Driven by rigorous discipline and dedication, American actor Maxwell Jenkins navigates Hollywood’s challenging landscape as he transitions from child actor to mature, versatile performer
Maxwell Jenkins has such a dynamic presence in Hollywood, having worked in various projects around the globe and with some of the biggest names in the industry—all since a very young age. His music, acting, circus performances, cheering and academics have all combined to create the man he is today. On top of that, Jenkins has also built an impressive reserve of resilience, connections and a strong work ethic. It goes without saying that this versatile and determined individual us ready to tackle any challenge that comes his way. One of these is the upcoming post-apocalyptic movie “Arcadian,” where he shares the screen with a very real Nicolas Cage as well hordes of fortunately-not-real bloodthirsty creatures…
DAMAN: Growing up in the Midnight Circus, you were exposed to a unique blend of performance arts from a young age. How did your circus background shape your approach to acting and storytelling?
Maxwell Jenkins: I think being exposed to some of the world’s best circus artists from a young age has had a huge influence on me. I grew up watching people from all over the world tell compelling stories with their bodies. It has always inspired me to find the physicality in a character, whether through gestures or where a character is centered.
DA: How has these early experiences molded your work ethic?
MJ: Growing up in the circus has provided me with a great work ethic. Circus performers spend hours perfecting a five-minute act. It takes great discipline to tackle a physical skill and keep working on it until it’s yours, effortlessly. It’s hard work and it can be lonely work. Many hours in a room falling and failing and then getting up and trying it again. Being a circus performer has given me a resilience and an appreciation of the lessons that can be learned in “failing.” Acting is hard work. It’s long days and lots of sacrifice … and it can sometimes be lonely as well. But like the circus, it’s also incredibly rewarding. When it’s a difficult day on set, whether it’s the hours or the conditions on location, I always remind myself that nothing is harder than the circus! I really credit my circus upbringing as the reason I have been able to balance acting alongside so many other interests.
DA: Let’s talk about your upcoming role as Thomas in “Arcadian.” How did you prepare for the emotional and physical demands for what is obviously this very intense role?
MJ: First of all, I was so fortunate to be directed by Ben Brewer. He gives you a lot of space to bring ideas to the table, but also understands how to support the actors so that they can be effective storytellers. He spent a lot of time with us discussing the world these characters inhabit. We explored relationships and rituals that the characters had. And because of his VFX experience, he was able to show us in great detail what the creatures we faced in the movie were actually like. We also had a lot of practical effects. For example, the beetle or roach-like creatures were very real! It was pretty intense to have to deal with them on set, and any time the monsters are near, well they are preceded by the beetles. And obviously getting to work with Nicolas Cage! Well, that was a masterclass in actor preparation. He is so prepared from the moment he arrives on set. He is also unbelievably generous and collaborative. I guess being surrounded by actors like that forces you to bring your best every day. In terms of physicality, I was lucky to have been a cross country runner; so, all of the running came pretty naturally to me. But running through the Irish countryside in these very remote areas allowed me to get lost in the character.
DA: “Arcadian” is described as a post-apocalyptic survival horror film. What aspects of the film’s setting intrigued you the most as an actor?
MJ: From the moment I read the script, I understood that the horror aspect of this film would not be the most forefront factor. At its heart, “Arcadian” is a story about a family growing up together in a world that doesn’t account for growth. I think the most important part of my homework was to dive deeply into knowing my specific relationships with the members of my family in order to make sure that we felt like a real family trying to survive in this remote place together. Fortunately, I got to work with Jaeden Martel who is an actor I have always admired. We were pretty much living together in this extremely remote part of Ireland and we truly bonded as brothers.
DA: You mentioned about working alongside Nicolas Cage. Can you elaborate a bit on that part of the whole experience?
MJ: Working with Nic is one of those things that every actor dreams of. I mean, he’s a true legend. I think a lot of people would be pleased to know that aside from being an incredible actor, he is also one of the most collaborative and generous people I have been fortunate enough to work with. I will never forget him sharing his ideas and asking for our opinions on how scenes should be played. He shared very personal stories from his own life in order to deepen a connection to a scene. He really cares about the work and he also cares about the people he is working with. And, of course, I learned a great deal from working with him. But perhaps one of the most important lessons I learned was to attack every scene with as much energy as possible.
