As Dan Akroyd stated in “The Blues Brothers,” actor Jonathan Roumie is “on a mission from God.”
Roumie — a religious Catholic from New York — sees his work portraying Jesus on the hit Bible collection “The Chosen” as a ministry, he instructed CBN Information. The 49-year-old actor stated this throughout a quick interview from the 4 Seasons Resort in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles.
Relaxed however engaged, he composed himself after studying seconds earlier than, his picture — wearing first-century clothes, after all — is among the high outcomes that pops up whenever you Google “Jesus.”
It's no shock that for a lot of, Roumie's face has turn out to be inextricably linked to their notion of their Savior—a posh phenomenon that little doubt weighs closely on the celeb thoughts. However for a collection that has been streamed over 500 million instances, there was sure to be a correlation.
After snapping again to actuality, sporting a velvet fedora and leopard-spotted jacket, Roumie stated it was “completely humbling to even be in the identical sentence as Jesus”.
“However he type of put me right here,” Roumie stated after letting out his feelings. “So I can't fully keep away from the affiliation. There’s a mission for me in what I do, within the type of leisure. And these are the presents with which I used to be endowed by God, I consider.”
“I simply type of observe the place it leads me,” the actor continued. “And my entire life and profession has led me thus far and what occurs subsequent and the place God takes me and the way He develops my profession is as much as Him. I simply pray that I’ll all the time be complicit in His plans and never attempt to observe my very own hopes and wishes.”
As an actor who believes within the divine inspiration of the present's supply materials — the Bible — Roumie is aware of the place his character is headed. With the continuing crucifixion hanging over his head, the actor stated it’s maybe extra essential than ever to be “current”, each personally and professionally.
Hear them within the newest episode of “Fast Begin”
The fourth season, which opens in theaters on February 1, focuses on the persecution of the disciples as Jesus prepares his confused and typically discouraged followers for what’s to come back.
With no deliberate effort to remain current—a follow Roumie stated he realized from Jesus himself—it might be simple to lose sight of his work, his “mission.”
“As an actor, I’ve to watch out to not telegraph an excessive amount of, as a result of then I'm not even current,” Roumie defined. “So long as I'm there, everybody is aware of that — I don't need to fill the viewers's thoughts with what's going to occur; they're already filling it in.”
He continued: “As Jonathan, it's the identical. I attempt to not suppose an excessive amount of in regards to the future as a result of it takes me out of the current. In my interactions with individuals, [I talk] nearly that, about how essential it’s to be within the current second, and that Jesus needed to be essentially the most current one who ever lived to attach with individuals on the extent that we describe in The Chosen.'”
Returning to the often-blurred line between him and the one and solely Jesus, Roumie stated he tries to deliver the identical presence to his interactions with followers of the collection that chronicles Jesus' earthly ministry and ends with His ascension.
“Once I work together with followers… [I try] simply be current with that individual, ?” he stated. “And allow them to simply specific what they consider Jesus and me once we're portraying Jesus, and typically that line will get slightly blurry, however that's a part of the expertise, so that you I believe it's simply essential to only be current.”
Jake and Elwood had been on a fictional “mission from God” to save lots of the orphanage. Roumie is tasked with portraying a really actual character – Jesus – and His promise to save lots of anybody who trusts in Him.
With the stakes so excessive, it's no marvel he finds the job “completely humbling.”
To be taught extra in regards to the theatrical premiere of the fourth season of “The Chosen”, click on right here.
