He talked with newly baptized Russell Brand
Jonathan Roumie, star of “The Chosen,” recently opened up about the challenges of portraying Jesus Christ in the popular series, which is loosely based on the Gospels. In an appearance on Russell Brand’s Locals podcast, Roumie expressed his desire for viewers to see him not as the face of Jesus, but as an actor depicting significant moments from Jesus’ life as described in the New Testament.
Roumie explained that humans naturally want to put a face to their Creator, leading to various cultural depictions of Jesus over the centuries. He referenced Robert Powell’s portrayal of Jesus in Franco Zeffirelli’s “Jesus of Nazareth” as a prevalent image in popular culture. Roumie shared an anecdote about visiting a church in rural Mexico, where a painting of Jesus featured Powell’s likeness, illustrating how certain images become ingrained in people’s minds.
Discussing his sister’s experience, Roumie mentioned how she once saw his face while praying, a moment she found unsettling. Roumie himself often visualizes images from Renaissance paintings or works by his favorite artist, Carl Bloch, when he thinks of Jesus. He emphasized the importance of having a tangible image to connect with the real person of Jesus Christ.
Roumie and Brand have a longstanding friendship, having worked together previously in the entertainment industry. Brand praised Roumie as a “righteous” individual deeply connected to Christian values. During the podcast, Brand humorously recalled how Roumie served as his body double on the HBO show “Ballers,” joking about their resemblance.
Brand, who recently converted to Christianity and was baptized, shared his spiritual journey, focusing on repentance and the internal struggle to align with Christian values. He spoke about the guidance and peace his faith has brought into his life, helping him navigate his actions and decisions with greater clarity and compassion.