IN CONVERSATION WITH MAXWELL JENKINS

interview by JANA LETONJA

Maxwell Jenkins stars in Hulu's film 'Arcadian'. Currently, we can watch him in Amazon and Blumhouse's 'The Bondsman', which released on 3rd April. Also upcoming, he will star in 'This Too Shall Pass'.

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jacket FOUND
necklace VINTAGE
tank DANDY DEL MAR

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suit DANDY DEL MAR
shirt RAGA

You’ve had quite a diverse career so far, from 'Lost in Space' to working with legends like Nicolas Cage and Kevin Bacon. Can you tell us about your journey and how you got started in acting?

It was a complete accident, really. My mom was a voice over actress but had no intention of ever getting me into the industry. In fact, she was pretty against it. Her agency's camera department kept asking to put me out for stuff from the time I was 5. She said no for 2 years until an interview came across. No copy, after school, and I didn’t have to miss soccer practice. I went in and I think I spoke about growing up in a circus and what we were learning in school. Next thing I knew I was on a plane to LA. But my parents were always very selective and until I was older, it was one project a year. The rest of the time I was in public school.

You’ve worked on both TV series like 'Dear Edward' and high-profile films like 'Arcadian'. How do you approach transitioning between different formats, TV versus film?

I love both mediums. However, I think as an academically minded person, they serve different purposes as mediums for storytelling. Film provides an intensive, creative, and efficient view into my role as an actor. I love the relationship I get to create with a director. There is a lot of freedom to mold and shape the story as collaborators. In fact, it’s the collaboration before, during, and after filming between actor and director on a film that makes me love film the most. TV is 100% a writer's medium. It takes longer to film a TV series, so I love getting to bond with and shadow different departments over the course of a series. I’ve been fortunate to have some incredible showrunners in my life and I've been fortunate to have them bring me into the writer’s rooms, so I felt a part of the creation of the story. Recently, as a film minor at UCLA looking to focus on screenwriting, I use my time on TV show sets to soak up as much knowledge from the writer’s room as possible.

'Arcadian' is currently streaming on Hulu and is in the top 10. What was your experience working on a project that’s been so well-received by audiences? What drew you to the character?

I try to have zero expectations of a project beyond the filming of it. For me, it really is all about the work. The rest is just a bonus. I think we were lucky, we got to take a victory lap on Hulu, if you will. It was one of the first roles I did as a more mature character. A character that isn’t pure, one that makes a lot of consequential mistakes, has a love story, was really appealing after having spent 3 seasons playing someone as wholesome as Will Robinson. It was an opportunity to grow as an actor and young adult. 

Looking back, I am also grateful for ‘Arcadian’ as it introduced me to actors and filmmakers who are my contemporaries. I was the only kid on a lot of the projects I worked on before ‘Arcadian’, and when I wasn’t filming, I was at school in Chicago living a very separate life. Thus, my professional life was very separated from my social life, and I had few friends who could relate to the double life I was leading. ‘Arcadian’ introduced me to Jaeden, an actor who had a career and life I could closely relate to and admire. It also reignited a passion to create and collaborate with friends. 

Your upcoming role in 'The Bondsman' opposite Kevin Bacon sounds exciting. What was it like working with such an iconic actor, and how did that experience shape your performance?

Kevin is an icon. Everybody knows and loves him. His experience and talent are unmatched really. What I really admired about working with him was his openness to collaboration. It is widely known how grounded he is, but he really gave me a masterclass in how to operate on a set.

Our show features a lot of music, it is a main engine for my characters’ relationship with Hub. It is what pulls us apart, but also brings us together at times. Kevin was so open to ideas about the songs we play together in the show. I would often find myself sending voice memos of mandolin solos to see what he thought. It was never “What Kevin says, goes” which, as a young actor on a set full of veterans, I really appreciated.

Looking ahead, can you share anything about 'This Too Shall Pass'? What can audiences expect from this upcoming project?

