(Josh Zaharia. Photo credit: Shimon Karmel)
Fans know Josh Zaharia from his role as Young Butcher in Amazon’s “The Boys,” as well as Teen Clark in The CW’s “Superman & Lois”. Now he has a hot new recurring guest star role in AppleTV+’s show “Ghostwriter”. This show is a re-imagining of the Sesame Workshops’ series with episodes grouped around literature and features classics and new works commissioned from popular authors like D.J. MacHale and Kwame Alexander.
Out of Vancouver, Canada Josh has also been in Disney+’s “The Mysterious Benedict Society”, “Under Wraps” and “Gabby Duran and The Unsittables”, and Netflix’s much-loved animated series “Team Zenko Go.” He’s always had a passion for storytelling and has been performing since he was a kid. Get up close with Josh Zaharia.
Check out this clip of “Ghostwriter”
Colleen Bement: Big congrats on your role in AppleTV’s “Ghostwriter.” What was the experience like on the set?
Josh Zaharia: Thank you so much! Being on set for Ghostwriter was incredible. Everyone on set was so welcoming and a positive environment to be a part of. I can’t wait for the world to see the magical show we all put so much hard work into.
CB: Introduce us to your character of Leo El Magnífico.
JZ: Leo is one of those characters that are super exciting to play. He’s a famous magician from the book by Pablo Cartaya called “Leo El Magnífico!” and he’s teleported into the real world to help solve a mystery. Leo is really interesting because he is a deeply layered character who goes through a real character arc. When we first meet him, we think he’s only an egotistical showman who only thinks about himself. But throughout the show, we start to see behind the curtain, figuring out how and why he is the way he is. The sacrifices he made to get where he is, but were those sacrifices worth it? He got everything he ever wanted, but at what cost? Those were just some questions I asked myself when preparing for the character. I worked closely with our director, Luke Matheny, and the author of the book, Pablo Cartaya, to see how we could bring this incredibly emotionally rich character to life.
CB: I’m a big “They Boys” fan and you are wonderful in your role as Young Butcher. Tell us about the atmosphere on the set, and would you happen to have a story that you can share?
JZ: The only word I could use to describe the atmosphere on set is “Electrifying”. I’m a fan of the show myself, so it was surreal to be on it! I know fans have wanted to see Butcher’s backstory for the past two seasons, so it was incredibly humbling to be a part of those flashbacks as the young version of Butcher and to give the fans what they want.
Getting to work on such an incredible show and playing the young version of such an iconic character like Butcher, who is played to perfection by Karl Urban, was just unbelievable. There are just too many stories that I can’t just mention one. Everything was so surreal, from practicing the stunts, getting advice from Karl, practicing the cockney accent, and even going in for my costume fitting, especially being a big fan of the show. Everyone on set was so friendly and welcoming, and I think everyone was excited to bring those really powerful flashbacks to life in a unique way where fans could sympathize with Butcher and his past struggles.
CB: Do you have any other projects in the works that you’re allowed to tell us about?
JZ: Currently, the only project I can discuss is “Grendel,” which is based on the award-winning comic book of the same name. I think it’s a super cool story, and I am incredibly proud to be a part of it. I can’t wait for fans to watch it once it comes out!
CB: I read that you are passionate about sports and that you train at a boxing gym. Being a big sports fan myself, I have a few questions:
—–What is your favorite sport to play?
JZ: I train in boxing and also play sports such as badminton, basketball, etc.
—–What is your favorite sport to watch?
JZ: I love watching boxing and MMA.
—–Are you training in Taekwondo and boxing? What’s your focus?
JZ: I started training in Taekwondo when I was about 5 or 6 years old, and I did it for about 6 to 7 years, but in the last two years, I’ve transitioned into boxing, which I love and do just almost every day.
CB: I love that your family is from Peru, and I had no idea that Peru discovered the potato. I do know that Machu Picchu is on my bucket list. Do you visit Peru often? What country is number one on your bucket list?
CB: I do know that Machu Picchu is on my bucket list. Do you visit Peru often? What country is number one on your bucket list?
JZ: I love Peru! My whole family lives there, and I agree that Machu Picchu is a must-visit. I would normally go to Peru every year. For me, more than a specific country, I’ve always wanted to visit Europe, which I plan to visit next year.
Follow Josh on Instagram
Written by Colleen Bement
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