Hey Jayden, so excited to be chatting with you! What would you say brought on your passion for acting at such a young age?
I’ve always had a vivid imagination and loved doing home videos with my mom. My brother is also involved in acting and I think seeing him have so much fun is what made me interested in acting. It became a passion of mine when I booked my first student film. It became more real to me.
What is one movie that has greatly influenced your life?
I love the movie Titanic. It’s long but I love the actors. Another movie that influenced me is Jumanji, the original. The kids in that movie were great.
What would be your dream acting role?
I would love to land a leading role in a Disney film or a Nickelodeon movie.
You are best known for your role in TV Series Lucky and Unsolved Mysteries. What have these roles been like for you?
Lucky was the very first student film I did and It’s a horror film. Originally, there was supposed to be 5 kids including myself but I was the only one to show up! When I first got to set, the principal actor was getting his makeup done and it was very scary! The makeup artist was amazing and the actor was very nice. Everyone was so nice to me and included me in more scenes than originally planned!
Unsolved Mysteries was filmed in my hometown of Philadelphia. It was my first paid role and I got to meet another child actor. We’re still friends now. In that role, I played a small child whose mom was killed and her boys were kidnapped. The role required me to be scared and I think I did a good job. I just remember the director was so excited about bringing these stories to life and that made me work harder.
Have these roles opened doors for you in the acting world?
These roles have made me want to work harder and become a better actor. I haven’t booked anything since the coronavirus has pretty much halted everything but I’m still auditioning and taking classes.
Do you have any projects in the works you can tell us about?
Not yet.
If you could have a gigantic billboard anywhere with anything on it — metaphorically speaking, getting a message out to millions or billions — what would it say and why? (If helpful, it can be someone else’s quote: Are there any quotes you think of often or live your life by?)
The quote that I live by and would put on the biggest billboard in the world is: “The biggest obstacle you’ll ever have to overcome is your mind. If you can overcome that, you can overcome anything.” -Unknown.
I have been suffering from severe anxiety since I was really little and I am proud of where I am now. Now, whenever I am anxious or upset I remember what my favorite kindergarten teacher told me. She would say “Jayden, take a deep breath. Inhale good thoughts, exhale the bad”. The quote above is so special to me because I’ve learned that if I just breathe and put my mind at ease, I can get through anything.
What is an unusual habit or an absurd thing that you love?
My friends would say that my unusual habit is I will eat anything! I eat veggies and fruit. I will try anything and my friends think that’s weird. I also like to go frog hunting with my friends. We never hurt the frogs, we just catch and release.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to pursue a career in acting? What advice should they ignore?
I would tell them to be prepared to work. You will be rejected more times than you are accepted but each rejection is a learning experience. You should never listen to someone who tells you that they will make you famous right away. It takes time.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, or have lost your focus temporarily, what do you do?
My mom helps me when I feel overwhelmed or unfocused. She will usually find a way to help me relax or let me play before returning to work. She listens to me when I say I can’t and supports me until I regain my confidence.
How do you want your relationship to be like with your supporters?
I want to be the same person with them as I am at home. I’m very friendly and I love to talk.
What’s something your fans don’t know about you?
I was diagnosed with a speech delay and severe anxiety when I was 18 months. I didn’t speak until I was 5. I’ve worked really hard to get where I am now. It’s still a struggle but I am constantly overcoming it.
What do you want your fans to know if they ever see you in public?
I am goofy, I like to be silly even in public!
What do you want your message to be towards your fans? What do you want your fans to take away from your shows?
I would want my fans to know that they can achieve anything they want, no matter what. I want them to know my struggles and to see that I overcame something that was very difficult.
What’s one word you would use to describe what your fans have allowed you to accomplish?
Confidence.
Is there anyone in the acting world you are dying to meet?
Besides Spongebob, I would love to meet Young Dylan
Why do you think social media is so important for artists like yourself?
Social media allows me to connect with other kids who like to act and I can connect with fans. It’s an amazing tool.
What would you say is your biggest dream/goal right now?
My biggest goal is to become a series regular or land a principal role in a feature film.
Any last things you’d like to tell your supporters?
To all my supporters: Thank you and I hope you will continue to support me.
Thanks for taking the time to answer these questions 🙂