At just 21, Jack Champion has found his way into the heart of not one, not two, but three of Hollywood’s biggest franchises. From a minor role in Avengers: Endgame to his scene-stealing turn as Ethan Landry in Scream VI, Champion is a long way from small-town Virginia where he grew up. These days, you’ll most likely find him on Pandora as Miles “Spider” Socorro, one of the Na’vi in James Cameron’s Avatar series.
Navigating such a rapidly changing industry can be overwhelming for one of Hollywood’s hottest young male stars, but he’s used to weathering the changes—Champion has been in the industry since he was 10 years old. So, we quizzed the actor on his formative influences, guilty pleasures, and dream collaborators.
What is the best advice you’ve received about performing?
Follow your instincts. As corny as that sounds, it’s most important to trust your instincts and not get too caught up in the technical aspects.
What is the biggest challenge an actor faces today?
Deciding whether or not to have social media and how much of my personal life to share with fans. It’s been a learning curve for sure.
Tell us about the character that inspired you to become an actor.
Believe it or not, for 4-year-old me it was Hannah Montana. I wanted so badly to be on Disney Channel as a kid.
When did you last get star-struck?
At the Los Angeles Avatar: Fire and Ash premiere, meeting Miley Cyrus!
What’s the most challenging scene you’ve ever shot?
All of the underwater scenes in the Avatar movies were tough. I would spend hours 20 feet underwater and just hang there in between takes to help my ears stay equalized.
What’s the first movie you remember watching?
I remember watching a 3D documentary about the oceans when I was like 4 in the theater, but the first movie I remember watching at all was 3 Ninjas and Elf. I was obsessed.
Which star, dead or alive, would you want to run lines with?
Heath Ledger. Hands down.
What was on your playlist during your last project?
Show tunes!
What’s your favorite airplane movie, and why?
I tend to rewatch Band of Brothers on planes with no WiFi because it’s downloaded to my phone. But I also like to dabble in random movies the airline offers.
What would be in your dream on-set rider?
Maybe that I could bring my own driver and trainer with me no matter where the project was filmed. I had the absolute best people around me during Avatar and would love to keep hanging and working with them on other projects.
Which film do you re-watch the most?
Elf. Not just at Christmas.
Which jobs, if any, did you have before becoming a full-time actor?
I started acting at 10, so I never really had any other jobs outside the industry. I do think it would be fun to PA on a project and get the other side of the work.
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