was already a known star of the stage before teaming up with in the upcoming movie . Faist, 32, got his start in Broadway musicals before branching out into film and TV. He generated buzz with the Prime Video series , written and created by author , but it was his performance in the 2021 movie adaptation of that caught Hollywood’s attention. “Maybe this is so pretentious, but was everything I had ever hoped to accomplish as an actor,” he told in 2021. “It’s really crazy, but it was transcendental: either I didn’t feel like I was myself, or I was the most authentic version of myself. I can’t really tell which one. Having gone from having no money, wanting to just be a working
Actor — I don’t want to just be a working actor anymore. I had that experience.” At the time, Faist confessed that he had a love-hate relationship with acting. “It’s not like I don’t plan on doing it. I just don’t want to follow the trajectory of what the industry wants me to do,” he explained, adding that he wasn’t interested in being told to “put on a cape and wear a mask.” earned Faist a BAFTA nod for Best Actor in a Supporting Role, but after the blockbuster hit, he turned his focus back to the theater. Faist joined in a 2023 West End production of playing Jack Twist (portrayed by in the 2005 movie). Fans have been eager, however, to see Faist command the screen in ‘s alongside Zendaya, 27, and ‘s . The
Tennis movie was set to debut in 2023 but was delayed due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. “The three of us, really, we had a lot of fun training together and working together. It was definitely a memorable summer,” Faist said in a 2023 interview. hits theaters on April 26. Scroll down to learn more about Faist: In a 2017 magazine profile, Faist opened up about moving to
New York to pursue acting. After dropping out of the
American Musical and Dramatic Academy, he was dragged “kicking and screaming” to an audition for a production of in Ohio. “I ended up booking it. I was collecting food stamps and getting paid $150 a week. We lived in the back of a McDonald’s parking lot, but I was a professional, working actor. That was my first gig. I was 17, and that gave me enough confidence to finally go and say, ‘I can actually do this,'” he said. Faist made his stage debut in the 2012 production of , originating the role of Morris Delancey on Broadway following a regional production in New Jersey. He was later cast in , playing Connor Murphy in the original cast alongside in the title role. Faist left the show in 2018 after two years. Connor was played by in the 2021 movie adaptation. “I feel like I couldn’t do it. I started that when I was, like, 21 … It really took a lot out of me, and I didn’t really have it in me anymore,” Faist told Faist and his castmates won the Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album in 2018. He was also nominated for Best Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical at the 2017 Tony Awards. You have successfully subscribed. By signing up, I agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive emails from Us Weekly Check our latest news in
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Apple News While many fans will recognize Faist for his acclaimed performance in ‘s as Jets leader Riff — argued in a recent podcast interview that Faist should’ve won an Oscar for the 2021 film — is not his first non-musical role. He made his big screen debut in 2012’s before appearing in 2022’s and 2024’s Faist grew up in Ohio and quickly found a way to stay true to his roots following his Broadway success. “One of the things that I’m working on is trying to create a playwright’s festival in Ohio where we bring New York actors, directors, and writers and we integrate them with local actors, directors, and writers,” he said in 2017. “It’s like a one-week playwright’s festival where we sit down, mix it up, and, at the end of the week, create a little reading series of these new plays and these new works.” The inaugural Ohio Artists Gathering was held one year later. You have successfully subscribed. By signing up, I agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive emails from Us Weekly