On our first day, the scene that we filmed featured me running home late. It was my first scene with Nic and he said simply: “You’re late!” And it was infused with so much energy and pain and fear, that those two words raised the stakes of how dangerous being late in the world like this can be. Nic is really present once he gets to set. He’s a wealth of knowledge on filmmaking and acting. He’s also a massive history buff … and I’m also a huge history buff! So, I really loved just talking with him in between set ups.
DA: You have worked alongside firmly-established actors from a young age. Have you noticed any similarities or commonalities in their approach on acting?
MJ: I think every actor, “established” or not, has their own unique approach to tackling a scene. However, I think something that makes Nic unique is how he adds such deep personalization to his work. We had such a short amount of time to film this. We shot the film in something like 20 days, and by Nic sharing so much of his relationship with his dad and brothers, it really helped actualize our on-screen family bond.
DA: How has working with these actors affected your craft?
MJ: I keep saying I feel so lucky for the opportunities I have had, but it’s so true. I’ve been able to learn so much from the incredible actors I’ve worked with. Gerard Butler taught me about restraint. He used to tell me that in a film I could have one tear; that if I cried too much, it loses all its meaning. Parker Posey encouraged me to ground myself in the physical reality of a scene by making the set and props my own. Molly Parker and Toby Stephens taught me how to advocate for myself in terms of story. Nic taught me about focus and energy and personalization. And there are so many other incredible actors that I’ve been lucky to learn from throughout my career.
DA: You’re also set to star in the coming-of-age drama “This Too Shall Pass.” As a young actor yourself, how do you approach portraying a young man transitioning into adulthood?
MJ: Something that I will always be thankful for is how my parents prioritized that I stay a normal kid. They made choices that allowed me to keep a balanced and grounded life. Aside from being able to travel the world and work on some pretty incredible projects with amazing actors, I also went to public schools. I did model UN, ran cross country and got my heart broken and felt awkward in the lunchroom. I had real experiences. Having this “normal life” allowed me pull from real experiences to portray real emotions.
It’s hard to grow up. It can be painful and exciting and if I had only spent my life on film sets, I don’t think I’d be half the actor I am. My parents allowed me to take this journey with the understanding that I had the rest of my life to have a career, but that I only had one childhood. So, they weighed every opportunity with “will this enhance Max’s childhood?” If the answer was no, then they wouldn’t let me take the job. I am really grateful that they were so selective and this has made it possible for me to approach comingof-age stories in an accurate way because I have real experiences to pull from.
DA: How do you tackle working on movies from different genres?
MJ: In some ways, the genre helps diversify the characters. But aside from that, I dive into each character’s history, their wants, their needs and their relationships. I create a diary of sorts that fills in the life of each character beyond what’s on the page. I also almost immediately find my way into a character through both gesture and music. I usually make a playlist for the project that pulls me into a character. I basically try to create what playlist a character would listen to.
And, most importantly, I rely on the people I am working with. I have been able to work with some of the most talented people in this industry both in front and behind the camera. Filming really is a family affair. You have to trust the people behind the camera and your scene partners to help build that world with you. When everyone does their homework, and everyone comes prepared for the job that they have to do, those skills mesh together and that is what creates the world that you see on camera.
DA: Apart from acting, you’re also quite the musician. Do you see yourself pursuing projects that combine these passions in the future?
MJ: I have always thought of myself as an interdisciplinary academic, and I absolutely want that to carry over into my creative work. To that end, I am currently working on a new Amazon/Blumhouse series called “The Bondsman.” where a central part of the show is music. I star opposite Kevin Bacon and Jennifer Nettles who are both incredible musicians, and I am excited that I will have the opportunity to play music in that show as well. I don’t want to give away too much but I absolutely am working on projects that combine my musical interests, and will continue to look for other projects that bring in my other passions as well.
PHOTOGRAPHY @lensbymi_
STYLING KIMBERLY YVETTE GOODNIGHT
Styling Assistant Theo Hobbie
Grooming Maxwell M. for Exclusive Artists using products by DIOR
Production Media Playground PR
Casting Pure Consulting