Olly Sholotan's moving portrayal of Carlton in Bel-Air has undeniably kept us on the edge of our seats for the past three seasons now. From struggles with substance abuse and rehab to poolside brawls over past lovers, it's safe to say that Olly's version of the iconic character isn't the happy-go-lucky teenager singing Tom Jones' "It's Not Unusual" that we grew to love in the 1990s—nowadays Carlton is dealing with some real-life 'ish.
xoNecole first spoke with the 26-year-old Nigerian-American actor turning heads on the Peacock hit show last year, ahead of season 2, and now we've reconnected to get the details on the latest season. Starting off fresh out of rehab while school's out—Carlton and Will (Jabari Banks) are hitting the streets this summer and if you're like us, something about that makes you nervous. "You know this summer; Jabari said it best. This summer is kind of a hot boy healing summer," describes Olly about season 3.
"Both Will and Carlton have spent the school year going through their own individual things and now this summer, they’re both working at the country club. Trying to make a little extra coin. They are starting a company, it’s a company called Blackccess, through Quentin’s [Vic Mensa's] Young, Gifted, & Black program. They’re getting up to some hijinks. They’re doing a little bit of street racing and most importantly, Carlton is falling in love. I can tell you it’s going to be a hot boy summer indeed."
"This summer is kind of a hot boy healing summer."
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If you've taken one look at the trailer, then the mere mention of Carlton's brewing romance should also not sit right with your nerves but according to Olly, it's the new love-to-hate couple that you won't be able to take your eyes off of. "Everyone deserves love first of all. Everyone deserves a celebration of love," Olly pleads. "The season begins about 30 days after the end of season 2. Carlton has been in rehab for a month. He is on the journey to recovery and the journey to recovery is not a linear one. Amira (Alycia Pascual-Peña) in a lot of ways complicates that. But she also completes him. So, can you blame him? He’s really just a young Black man trying to find love." When asked to describe Carlton and Amira’s relationship in one word, Olly quickly chooses "dangerous," which should speak volumes.
While there are many things that will leave you anxious when it comes to the latest season, there are also many powerful lessons being divulged simultaneously. One is the show's mission to show off the different facets of the Black experience and Aunt Viv (Cassandra Freeman) and Uncle Phil's (Adrian Holmes) quest to turn their young boys into hardworking Black men. "With this show, we really wanted to show the different facets of the Black experience. Will comes from Philly, he comes from a place of not having very much and he meets Carlton, who has had everything given to him. They’re both black kids and they both navigate the world in their own Blackness in different ways," explains Olly. "But Aunt Viv and Uncle Phil are just so insistent like 'we have to work for what we got so y’all are going to do that too.' I think working builds character. For me, up until very recently when acting took off, I’ve had a job. Then during the summer, I’d pick up another job. Stories like that matter because that’s the real. That’s just the real world and that’s what people are doing out here."
Olly is also excited about the upcoming guest cameos, one of which is a heavy hitter. In the past, we've seen Daphne Maxwell Reid and Tatyana Ali on the reboot. Joseph Marcell is now coming back, who played the Banks family’s butler Geoffrey on the '90s hit sitcom. "I got to talk to Joseph," the Bel-Air star recalls.
"He’s just one of those people that are so wise. He’s so wise and so warm, and willing to give his foresight and knowledge on things. There’s something almost overwhelming about having original cast members on our show when they do come, it’s like, 'Oh my God. You walked so I can run.' And they’ve all said it. Joseph said it, Tatyana Ali said it and Will [Smith] even said it the other day: Watching our version of the show is so incredible for them because our show really gets to dive in deep on all the things that they could only kind of touch cause it was the ‘90s, it was a 30-minute comedy, and it was on network TV.
"Watching our version of the show is so incredible for them because our show really gets to dive in deep on all the things that they could only kind of touch cause it was the ‘90s, it was a 30-minute comedy, and it was on network TV."
"Like we’re [here] today. We’re on streaming. We can really go there. We can get very serious, and it’s interesting because whenever the old cast comes to set, they’re sort of like this mirror of reverence for each other. It’s a really magical experience." Olly says he would love to also have Alfonso Ribiero, who originated the role of Carlton, on the show one day soon. "We met actually at the Bad Boys for Life premiere and we exchanged a few words to each other. I was like, 'Thank you, you are an icon for laying down the groundwork for this role.' I’d love to have him pull through. It would be dope."
Along with the cameos, the stars of the reboot will also be recreating some of the iconic scenes we love in season 3. "How are we going to pull off Jazz being thrown out of the house? I think that’s been one of the biggest conversations we all had." Continuing, "How do you take that thing that is just so inherently funny? How do you take that and put it in our long series version? We don’t know but I know that the writers have something planned and when that happens, oh my God! I’m really excited to see that. And also, the moment when Carlton tries to get into a fraternity, and they essentially turn him down like 'You’re not what we’re looking for.'
