Jordan Fisher X FAULT Magazine

Photographer: Raen Badua @Exclusive Artists 

Stylist: Wilford Lenov @ Celestine Agency 

 

Interview: Miles Holder

Magazines often describe Jordan Fisher as an “artist who does it all”, which while true, fails to mention that he genuinely throws himself into everything that he does.

A multi-disciplined artist, Jordan Fisher’s performing talents have earned him some of the most coveted, albeit physically and emotionally gruelling parts both on screen and on stage. On Broadway, Jordan transitioned from the high octane role as John Laurens/Philip Hamilton in the smash hit ‘Hamilton’ to the emotive heart-wrenching leading performance in Dear Evan Hansen.

More recently, Jordan has landed roles in Netflix’s To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You as John Ambrose and Jake Taylor in newly released Work It.

With Work It showing off the full range of Jordan’s dance talents and acting skills, we caught up with Jordan to discuss the role, his career and of course, his FAULTs.

Work It has some very high energy moments – that must have been gruelling to film?

Jordan Fisher: It’s a lot! But also a lot of fun. It’s been a long time since last I danced like that, so it felt good to be in the studio again. I’m not as young as I used to be, so the days were a little more strenuous on the body but it was still fun and vibrant, and we felt like we were at a summer camp all summer!

With the filming process being so high octane and repetitive, did it remind you of your time on stage?

Jordan Fisher: For sure, there are great catharsis moments, and I felt artistic stimulation from being in that kind of environment. There are also times when it’s 3:00 AM, but we need to film a section again, and we’re all tired but ultimately knowing what will come of the hard work is the real gif that we strive for.

What first drew you to the project?

Jordan Fisher: The thing that I love most about it the movie is that while dance is the centrepiece everything, it’s really a story about different people. It’s about plans changing, finding new passions later in your life and how those things can ultimately lead you to a beautiful place.

Jake has like his own story and demons to work out. He’s in a ditch of pity and sorrow, but he can ultimately work through it, he just needed the right people. While there is a love story between Quin and Jake in the movie, I think the real love story is between Quinn and dance.

 

As you work in numerous capacities within the entertainment industry, has there ever been pressure on you to pick a lane and stay in it?

Jordan Fisher: There have been moments in my life where I’ve wondered how things would shift if I just focused on one thing, but I don’t think my brain is wired just to do one thing. Knowing myself, and being surrounded by people that always champion me to do everything, keeps me encouraged. I have everybody helping me to do all of the things that I love because that’s what I want out of life.

I want to be a great husband, father and to provide for my family through all of the work that I love to do. It doesn’t matter if that’s through streaming, making music, voiceover work, whatever, I just want to provide.

What’s the question you wish people would stop asking?

Jordan Fisher: People always ask what would I would pick between singing or acting etc. I do so many different things in the entertainment industry that people don’t even know about so my answer to that dumb question is, “I couldn’t ever pick”. Now if I had to pick a favourite, it would be Broadway. I love television, music, voiceover work, writing, producing, gaming but I find myself missing Broadway the most.

 

In 50 years, when you look back on your career, what do you want to feel?

Jordan Fisher: I want to say that I was happy to do all of the things that I did. I hope that I lead by example for other artists and that everything I’ve chosen to be a part of is because of genuine excitement. Thankfully everything that I’ve done up to this point, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed – so I hope that that persists.

What would you say the biggest hurdle you had to overcome in terms of your acting career has been?

Jordan Fisher: There are a lot of hurdles; I think as a person of colour in the entertainment industry, there are many hurdles that we regularly have to navigate around. Even up to last year, there were opportunities that I would go out for where I’m was either not black enough or not white enough to get.

I think that’s probably been a massive hurdle and it’s ultimately up the decision-makers to give people more chances. Creatives need to figure out ways to expand their peripheral, blend casts and allow for multiple ethnicities to exist in one story because that’s definitive of what the real world looks like today, specifically America.

What is something you’ve learned about yourself in lockdown?

Jordan Fisher: I’ve learned how to find the silver lining in things. I’ve managed to stay happy during this time, and while there are the days that I wake up like, “here we go again!” That will always be the case.

My ability to be happy and stay happy has been really good, and I owe a lot of that to the gaming community, animated work, my piano and my ability to stay creative. My family is 15 minutes away from me, and I have my fiance and my dog in my quarantined cell, which is nice.

What is the biggest fear you have about your art?

Jordan Fisher: I think that as an artist, you are tasked with being both honest and transparent in your work, but I fear that I won’t be perceived as so. There are certain projects that I have poured every drop of my humanity into, which is exhausting, so there’s always a fear that it won’t be perceived as honest.

 

What is your FAULT?

Jordan Fisher: I’m a number three on the Enneagram scale. If you know anything about the Enneagram scale and threes, we are people driven by success and the perception of it.

That has ultimately made me the perfectionist that I am, but I don’t think it’s fair to myself or to anybody else who has to live with my perfectionism. To project it onto a younger generation or my peers is not fair. I need to the hardest working person in the room, but I also need to be viewed that way; I think that has its strengths, but I also know first hand that there are a lot of weaknesses to that – but therapy is great for a lot of reasons!

 

You mentioned earlier that your main goal is to be a good husband and father. Do you think that in pursuit of that goal, you will naturally relinquish perfectionism?

Jordan Fisher: For sure and I know I have to relinquish perfectionism. I have a very tight circle which I call my tribe because they make me feel happy. Elli and I are building our tribe, having kids and everything, and I have to let perfectionism go to be a good partner.

I want to protect the things that I love most, whether it’s my people or it’s my projects and I’m not always going to be successful at that, but I’m for sure going to try my hardest. I think that relinquishing control and relinquishing perfectionism is only going to be for the best.