Revenge Exclusive: Connor Paolo Speaks on "Peasant" Character

As a follower of Connor Paolo's on Gossip Girl for many seasons, I had to ask at the outset of our interview today: What are the similarities between Eric van der Woodsen and Declan Porter, the actor's character on ABC's Revenge?

Easy, the star said: there are none.

"It's all one big difference," Paolo said. "There are no similarities to speak of, outside of the fact that they're generally well-meaning characters. They try to support the people they love... but everything from their family to their background to even their look is different."

Okay, then who is Declan Porter? What can the actor tell us about his role on one of the fall's most anticipated shows?

"He's a local in the Hamptons," Paolo said. "He has no connection to the wealth around him, except he does have eyes. He sees the lives of this polar opposite society that lives a couple doors away, but whose doors are never open to him."

Revenge stars Emily Van Camp as Emily Thorne, a woman who has returned to this upper class neighborhood in order to exact vengeance on those who wronged her many years ago. Declan is not included in this group, but it sounds like he and Emily may have something in common.

"It's been made very clear to him since he was born: He's part of the peasant class," Paolo teases of Porter, who works in his father's bar and is being reared to take it over someday. "But he's not comfortable having his life mapped out for him. He's willing to endure what he has to, but only for so long."

Revenge premieres on ABC on September 21. Watch a preview for it NOW.

Matt Richenthal is the Editor in Chief of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter and on Google+.