Actor and comedian Russell Brand recently interviewed Jonathan Roumie, star of ‘The Chosen’, on his show ‘Locals’. Brand, who has recently shared news of his conversion and baptism, mentioned that it was time to have “Christian friends” on the show.
“My friend Jonathan [portrayed] our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. But [he] was also my body double when I acted in HBO’s show with The Rock, ‘Ballers,'” Brand said on the podcast. “So I’m able to say that Jesus was my body double.”
Roumie joked about his resemblance to Brand, calling the British actor "my brother from another mother."
“I was Russell’s body double stand-in," Roumie explained. “Where an actor basically stands in for the main actors while the crew gets the shot ready so that the main actor can spend time doing his work prepping for the scene to be filmed,” Roumie said.
He continued: “Russell, you’re an innovator and a truth-teller, but if you ever wanted to return the favour and be Jesus’ body double, I got you, and it’d make a great story.”
Roumie discussed the complexities of portraying Jesus, emphasising that he doesn't want fans of The Chosen to see him as the face of Jesus, but as an actor depicting key moments from the New Testament.
He also explained that humans naturally want a visual representation of their Creator to connect with their faith. Things such as cultural depictions, like paintings and imagery, help people reference their beliefs. In modern times, film and television contribute to this need, with Robert Powell's portrayal of Jesus in "Jesus of Nazareth" serving as a significant example, or now The Chosen.
“It actually happened to my sister,” Roumie said. “My sister said she was praying once in church, and all of a sudden, my face popped into her prayers and she's like, ‘No, no, get out of there.”
“And for me, obviously, I'm not thinking of myself. But you know, if it's not Robert Powell, I get images of Renaissance paintings that come into my head, you know, or something by Carl Bloch will just pop into my head. And he's one of my favourite artists who depicted Christ. And so, I want to have somebody to think of, to imagine because He’s a real person. Jesus was a real person. He continues to be a real person,” he continued.
Brand is a highly controversial public figure who faces numerous sexual abuse allegations, which he denies.