'The Interview': Jonathan Roumie Plays Jesus to Millions. It Can Get Intense.
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This podcast is supported by TikTok. Sometimes the most interesting discoveries are the ones you weren't looking for. That happens every day on TikTok. A science experiment can spark a whole new interest. A recipe you stumble upon can become a meal you make for the people you love. And a restaurant you've never heard of might become your new favorite spot. That's the thing about TikTok. Follow your curiosity and see where it leads. Your next discovery is waiting on TikTok. From The New York Times, this is the interview. I'm David Marchese. It's common, maybe even natural, for audiences to blur the lines between actors and their famous roles. To assume that a beloved on-screen doctor might know something about medicine or that an action hero is a tough guy off-screen, too. But Jonathan Rumi is dealing with an unusually charged version of this dynamic in his role as Jesus Christ. And yes, this is our version of Christmas season programming. Since 2017, Rumi has been the star of the global hit series The Chosen. The series takes a prestige TV approach to the story of Jesus, full of sharp dialogue, interpersonal drama, unexpected humor, and high production values. That slickly appealing modern style, centered on Rumi's warm and relatable portrayal, has helped the show to become a massive success. It's been watched by more than 250 million people and will return for its fifth season under creator Dallas Jenkins next year. That success has also helped turn Rumi, a devout Catholic, into a kind of public faith leader. At public events for The Chosen, he swamped by fans looking to, as it were, touch the hem of his garment. He gets asked to speak at faith-based events, and in the online world, he has a partnership with the prayer app Hallo, where listeners can hear him read scripture and lead meditative reflections. As Rumi is well aware, his is a complicated and just plain unlikely situation for an actor to be in, but it's also, he believes, part of a greater plan. And for me, as someone who is sincerely curious about faith, and even if I'm being honest,
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The star of “The Chosen” discusses his early struggles in Hollywood, fans who conflate him with his character and how his own faith informs his work.