At just 22 years old, British actor Jayden Elijah is making a name for himself in the entertainment industry. With his captivating performances and undeniable talent, he has captured the attention of audiences worldwide. From his breakout role as Frankie in the family comedy series “Hank Zipzer” to his captivating portrayal in the critically acclaimed film “The Last Tree,” Jayden’s range and versatility are evident.
In 2023, Jayden Elijah continues to make waves in the industry with his latest venture. He surprised fans on both sides of the Atlantic with a prominent role in the highly anticipated American show “Saint X,” now streaming on Hulu. With his undeniable talent and charisma, Elijah has solidified his position as a rising star in the entertainment world.
EXCLUSIVE
DSCENE Magazine teams up with Jayden for an exclusive shoot captured by fashion photographer Rachel Marquee. In charge of styling was Edith Walker Millwood, with grooming by Simona Svantnerova and hair by Kay Walker Williams.
As this young actor continues to leave an indelible mark on the industry, we eagerly await what lies ahead for Jayden Elijah, a force to be reckoned with on both the small and big screens. Jayden sits down for an exclusive interview with DSCENE Magazine to talk about his beginnings in the industry, his roles and future plans.
What first inspired you to pursue a career in acting, and how did you get started in the industry? – I have been interested in acting from as early as I can remember- in the arts in general.
I went to Anna Fiorentini theatre school when I was 6, and from there, they took me on to their agency. I did a few small jobs, but my first one of note was playing Simba in the West End production of The Lion King. From then, I was lucky enough to work fairly often from that point.
How did you approach the role of Edwin in Hulu’s Saint X, and what challenges did you face while bringing this character to life? – I struggle to answer how I approached Edwin because I just did everything and anything I could. I had no single ‘technique’.
However, one of the first things I did and made sure to do was to frequently revisit the book and scripts. With the book- I extracted every passage that Edwin’s name was mentioned in, and from those excerpts, annotated and explored what I could learn about Edwin from them.
That allowed me to discover more of Edwin from the clues presented in the book.
With the script, for the first 4 months of filming, I read the Episode script we were shooting at that time every day I wasn’t working. I found it helpful to centre myself in that way. I also used music so much in my process, as well as physicality- we’d be here all day if I said everything, so I’ll leave it there!
A challenge I faced was holding onto a character like Edwin for our 6 month shooting period. Edwin is perpetually operating from such a place of resentment, insecurity, and overcompensation, which was quite taxing. People would come up to me during shooting or now while they’re watching the show, saying, ‘Wow, you’re just having so much fun, man.’ And I’d feel like, not really.
The upcoming series explores themes of race and privilege, which are particularly relevant in today’s society. How do you think the show will resonate with audiences, and what impact do you hope it will have? – I hope the show can make our viewers look at how, without them being aware- their words, money, assumptions and much more can contribute to systems of oppression. It definitely made me look at this myself- while carrying a character like Edwin for so long and also filming it on a historically exploited Caribbean island like the Dominican Republic while staying at a resort for some of the time myself- I couldn’t help but think very often, what would Edwin say about me doing this?
You are starring opposite Alycia Debnam-Carey, Josh Bonzie, and West Duchovny in Saint X. What was it like working with such a talented cast, and how did you collaborate with your co-stars to bring the story to life? – It was such a great alchemy of all of us discovering how we work together and how our different processes can all come together for the benefit of the show. For example, with West specifically- she preferred for our characters to discover each other for the first time in front of the camera rather than us speaking about our characters. This was intriguing and very different for me, being from a more theatre/rehearsal-type background. This allowed us to really be in the moment in a unique way on set, which was so fun and, I think, created a great spark on the screen.
School’s Out Forever has been described as a dark satire with elements of horror and comedy. How did you balance these different tones while playing your character, and what drew you to this project? – Schools Out Forever was such a ballsy film that seamlessly swung between really disturbing horror sequences and beautifully-British comedy. I loved the confidence of the Writer and Director Oliver Milburn to create something like this and had a great time shooting with the cast. The tonal balance was all in the writing, so I just trusted that.
