
While keeping future roles under wraps, Maxwell teased a dream project: “I’ve been manifesting NOVA in the MCU. Also, I’m Greek and know they’re looking for a live-action Hercules, so I’m calling my workout plan the Hercules Shape.”
Final Thoughts
Looking back, Maxwell calls The Better Sister the most challenging role of his young career. And with writing projects underway alongside his sister, he’s just getting started.
Follow him at @madmaxdonovan on all platforms to keep up with what’s next.