Charles Esten.Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty

Charles Esten attends the Premiere of Netflix’s “Outer Banks” Season 3 at Regency Village Theatre on February 16, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.

Charles Estenhas forged quite the bond with his youngerOuter Bankscostars.

At the hit Netflix show’s season 3 premiere in Los Angeles on Thursday, the actor, 57, opened up to PEOPLE exclusively about the lasting friendships he’s built with the young cast — and whether he feels like a fatherly figure to them.

“I’m not sure it’s father, more uncle, maybe really old big brother,” the musician said. “They’re very kind and they listen to some things and they’re very kind about what they say about any lessons that the old guy has ever taught them just from being on the set together.”

TheNashvillealum, who plays Ward Cameron in the series, added that he is learning just as much from his costars as they are from him.

“But mostly, they blow my mind,” he said. “When I was their age, I was standing on the corner right up there watching a premiere with my mother from the outside.”

Charles Esten and Chase Stokes.Charley Gallay/Getty

Charles Esten and Chase Stokes attend the Netflix Premiere of Outer Banks Season 3 at Regency Village Theatre on February 16, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.

“How do you get that good that fast and also hang on to who you are? They’re just impressive people to me. So they have as many lessons to teach as I did,” Esten added.

Austin North, Rudy Pankow, Drew Starkey and Carlacia Grant also walked the carpet at the premiere, which was held at the Regency Village Theater.

The Outer Banks cast.Charley Gallay/Getty

Emily Levitan, Director, Original Series at Netflix, Caroline Arapoglou, Shannon Burke, Bela Bajaria, Chief Content Officer at Netflix, Julia Antonelli, Rudy Pankow, Austin North, Drew Starkey, Jonas Pate, Chase Stokes, Deion Smith, Charles Esten, Josh Pate, Madelyn Cline, Carlacia Grant, Peter Friedlander, Head of UCAN Scripted Series at Netflix, Jonathan Daviss and Madison Bailey attend the Netflix Premiere of Outer Banks Season 3 at Regency Village Theatre on February 16, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.

As for what fans can expect from the Pogues in season 3, which premieres Feb. 23, Esten teased: “I actually saw a clip today of Ward and Sarah reunited somewhere somehow. And she says how badly he’s ruined her life. And all he’s really saying is, ‘I know, I know. And I’m sorry. I’m gonna do my best to make it up.'”

“So the question is, is it real, is authentic? Can you trust Ward?” he continued. “It’s hard to at this point. But you have to also know how much you love Sarah if I’ve shown anything. So that’s kind of a really interesting journey for my character.”

“I’ve got all the gold, got all the treasure and the crossbow, but I don’t have that family that everything was for in the first place. So where does that lead his heart? Where does that lead you to him?” he added.

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Outer Banksseason 3 will premiere February 23 on Netflix.

source: people.com