Photographer: Storm Santos
Joey Vahedi’s Portrayal of Thomas Brings Humanity, Heart, and Representation to the Global Hit That’s Redefining Faith on Screen
With a record-smashing global audience and a fresh, deeply human approach to ancient scripture, The Chosen has become a phenomenon in faith-based entertainment – and part of its success is Joey Vahedi, whose portrayal of the disciple Thomas is helping viewers see the gospels, and themselves, in a new light.
As the series continues to break box office records and reach millions of believers and skeptics alike, Vahedi’s nuanced performance is inspiring a renewed faith and changing perceptions of biblical stories for a modern generation.
The Christian historical drama is touted as the first multi-season series about the life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth. Season 5 hit the big screen on March 27.
The first season was financed through crowdfunding, becoming the most successful crowdfunded TV series or film project in history. The show has been watched by an estimated 480 million people worldwide, a third of whom are not religious.
Ranked 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, and now exclusive to Amazon Prime Video and the free “The Chosen” app.
Vahedi has also appeared on Netflix’s Lucifer, CBS’ NCIS: New Orleans, Amazon’s Transparent, and Masters of Sex, among other projects. The Swagger interview:
Why do you feel there’s renewed interest in Biblical shows?
JOEY: I do think there has been a renewed interest in it, and I think the reason for that is because, historically, when these shows have been presented, or when these stories have been told, it’s come from the perspective of it being super preachy.
Sometimes it’s been a little bit cornbally, you know, and you can’t really relate to these figures, these people that you’re speaking about, or that the story is being told about. With The Chosen, I think they’ve made these stained glass windowed figures, human beings. And so diverse, and deal with such human aspects of life. Like Thomas, for example, is someone that’s dealing with grief and losing his fiancé. Mary Magdalene is someone that has dealt with sexual trauma. You know, Matthew is someone that’s represented as being on the spectrum. So I think the reason people are feeling a renewed interest in topics like this is because they see themselves in these people.
What sort of background research did you do to prepare for the role?
JOEY: Well, of course, you know, you read the source material as much as you can to get an idea of what’s going on. I also looked up Thomas’s Gospel. I know it’s not canon, but there’s some interesting stuff in there.
And then, of course, it’s really just about reading and rereading the scripts.
Have you heard whether people’s perspective on these Biblical stories changed, because of the show?
JOEY: If this is something that has brought other people closer to their faith, I think that’s really wonderful. If it’s piqued someone’s interest in it, that’s also great.
And if you like the show, faith aside, simply because it’s entertaining then that’s also great.
I think sometimes people tend to cherry pick what they read or what they want to believe in, and sometimes tend to miss the main message, which is to treat people how you want to be treated, and to love your neighbors.
So I’ve actually had people DMing me on Instagram, or, fans sending letters, saying things like: “we’ve never thought about the stories being told this way. And it’s really helped us to see things from a different perspective.”
I think if a piece of art can do that for you, then the art has done its job, and it’s been successful.
What inspired you to pursue acting?
JOEY: Yeah, funny enough, it was my cousin back in high school who convinced me to take an acting class. I played sports for most of my life. When I was a kid, I would write stories and stuff like that, so I always had an interest in it. Or, you know, I’d be watching Looney Tunes and imitate Bugs Bunny whenever he would be messing with Yosemite Sam.
When I was in high school, I played soccer, and then I got in a couple injuries, which prohibited me from playing anymore. And my cousin Danny was the one that said I should take an acting class. He said “if you don’t like it, you don’t have to take it again.”
So took the class, fell in love with it, did it for the remainder of high school. Went to Cal State Fullerton and got my BFA in acting, and then, you know, started auditioning after that.
You have Lebanese and Persian ancestry. What do you think that brings to your role?
JOEY: That’s a good question. I think certainly it’s bringing the diversity to the role, and how it was accurately portrayed, as opposed to having, you know, a white Jesus or a white Thomas or anything like that.
I certainly do appreciate the representation aspect of it. I guess the only thing that I can think of right now is, you know, the accent might be a little bit easier, because I’ve heard my uncles and my family speak with an accent for all my life.
This is why representation in the arts is extremely important. Because when you do have a white Jesus for, you know, however many years that they’ve done stuff like this, it just implants the idea in the audience’s head that this is what he’s supposed to look like, which also eliminates the idea that he can look like anybody else.
If we’re going to talk about the events that people understand to be true, then we have to be true to the representation of the events.
What would you be doing, if not acting?
JOEY: Have my own restaurant or something like that. I’ve always loved cooking. My whole family, my mom and all my aunts, are incredible cooks. Lebanese and Persian, you have the best of both worlds. You’re basically making art while you’re cooking. The cool part about it is, people can physically consume it. And it brings them joy. It brings family and friends together. You know, that’s how it’s always been for me.
What do you want people to take away from The Chosen?
JOEY: It’s gonna open your eyes up to a different way of seeing these stories.
You will see yourself in these people. A friend of mine asked me “hey, why was this Jesus not taught to us? This is the cool version.”
Like, this is the Jesus that is kind of socialist, hanging out with people that are outcasts, or homeless, or have leprosy, and showing love to people who are told they don’t deserve it.
