Mark my words, Jaden Michael [1] is going to be a big star one day. You may actually know his name already. The 18-year-old actor stars as young Colin Kaepernick in Netflix's latest scripted series Colin in Black & White [2], which dives into the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback's high school years and his road to becoming the activist he is today. While this role is certainly his biggest role to date, Michael is no Hollywood rookie. At age 2, he began his modelling career [3] and he may or may not have ended up on a billboard in Times Square. His mom enrolled him in acting classes a year later and he began booking gigs left and right. Keep reading to learn more about Michael, including the valuable lesson he learned from award-winning actress Viola Davis.
He Got His Start Doing Voiceover Work
Before landing his bigger roles in the 2017 film Wonderstruck and Netflix's TV series The Get Down, Michael jumpstarted his acting career doing voiceover work for popular kids show Dora the Explorer in 2013. Looking back, he speaks fondly of his time on the show, in which he voiced Baby Jaguar, a character he'd grown obsessed with as a child. "I had seen Baby Jaguar all the time [4], and I was obsessed with him at the time," he told Sweety High in 2017. "It was my natural voice... I kind of took what I've already seen on television and tried to incorporate it into [my natural voice]."
He Knows Three Languages
Michael is fluent in English, Spanish, and sign language [5], the latter of which he learned from his Wonderstruck costar, deaf actress Millicent Simmonds.
No Matter What, Home Will Always Be Harlem, New York
While he spent a good amount of his childhood growing up in New Jersey, Michael says his heart will always be in Harlem, New York [6]. "When I was nine, I moved to a completely different community in Harlem. My heart lives in Harlem, and that's where I feel most comfortable," he told Interview magazine. However, that doesn't mean the move didn't come without its challenges. "At the time, it was definitely an eye-opener. I came to learn a lot about my skin, my person, and about who I am. It all happened very quickly."
He Went to Great Lengths to Embody Young Colin Kaepernick
It's not uncommon for actors to undergo physical transformations for an upcoming role, and Michael got a little taste of that while portraying young Colin Kaepernick. During his appearance on The Drew Barrymore [7] Show, Michael recalled the moment he told the show's co-creator, Ava DuVernay [8], that he wanted to fully commit to capturing Kaepernick's physical appearance [9] for the role.
"Ava gave me so much liberty to experiment with the character. It was one of the first times I really had that opportunity, and so I really ran with it and probably pulled more than I could chew," he told Barrymore. "I remember telling her, 'Hey Ava, I'm going to fast for a month before we shoot so that I can look really skinny and I'll look real young. I'll shrink my shoulders down. Then, as we keep going, I'll eat more, and I'll start working out so I get bigger!'"
A Career in Fashion Might Be in His Future
If the whole acting thing doesn't work out (which we highly doubt), Michael could have a career in the fashion industry. Ahead of the LA premiere of Colin in Black & White, the rising actor played around with different prints and textures while styling his look for the big event. "I love fashion [10], and I love putting together really weird pieces that might not work and just seeing how far I could push the needle," he told Vogue, adding, "I have extremely skinny legs, so I try to stray away from skinny jeans and accentuate my lack of calves." His fit consisted of an all-white textured suit, which he joked, "reminded me of a Pringles can."
He Has His Eyes Set on Attending an Ivy League School
In between press junkets, TV appearances, and premiere parties, Michael is an average 18-year-old high school student in the midst of the college application process. "I'm trying to balance school and college applications [11]," Michael told Vogue just days after the LA premiere of Colin in Black & White. Right now, his focus is on getting accepted into an Ivy League school. "I applied to Harvard last night, and I still have to do my Yale application," he said.
Viola Davis Taught Him How to Stay Humble
In 2016, Michael had the opportunity to work alongside legendary actress Viola Davis in the indie film Custody, an experience he says helped shape him into the man he is today. Following the movie's release, he spoke about his time on set with Davis [12], telling Sweety High, "Working with her and working alongside her, I learned how important it is to stay humble and stay down to earth and grounded because that's what she is. It was a great experience."