"Then Carlton basically tells them like, 'Nah, I am Black. I’m my version of Black. And you’re a version of Black. We can all exist in the same place without challenging each other.' I’m excited to see what that scene looks like with our take on it." And of course, xoNecole had to ask about the iconic scene with Uncle Phil where Will gets emotional while reflecting on the relationship with his father. You may recall Will sobbing while questioning his father's love for him, "How come he don’t want me?" According to Olly, fans just might be getting that too. "I won’t say nothing but you’re right. That should be in the show at some point," he says with a big smile.
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All in all, Olly may be one of the costars of the biggest dramas on Peacock right now but that hasn't stopped him from pursuing his music dreams at the same time. The Bel-Air star explains that even though acting has taken center stage, music has always been his first love.
"I think I fell in love with music first. As a kid, every Sunday after church, I would come home and put every single Michael Jackson DVD on and I’d watch them all," he remembers. "Name a Michael Jackson music video, I’ve seen it. So, I think I fell in love with music first but what I think was so incredible and groundbreaking about Michael’s music videos is that the core of it is storytelling. So, even though I was still falling in love with his music, I was falling in love with the acting and the production elements of it all. It’s weird because I kind of developed my love for both together. But, I’d say music is my first love."
The multi-hyphenate just released a new single "Bodye"— an Afrobeats-inspired track sure to get you on your feet. "I’m a kid of immigrants. I grew up on old-school Afrobeats. I grew up on Texas trap music. I grew up on East Coast hip-hop. I grew up on R&B. So, with my music, I’m pulling from so many of these inspirations. But specifically, with Afrobeats, Afrobeats be making you dance! Sometimes, you don’t even know what they’re saying but you’re like 'I just want to move.' So, for a record where I feel like my goal is to make people dance, having that influence felt really important in the song."
While there's no project release yet, the music video for "Bodye" is on the way, and more to come. "Right now, I’m building out my artist journey with singles." Continuing, "Rema is a beast. Rema’s latest album, "Heis,” is just incredible. It’s one of the first Afrobeats albums that I’ve heard in a while where I feel like it’s pushing the genre forward. It’s clearly inspired by the old-school Afrobeats that we grew up on, D’Banj, P-Square. But it still feels forward-facing. The sound design is incredible. I would love to work with Asake and Rema. They’re both just incredible artists."
With so much going on, Olly Sholotan has no plans of slowing down. His dreams are becoming a reality right before our eyes and it's a beautiful sight to see. "This is the only dream I had since I was a kid. I’ve always wanted to tell stories and be an entertainer for a living. It means the world to me. Every night when I go to bed I’m like, 'What’s happening?!'”
Stream season 3 of Bel-Air on Peacock now.
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RELATED
The film follows Faith Mitchell, a wife and mother whose life is upended by a devastating loss. As she spirals into despair, it’s the love of family, friends, and God that slowly leads her back to light. And for Paula, this story wasn’t just a role—it was personal.
“It connected to a time in my life that I could really relate to,” she says. “That feeling of having lost so much and feeling like so much pain, and not knowing how to deal with the pain… and numbing out to do that.”
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A Story That Hit Close to Home
Having been sober for seven years, Paula says the emotional territory was familiar. But more than anything, it brought her closer to a deeper truth.
“Once you give [the numbing] up, you have to walk in the desert alone… and that’s when I truly found faith in God.”
Turning Pain Into Purpose
While the film touches on loss and addiction, Finding Faith ultimately lives up to its title. Paula describes the acting process as cathartic—and one she was finally ready for.
“Art became healing,” she says. “That was the biggest challenge of all… but it was a challenge I wanted.”
More Than an Inspirational Thriller
Finding Faith is described as an “inspirational thriller,” with layered tones of romance, suspense, and spiritual reflection. Paula credits that dynamic blend to writer-director LazRael Lison.
“That’s what I love about Finding Faith,” she explains. “Yes, she goes on this journey, but there’s other storylines happening that help it stay entertaining.”
"Finding Faith" cast
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On-Set Magic with Loretta Devine
With a cast stacked with phenomnal talent—Loretta Devine, Keith David, Stephen Bishop—it’s no surprise that the film also came alive through unscripted moments.
“We did this kitchen scene… and Loretta changed it,” Paula shares. “She wouldn’t leave. I had to change my dance and figure out how to work with it, and it took on this whole other layer. I’m forever grateful.”
Faith When It Feels Like Night
The film leans on the biblical verse: “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” Paula says that reminder is something she’s lived.
“When you’re feeling so anxious, and you look out in the distance and see nothing there… that’s when you have to trust God’s timing.”
Divine Timing Behind the Scenes
Paula didn’t just star in the film—she produced it through her company, Third Eye Productions. And the way the opportunity came to her? Nothing short of divine.
“I said, ‘Just for one week, believe everything’s going to be perfect,’” she recalls. “That same day, my friend Charles called and said, ‘I have a film for you. It’s called Finding Faith.’ I thought I was going to throw the phone down.”
What’s Next for Paula Patton?
When asked about a dream role, Paula didn’t name a genre or a character. Her focus now is on legacy—and light.
“I want to make sure I keep making art that entertains people, but also has hope… That it has a bright light at the end to get us through this journey here on Earth.”
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