Today we’d like to introduce you to Jordan Johnson.
So, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
The phrase “purpose will chase you down” is exactly how I feel about acting. I was born and raised in Norfolk, Virginia to a family of pure-bred athletes. My dad played on the Jamaican National Soccer Team. My mom broke collegiate records in track. My eldest sister played on the Under 20 US Women’s National Soccer Team and my other sister played on the semi-pro soccer team in the Hampton Roads Area. I was expected to follow suit and had big dreams to be an Olympic Gold Medalist. My life revolved around soccer and track. I felt this sense of purpose having the ability to perform my talent in front of crowds.
My athletic domination on the soccer field came to an abrupt hold when I suffered from an ACL injury freshman year of high school. During this time, I took Acting as an elective class. One of my assignments was to perform a monologue. I chose Diary of Mad Black Woman by Tyler Perry. After my ACL reconstruction surgery, I missed two weeks of school and during my recovery period, I worked on this monologue day in and out. When I returned to school, I performed my monologue and the class was speechless. “Do it again!” erupted from one of my classmates. I performed this scene multiple times. It felt just as exhilarating as when I was in the sports arena and I wanted more. But, it became difficult to combine my world of sports with acting. I was an athlete and I needed to stick to the Olympics.
The next year I tore my ACL yet again and my chances of becoming an Olympian became slim. After my second surgery, I was drawn to watching more of Tyler Perry’s movies and plays. Looking back, it’s crazy how I could immerse myself into the world of each character and forget about my current state of recovery. I was moved by the characters who could make you laugh and just as easily make you cry. I wanted to do that. After tearing my ACL for the third time during my senior year, I realized that sports were not my calling. It became clear that being an actress was. After high school, I attended Virginia Tech. Upon graduation, I moved to Georgia to pursue my dream and start my acting career.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It definitely hasn’t been easy. Having to make the decision between continuing sports or wanting to seriously pursue acting was difficult. There is a lot of time and effort that goes into both and I had to choose. Moving to Atlanta was a challenge in itself. Virginia had been home my entire life. I remember the day I left, my dad literally had to push me out of the door (in the nicest way possible).I kept stalling due to a combination of fear of the unknown and leaving my comfort zone. However, I took a leap of faith and left. Leaving Virginia was the best option because I knew I was destined for more. Once I started auditioning for roles, my biggest challenge was rejection. When I would go on an audition and not get cast, I would think I wasn’t good enough. I was determined to reprogram my mind and now I constantly remind myself that I am enough.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I’m an actress, model and a voice over actress signed to People Store. Currently, I’m in a short film “1966” and multiple web series “A Cord of Three” and “The Very Thought Of You”. The project I’m most proud of is my short film which I wrote, directed and starred in called “Chasing Purpose”. It tells my story of how I ended up in Atlanta. The two things that set me apart is my drive and ability to inspire others. When my heart is set on something, especially my dreams, I go that extra mile to achieve them. Whether it’s taking acting classes or attending an audition, I make sure that I’m improving my craft everyday. Ultimately, I hope to inspire young girls as well as the people around me that if you have a dream go for it. You must have faith and put in the work to turn your dreams into reality!
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
Due to my numerous injuries and surgeries growing up, I always thought I had bad luck. But now that I’m older, I realize it’s all a part of my story. I’m able to take different parts of my life and lend my experiences to different characters. I believe I’m not lucky, I’m blessed. Being in Atlanta was never in my original plan, but I am in a place of endless opportunities and have been given a large platform to chase my dream.
Contact Info:
- Email: iamjordanjohnson1@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/?hl=en
- Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11336473/?ref_=login
Image Credit:
Dajour Ashwood Aweditions, Inc, Keith Cephus Photography
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