Actor Jonathan Roumie, best known for his role portraying Jesus in “The Chosen,” recently sat down for an in-depth interview on Ascension Presents with Father Mike Schmitz, the popular priest known for the “Bible in a Year” podcast, to discuss his experience becoming the most famous actor to portray Jesus of the 2020s.
Here are 10 things we learned from Father Mike’s interview with Jonathan Roumie:
1) Backyard Passion Play
At just 12 years old, Roumie reenacted Jesus’ Passion and Crucifixion in his backyard — complete with wooden planks, fake blood, and a homemade crown of thorns!
2) Childhood Inspiration
He was inspired by Robert Powell’s performance in Jesus of Nazareth, which deeply marked him and ignited his desire to portray Christ someday.
3) Bullied Kid, Big Heart
Roumie shared that he was bullied as a child — an experience that later helped him understand and identify with Jesus’ suffering and compassion.
4) Personal Healing
During filming of season six of “The Chosen,” he offered up his past pain and trauma to God as part of his own “personal sacrifice” while filming the crucifixion scenes.
5) Real Injuries on Set
Before filming the Crucifixion in Matera, Italy, Roumie dislocated part of his right shoulder — the same one carrying the cross beam during the scenes.
6) Prayed to Experience a Fraction of Jesus’ Suffering
Before shooting, he prayed that if it were God’s will, he might feel “a fraction of a fraction” of what Jesus went through — and believes God answered that prayer in a real, tangible way.
7) Painful Realism
The crucifixion scenes used real metal nails, so “certain adjustments” had to be made because of the pain felt during filming.
8) Faith Deepened
After filming, Roumie said his love and reverence for the Eucharist grew stronger than ever.
9) Changed at Mass
He began receiving Communion on the knees and on the tongue for the first time, saying he felt “convicted” to show deeper reverence to Christ.
10) Seeing God’s Providence
Looking back, Roumie believes every part of his life — from childhood trials to acting struggles — prepared him to play “the most compassionate, empathetic human being” ever: Jesus himself.