In The Last Tree, you played the role of Tayo, a young man who must navigate an unfamiliar environment in London. What drew you to this project, and how did you prepare for this role? – The script was brilliant, and something I’d never seen before that people of a similar background to myself could directly relate to. It felt important for people to see it. I initially auditioned for Femi and then, on the recall, got asked to play Tayo instead. I was just happy to be involved, really. I was 17 then, so how I approached acting was very different. I based Tayo off about 3 people I knew in real life, and Shola’s shooting style is very freeing, with long takes and a beautiful allowance for us to, in the moment, change the words as we felt fit. In some scenes, he’d ask us to forget what was written on the script completely and instead improvise the scene just based on the scenario- so I’d have to be really tapped into what Tayo was thinking.
While I made sure that I knew Tayo to the level where I could improvise a whole scene with him, but I tried not to think about what I’d do in the situation until the camera was rolling, so it was impulsive and organic. I learned so much about what making art could be from this project and how the ‘rules’ are only there if you want them to be.
The Last Tree won numerous awards, including Best Screenplay at the Writers’ Guild Awards. What was it like working on a project that received such critical acclaim, and how did you celebrate the film’s success? – I love The Last Tree. It’s a beautiful film. And even if I wasn’t in it, I’d be saying the same thing. To be a part of something like that where so many great creatives- from Shola Amoo’s Writing and Direction to
Stil Williams’ Cinematography to Sam Adewunmi’s performance, and many more- all aligned and came together to make something so wonderful is a blessing.
Hank Zipzer was a popular children’s series that ran for three seasons. How did you approach playing the role of Frankie, and what did you enjoy most about working on this show? – I started Hank Zipzer when I was 12- so I don’t know that I necessarily ‘approached’ playing Frankie- I just went for it.
What I enjoyed most about working on the show was seeing how everything came to life from the scripts. So, for example, if in one scene there was a water pipe that bursts in a science class and the classroom floods and the evil teacher slips and falls- that actually happens on the day.
What advice would you give to aspiring actors who are just starting out in the industry? – Train and practice, research, and then practice again. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to go to a drama school though that may help some, but ultimately, make sure you’re researching and practising every nook and cranny of the craft you want to do.
Look for opportunities everywhere, and find the beauty in every step of your journey.
You have worked on a variety of projects, from television series to feature films. Do you have a preference for one medium over the other, and how do you approach each project differently? – I don’t know that I prefer one over the other, although there is something nice about the wholistic nature of shooting a film. You know exactly what’s going to happen, and your Arc is completed from beginning to end. In TV, you often only have a very light outline of what may happen with your character’s Arc, which can be exciting, terrifying, or both. I do think TV allows storytelling in a unique way I am fascinated by- True Detective, BBC’s ‘The Capture’ and HBO’s ‘Succession’ – just a few shows I am a fan of that showcase this.
What do you think are the biggest challenges facing actors today, and how do you stay motivated and inspired in your work? – The industry is rough, man; the no’s are rough. The no’s can feel like a comment on you- that you are bad at your craft etc, or worse, make you question your worth as a person.
And while these no’s can be helpful notifiers if you have a weak point you may need to train, we as Actors need to remember how many components go into casting a role. There are so many factors to getting that role you really wanted or being successful in the industry that are more significant than just your ‘talent’. Don’t get me wrong, an actor should constantly be working on their craft, and increased skill will help in the industry- but, maybe you didn’t get that role because they don’t feel you have the right look, you’re too tall or too short for this specific character in the casting director’s eyes- maybe even because your social media following isn’t big enough.
So the no’s should be embraced, taken as just part of the game- at least, that’s what helps me.
What can audiences expect from your upcoming projects, and what kind of roles are you interested in exploring in the future? – I want to do something unusual. I don’t know what that looks like yet, but I’ll know when I see it. Apart from that, I just want to work with people I admire, I can learn from.
Photographer Rachel Marquee – @rachelrmarques
Stylist Edith Walker Millwood – @ewm_stylist
Hair stylist Kay Walker Williams
Grooming Simona Svantnerova – @simonasvantnerova_
Talent Jayden Elijah – @jaydenjpd
