Jonathan Majors is set to have a major, career-defining year in 2023. He’s the new villain (Kang the Conqueror) for multiple Marvel franchises, and locked into a multiyear contract. He has a major role in the third Creed movie, up against Michael B. Jordan. And he’s in an indie film called Magazine Dreams, which got amazing buzz at Sundance. I went into Majors’ Ebony cover profile not knowing much about his life or his vibe, and I was so impressed with him, his work ethic, his perspective. In case you’re wondering (I was), he’s 33 years old, he’s from Texas and he’s a VIRGO (omg). He’s a father to a nine-year-old daughter. He’s also only six feet tall? He seems a lot taller and bigger than that. Oh, and he has an MFA from Yale.
Whether he knows he has swagger: “I was told many times that I didn’t have swagger. I was told I wasn’t cool. I was forced to be an individual in order to survive. I had to believe in my own way of doing things. And that’s what swagger is, you know. It’s a supreme confidence in how one thinks and what one is capable of doing. Also, with that comes a huge amount of humility, because you can’t swag at the wrong spot, because it ain’t swaggy.”
What he teaches his daughter: “One of the most beautiful things we talk about is need versus want. I grew up very needy, meaning there are things I needed that I didn’t have. Fortunately for my kid, she’s not in that position. I worked very hard and continue to work hard—not just for the present, but for the future. She doesn’t have to do that, but she does understand.
What else he teaches his daughter: “We teach worth and value in our household, and self-worth. A big thing is, as she changes her hair up, I’m very clear to tell her I liked it the way it was. I love it now; I loved it then. Another thing we teach is smiling. Your emotions belong to you. No man can make you do anything or feel anything. And like her father, she’s not easily impressed. Yeah, I mean, big-head boys are going to have a hard time dealing with her. I feel bad for [them], because then you have to deal with her and me.
Defining his career: “Well, maybe that’s my Texas confidence, but I always said no [to scripts]. It was clear to me—which again has to do with the preparation conversation—it was clear early on what type of actor I wanted to be and how I wanted to be seen and the type of work I wanted to do. Sidney Poitier told Denzel Washington, “The first three films you make will define your career.” Those first three, four characters, especially when you’re talking mainstream, will define your career. I was very conscientious about not playing roles I didn’t think were going to move me forward as an actor. Now I’ll play the bad guy, I’ll play the good guy, I’ll play the morally corrupt guy. Because my job is to tell stories, and to tell stories in a way that allows people to see themselves and to change for the better. But early on, I had one rule for myself, and I say it to younger actors, too: Keep your rent low, and you don’t have to panic.
The lack of racism from Marvel fans: “Well, it’s not too late. Yeah, I thought it would’ve come by now, but we’ll see. People are crazy. Why do I not think it’s happened? I don’t know. I feel blessed. I was thinking about my sister Moses Ingram [who costarred in the Disney+ series Obi-Wan Kenobi], who was also attacked. Perhaps the Star Wars camp is different. I don’t know. I don’t know if we’ve gotten it much in the Marvel world.
“Your emotions belong to you. No man can make you do anything or feel anything” – that’s amazing. Pity the men who tell his daughter to “smile, sweetheart.” This is good advice too: “Keep your rent low, and you don’t have to panic.” Especially for younger people starting out – don’t get ahead of yourself if you do have some early successes. Keep your rent low, stay humble, do the work.
The thing about the lack of Marvel-fan racism is kind of interesting too – if anything, Marvel fans seem to have a much bigger problem with misogyny, not racism. Think of how Marvel and the fans treated Black Widow. And Captain Marvel. And She-Hulk. And don’t forget the racism and sexism directed towards Ms. Marvel. So… yeah, it’s just a different kind of hate, but it’s still hate.
Cover & IGs courtesy of Ebony.
I think I want to be him when I grow up. And I’m 60.
Whoa. What a cool line. Your emotions are your own. Essentially, you don’t gotta smile for anybody. I’m from the south and believe me that’s something I still struggle with. That need to smile and be pleasant. Ugh.
The rent thing … I mean people are trying? LOL
He sounds like a good human, that was a great read.
I know, right?! People can’t really control how crazy rent increases have been. My rent has increased by a 1/3 in 5 years.
🔥
I’ve been a fan since I saw him play Tic in Love Craft Country. His swagger is definitely magnetic on the screen, and I’m so glad to see he is earning more. A lot of what he has to say here is also neat. Many people were trying to clown and philosophize this photoshoot; ignorance at its best. The whole photoshoot is lovely.
Love love loved him in Lovecraft Country. Can’t wait to see more of him!
I saw some of the chatter about this shoot too. I think this man has the presence of mind to take care of himself.
Been a fan of his since Lovecraft Country. I have kept following his project since LC. I knew soon he would blow up and it seems to be happing this year. I loved this interview and what he says to his daughter. Fantastic actor.
I don’t think I’ve heard of him but he seems very smart and wise. I love his advice to his daughter. I also agree with the rent thing. I am incredibly fortunate that my husband and I were house hunting in 2012 at a time when it was a buyer’s market and prices were super low. Still, we chose a house in a less-desirable neighborhood because it was big, on a big lot, had lots of trees and the mortgage was payable on only one of our incomes.
Fast forward to 5 years later, my husband had to change careers and started out as a commercial real estate agent with zero income. It took him three years to be able to meaningfully contribute to our household income. I am a freelancer, and I was able to pay our bills on just my income for those three years in part because of our low mortgage. We never lost our home, and I’m just so thankful. We refinanced in 2020 so our interest rate went from 3.5 to 3.2%, and we don’t plan to leave. Our house is now worth at least three times what we paid for it, and we have looked at moving over the years, but I cannot find anything I love more, especially since it would be so much more expensive. We have two kids, so what was a big starter home is now most likely our forever home, or at least until our kids graduate HS in 10-12 years.
TLDR I am really thankful we didn’t buy a more expensive house, because even on one income we were able to pay the mortgage.
“Keep your rent low” — as if you have control over it! This is such a massively overprivileged take. It’s like telling people to stop getting lattes at Starbucks if they’re having trouble with bills.
@EmilyC…to keep my rent low…I’ve lived in shared housing…so…there’s that fact…
He says in the excerpts that he grew up without very much, so I don’t think it’s “privileged” of him to advise young people to be mindful of their expenses. I took it to mean “don’t live at the edge of your means so you don’t have to panic if you hit a slow patch.” Which is good advice for all of us.
Agree with you.
I agree also. I think it’s more about not living beyond your means than “rent” specifically.
He’s saying don’t spend all the money you make. Don’t rent at the maximum of what you can afford. Rent much less than you can afford. We can control this, usually by getting roommates or sharing rooms, etc.. We aren’t just victims of our own consumption.
Yes, that is what he is saying. I don’t see anything bad with what he’s saying.
He is…very nice to look at. I’ll keep it respectful.
I LOVE what he’s teaching his daughter!! Mine is 10 and we have similar conversations. You wear/style/present yourself in the way that pleases YOU (and is appropriate to the activity or function you’re attending) and not for others. You teach people how to treat you, and having a boundary and expressing it firmly is more than okay, it’s necessary. “Big head boys” are going to have a hard time with my girl too, and that’s exactly what I want. She is special and amazing and deserves to be celebrated for that. The right people will “get” that.
I keep my rent low too, man, and it’s a good thing bc I just lost my full-time position. I never understood people who spend everything they earn and “upgrade” houses for the sake of…”upgrading.” I think that’s the best advice for young people: live on much less than you learn, and you’ll never have to work because you have no other choice.
Ouch. That is one hot, sizzling man.