Johnell Young
Actor Johnell Young is one Hollywood’s rising faces. The Staten Island native is portraying the legendary rapper GZA on Hulu’s Wu-Tang: An American Saga.
How did you get your start in acting?
I got my start with acting when I was eight years old. I was doing karate, then I got tired of that. Mom and Dad signed me up for school plays, and a few months later, they signed me with an agency in New York. I gained my first credit in the film Pootie Tang through the agency. I was one of the kids in the movie with Chris Rock, J.B. Smoove, Busta Rhymes, and Lance Crouther.
As a kid, I didn't take the rejection that comes with auditioning well. Being told "no" as a child is not fun. I was like, "You know what? I don't like doing this anymore; let me play basketball.”
Once I graduated college, I went to play basketball overseas. In 2016, I caught the acting bug again and decided to try one more time. I got a manager, took some headshots, and my first audition back was for the Tupac biopic "All Eyez on Me." I booked the role of his best friend, producer Ray Love, and I've been on the grind since.
In your opinion, what is your best quality as an actor?
My best quality as an actor is relatability. I know I can play any character and relate to any audience in any genre. Also, I'm fun to work with. Being on set for 16 to 20 hours a day, you want someone around with good energy. I'm a good person to be around and fun to be on set with. That might be my greatest trait.
You recently got the opportunity to play the rapper GZA on the Hulu series Wu-Tang: An American Saga. Tell us about that experience. What was it like to play a living character?
Wu-Tang basically poured my Similac milk when I was a kid. Growing up in Staten Island, my cousins grew up on them, my mom and dad played them all day. They were the reason I started karate because if you go listen to their music, you hear all the martial arts references. So, playing one of the top members of the Wu-Tang Clan is an honor, and it's been a full circle, incredible experience. I had the opportunity to perform with GZA at Blue Note in New York City. My mom and I were sitting in the audience, and he called my name, pulled me on stage, and I got to perform. It was pretty dope.
Hulu’s Wu-Tang: An American Saga cast members Ashton Sanders as RZA, TJ Atoms as Ol Dirty Bastard, and Young as GZA.
What is the toughest aspect of being an actor that you face today?
Many casting directors and those people creating projects try to put African American male actors into boxes. We don't always get the diverse, light, happy roles as others. You have the jock, the gangster, thug, or drug dealer. I feel like that's one of the most challenging things. I want to play the happy, funny guy growing up with a good family and stuff like that.
Staying in line with that response, what is your dream role?
My dream role is to play a Marvel character, but also, I would like to play like a sophisticated, studious, young, sexy lawyer. Yeah, that shit.
Who are your acting role models, and how did they influence your craft?
My aunt, Vanessa Jefferson, she's an actor. My brother and close friend, Tristan (Mack) Wilds. He's the one that really let me shadow him; he starred in the "90210" reboot and The Wire. Michael B. Jordan, we've been friends since eighth grade growing up, playing basketball in the city. Seeing these guys' journey has been amazing, and I always go back to them for reference.
And of course, Denzel Washington, he's my favorite actor.
What's next for Johnell?
Next week I begin filming a project in Miami. I have a ton of TV in the works. Wu-Tang Season 3, BMF, Power, and Grown-ish are lined up. Also, I'm getting into producing. It's going to be a busy 2022.
What quote or motto do you use as a guide to living your life?
"Your reality is a mirror of your beliefs," that quote keeps me on my P's and Q's.
Something just came to me. In Hollywood, you know how they say, "You gotta fake it until you make it"?
Well, I'm going to remix that to "Faith it until you make it."
Yeah, I might make that a T-shirt.
For more on Johnell, follow on social media @johnellxyoung