Morris Chesnut never focused on trying to make the ladies swoon as an actor.
Speaking with PEOPLE, Chestnut said that he just tries to be the best actor he can be.
“Honestly, I don’t really think about that aspect of it,” Chestnut said. “I just try to go to work, try to do my job, take one day at a time. And I just want to keep going and keep doing more things, so I don’t really think about it in that way.”
As the conversation continued, Chestnut said his career transfromed when he “claimed his space.”
“Claiming my space, in my career — I think where I made a change [was in] auditions,” Chesnut explained. “I think my auditions started to really matter and started to really change when I would claim the audition space as mine.
Chesnut also shared the keys to his successful marriage. He’s been married to his wife, Pam Byse, for 30 years. They also share two kids, a son named Grant and daughter named Paige.
“Listen, honestly, I wish I had the secret. Honestly, I do,” Chestnut said. “I think ultimately we have a great deal of respect for each other, and we’ve continued to maintain the amount of respect,”
Chesnut did share that he and his are “very fortunate to grow together” instead of growing apart.
“I think we’ve just been very fortunate to grow together. And we can’t control that,” he says. “You would hope as a person and in growth, you’re different in your thirties than you were in your twenties. And you hope you’re different in your forties than you were in your thirties. We are, and we’ve grown, but we just happen to grow together than grow apart. And I can’t really say that we controlled that.”
Chestnut currently stars in Watson on CBS and has a recurring role on Reasonable Doubt on Hulu.