Most recently on screen, Jorden Myrie played Kobi throughout the series of the BBC drama Mood and he was seen as Raheem Bennett across all episodes of prison drama SCREW, with both shows released earlier this year. Other screen roles for Jorden have included Stuart Lawrence in the TV series Stephen – based on the 1993 murder of black British teenager Stephen Lawrence, Connor in short film Dancing in the Dark, and he had his first screen role in Shepherd’s Delight. Upcoming for Jorden is Netflix’s feature film The Strays, with a 2022 release, and Jorden has recently made the list of the 2022 Screen Stars of Tomorrow. Answering our questions, Jorden talks about playing Kobi in Mood, filming as Raheem Bennett in SCREW and working on his upcoming project The Strays.
What is Kobi like to play in new BBC drama Mood and how did you find your time on set of the show?
I had fun playing Kobi, there was a nice mixture of light-hearted scenes, and sincere scenes with that character, so there was a nice variety to play with. I had a great time on the set of the show, the atmosphere was great and really positive.
Can you tell us about your character and was there anything that drew you to the script?
Kobi is the younger brother of Abi (played by Chantelle Alle), who is the childhood best
friend of lead character Sasha, so they’ve known each other for years through that relationship. He’s passionate about music and has goals of his own within that, which is really where Kobi and Sasha connect, they’ve got that in common and you get to see how that plays out in the show.
I loved the script straight away when I first read it. It’s got a great mixture of drama and heart, whilst still feeling real and fun. And the music element just adds another level to everything. Nicôle Lecky’s written amazing characters that feel real, like people we knew growing up with. All of these things drew me to the script.
What are some of your stand-out highlights from filming with the rest of the cast?
Honestly, every scene was a stand-out to film for different reasons, but the barbeque
scenes were great. There were so many of us on set and the weather was great. It definitely set the vibe for those scenes and we were really in the heart of filming the show, so the mood on set was great.
Who do you think Mood will appeal to and why would you recommend watching it?
I think the show will appeal to different people because of its themes and the topics it
covers. The social media themes are a big part of that, but it’s a show about identity and finding yourself and I think a lot of people can relate to that or recognise that, whether you’re going through it or have done in the past. I’d recommend Mood for its creative approach to storytelling. The original songs created for the show make it really special too, I think people will really enjoy that.
Earlier this year, you played Raheem Bennett in SCREW, what was this like?
It was great. Raheem’s a smart character so it was fun to play around with his type of
humour, and the back and forth between his interactions with some of the other characters.
How was it filming a drama series set in a prison and can you tell us about your character?
Raheem is an OSG at the prison, so his role is a little different from the majority of the
staff we see in the show. We’re first introduced to him at the gate, and this gives you a good idea of what his duties are in the prison. It was nice being a part of a show that gives us a look into a world we don’t really get to see often.
Is there anything you enjoyed most about working on the series?
Working with everyone on the show was a great experience, so that was something I really enjoyed. But also really feeling so immersed on set, they built a working prison to film in. That was great.
You are set to appear in the upcoming release of The Strays, what can you tell us about it?
I don’t want to say too much about the film just yet, but I’m really excited for people to
see it and the journey it takes you on.
How was it working on set of the film and what are you looking forward to most for the release on Netflix?
The experience was great. Everyone really put a lot into creating the film. There’s a lot I’m looking forward to about the film’s release, but I think one really interesting thing is how people will interpret these characters, and the discussions people will have about them afterwards.
How was the experience playing Stuart Lawrence in Stephen and how did you prepare for the role?
We all knew the importance, and the weight of what we were making. You approach something like that with so much sensitivity. Research and having discussions with my castmates helped me prepare.
What was it like telling Stephen’s story and seeing the response to the release?
Emotional. It’s important to tell, but it was heavy to do.
Can you tell us about Dancing in the Dark, in which you played Connor?
It’s a short film, just under 10 minutes, and it’s one of those films where what you initially
think is happening, might not be what it appears as. Connor plays into that idea, so I shouldn’t say too much about it.
You booked your first screen role in Shepherd’s Delight, how did it feel booking the series and what do you remember most from your time on this project?
I’ve actually known the creators of the series for a while, we all went to The Television Workshop together so when they asked me to be part of it, I was excited. The thing I remember most is lots of laughing on set.
Where does your love of acting come from and is it something you always wanted to do?
I think it comes from just enjoying it and having fun. There are films I would’ve seen as a
kid that I loved and these definitely played a big part, but acting in a school play started it, and then that grew. It wasn’t really something I thought I could do as a career when I was little so I don’t know if it’s something I always wanted to do until my early teens. But it’s been what I’ve wanted to do for the longest time.
Do you have any favourite films and TV shows to watch and how do you like to spend your time away from acting?
I have a lot of favourites, I could never put it into an ordered list. I’d say some of my favourite films are Fences and Pan’s Labyrinth. And if we’re talking recent shows I’d say Atlanta and Westworld.
Away from acting, one of the things I enjoy doing is listening to music. I like listening to albums, there was always music playing as I was growing up and I guess it’s something that stuck with me.
What are you hoping the rest of 2022 brings for your career?
I hope it brings a lot of exciting moments and projects my way. It’s hard to say anything
specifically because there’s so many things I want to try and explore.
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