Darren Barnet [1] is known for his lead role on Netflix's hit show "Never Have I Ever," [2] and now he can add Victoria's Secret Pink [3]'s first-ever celebrity male brand ambassador to his ever-growing résumé. "I'll be very honest, upon the first mention of this collaboration, I was very confused because I wasn't extremely well-educated on Victoria's Secret Pink," Barnet tells POPSUGAR. "I thought, 'Am I going to be wearing lingerie here?' I didn't know much about the gender-free collection, but once I saw it, it was an easy yes for me." The cozy collection, which is available now, features sweatsuits, hoodies, and oversize tees that come in an array of dreamy colors and prints. The sizes go up to XXL, and the pieces are affordably priced between $25 and $60.
Along with curating a list of his favorite Pink products from the line [4], the actor will be participating in Pink's Mental Health Awareness Month activations and Instagram Live conversations. He will also serve as a judge for the brand's fourth annual Pink With Purpose scholarship, alongside Remi Bader and Chloe x Halle. "I love the [brand's] focus on empowering young adults and its focus on mental health. Plus, the pieces are just the comfiest outfits I've ever worn, and you can always catch me wearing some type of sweatsuit," he says.
Sweatsuits aside, Barnet often steps out dressed just like his character, Paxton Hall-Yoshida [5], on "Never Have I Ever [6]" — by accident, of course. "When I first went in for the show's fitting, I was wearing a flannel with a T-shirt, cuffed jeans, and Chuck Taylors," he explains. "And our costume designer Salvador Perez [7] said, 'This is good. We should follow this look!' So honestly, Paxton's closet is pretty much my closet."
Barnet says the similarities in their style make him easily noticeable among fans. "It's funny because during COVID, I'd go out with sunglasses, a mask, and a hat and I would still get recognized in a crowd. People would come up to me, and I didn't understand how that kept happening. Then I realized, 'Oh, I'm dressed exactly like the character right now. That's probably it.'"
As for what's next, he has a slew of exciting movies in the works including two animated films with Netflix: "Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles," coming out April 28, and "Blue Eye Samurai," which is still in the works. He even produced and starred in his first film, "Apophenia," which is currently under postproduction.
Ahead, Barnet opens up about his favorite pieces from the Pink collection, why his role in "Never Have I Ever" makes him even more proud of his Japanese heritage, and the "wild" times to come in season three. Keep scrolling for our full interview.
POPSUGAR: Tell us more about your partnership with Pink.
Darren Barnet [9]: I'm the first male celebrity to partner with Pink's gender-free collection. I'll be highlighting the new styles and curating some of my faves, too. I'll also be doing an Instagram Live during Mental Health Awareness Month with Remi Bader and the founder of Sad Girls Club. I'll be serving as a judge for the Pink With Purpose Project, which is a grant where we'll be choosing 10 young adults and they'll be getting $25,000 each to fund their own project to give back to the community.
PS: What's your favorite piece from the collection?
DB: I really like the varsity crew T-shirts and the crew sweatshirts that Pink has. I've worn them to events and around the house because they're super soft and have cool patterns like this tie-dye one.
PS: How would you describe your personal style versus your character's?
DB: It's actually a funny story because when I first went in for the show's fitting, I was wearing a flannel with a T-shirt, cuffed jeans, and Chuck Taylors, and our costume designer Salvador Perez [10] said, "This is good. We should follow this look!"
So honestly, Paxton's closet is pretty much my closet. It's funny because during COVID, I'd go out with sunglasses, a mask, and a hat, and I would still get recognized in a crowd. People would come up to me, and I didn't understand how that kept happening. Then I realized, "Oh, I'm dressed exactly like the character right now. That's probably it."
PS: Do you remember the first time you found out you'd landed the role of Paxton on "Never Have I Ever [11]"?
DB: I was in my kitchen, and I fell on my back on the floor. I just remember saying, "This is not a joke. Really?" And my team was just like, "Yep." I thought to myself, "Wow! OK. Dreams have come true."
PS: With AAPI Month coming up, we'd love to hear more about what your heritage means to you.
DB: I've been very proud of my Japanese heritage my entire life, but it's also a reality that I'm very "ambiguous looking," as I've been told multiple times. I know I'm not the guy that people usually think, "Oh, that's an Asian American man." I've had Asian friends where I don't feel quite Asian enough and a group of my white friends where I'm the mixed guy. It's never held me back or made me feel less than or anything, but it is something that I've dealt with.
Now, being part of "Never Have I Ever [12]," it has really put my Japanese heritage out there and opened a lot of doors for me. It's made me even more proud of my heritage and more confident in discussing it. I'm pretty decently well-versed in the Japanese language, but I'm relearning it again. I've never been to Japan, but I have a lot of family there that I've never met, so my plan is to become fluent before I visit.
PS: Is there anything you can reveal about the upcoming season?
DB: I can say it is all of the witty comedy from all the previous seasons mixed with the heartfelt moments that hit you right in the stomach. There are some wild times with the love triangle — no one's going to be able to predict it.