It’s a fun 80s throwback. I always loved John Hughes films, and the script really resonated with me because it was reminiscent of that time. There is a lot of optimism in the film. I think that’s important now especially. I loved getting to work in an ensemble of actors my own age. I think audiences will love the relationships between friends on an adventure. Hopefully they see themselves in some of the characters. And the soundtrack with The Cure and other 80s tunes is incredible. It’s another film where music is a main character. I also get to play mandolin in it.

You grew up surrounded by the circus and performing arts. How did that influence your approach to acting and storytelling? 

Being surrounded by some of the world’s best circus artists from a young age had a huge influence on my approach to acting. First and foremost, as a storyteller, I grew up watching people from all over the world tell compelling stories with their bodies. It has always inspired my approach to acting to find the physicality in a character whether that be through gestures or where a character is centered. The physicality is always my first entry point to a new character. 

Secondly, growing up in circus provided me with a great work ethic. Circus performers spend hours perfecting a 5-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. I have a saying when it’s a difficult day on set whether it be 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.

You’re still actively involved in Midnight Circus with your family, performing and touring. What do you enjoy most about your annual touring with the circus, and how do you balance your acting career with this unique form of performance?

Midnight Circus is home to me. Going back each year and entering the circus ring feels like going home, and not just because my family is in the ring with me. Our audiences in Chicago have literally watched me grow up in the circus ring. When I return, it’s incredibly fulfilling to see familiar faces in the crowd, and to talk with them afterwards. I’m who I am today as an actor, student, and human being in the world because of my upbringing in the circus, so for me I will always gladly prioritize it.

In addition to acting and performing in circus, you have a number of hobbies like surfing, skateboarding, and playing guitar with your band, the 569s. How do these activities influence your creative process or even your performances?

I think the best decision my parents made for me was keeping me out of LA for my childhood. It allowed me to pursue other interests with equal weight as acting. To me, Model UN and Cross Country were as important as filming a TV show. Having other interests, being a ‘normal’ person, having experiences beyond the sheltered world of a set allows me to create real characters. My studies of history and culture at UCLA allow me to approach a character from beyond just what is given. A lot of young aspiring actors have asked me what the secret is. To me, it is having interests other than acting. It is hard to play a normal person if you’ve never been a normal person.

Tell us more about the 529s. What role does music play in your life, and how does being part of a band connect with your acting career?

The 529s, we are a group of UCLA students and friends who love playing and writing music together. We started as roommates in a classic triple, which, if you have ever had to live in one, you know how cramped it is. We started as 3 strangers and bonded over our love of music. We live together to this day. Our music is a blend of folk, rock and funk. We’ve got mandolin and saxophone and keys. It’s a unique blend. Music is important to me in my life. I started playing violin at 3 years old and at 7 was shredding a mandolin. I added guitar in my teens, and it’s always been the way I decompress after a long day in class or on set. 

What’s been the most rewarding part of your career so far, both professionally and personally?

I’m not sure I can pick just one moment. ‘Lost in Space’ allowed me to feel connected to the industry and feel like I had something to offer. It gave me a voice and a family. ‘Arcadian’ allowed me to see myself having a real future in the industry as an adult. I cannot stress enough how important it was for me to work and create with contemporaries. It made the world feel smaller. And ‘The Bondsman’ allowed me to understand how to pursue a college degree while nurturing my love of acting. Getting to work with, be mentored by, and become friends with people like Parker Posey, Kevin Bacon and Nic Cage has been a real gift to me. I still call Parker my Aunt P. My parents always instilled in me the belief that jobs will always end, but relationships, those last forever. So, each project I’ve been fortunate to work on, has brought incredible people into my life.

Looking ahead, what goals do you have for the future of your career? Are there any dream roles or projects you'd love to take on?

I really want to write more. I have some interesting ideas for series and films that I am passionate about bringing to life. I’m in the process of writing several now. I’m taking some screenwriting classes at UCLA, which is providing accountability for me to actually put these ideas on paper. I’d love to continue to work with great actors and directors to make meaningful stories. I think I would make a great showrunner one day, hopefully after many years of acting. 

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TEAM CREDITS:

photography JESSE VOLK
styling KELSEA CHAPEL
grooming STEPHANIE LOCKWOOD for EXCLUSIVE ARTISTS using DOLCE & GABBANA
photography assistant STEPHANIE HOLT