Joey Vahedi, actor from The Chosen, would have never predicted the series’ success. “I came onto this show in 2019 not knowing what I was getting myself into…we’ve garnered over 470 million views worldwide,” he illuminates.

In an interview with Deseret News, Vahedi explains his love for watching his character Thomas, also known as “Doubting Thomas,” develop. Vahedi describes Thomas as a genuine person who has a lot of compassion; he believes that audiences will continue to empathize with him as the show progresses.

Hailing from Los Angeles and of Middle Eastern descent, Vahedi focuses on booking roles that make him feel good. “I’ve definitely had my fair share of auditioning for roles that were very stereotypically written or only showcased Middle Eastern people in a bad light,” he explains. “Some with completely made up names that don’t even exist in the culture. All you can do about that is laugh because it’s so wild.”

Vahedi is a flourishing talent in the entertainment industry. He has also appeared on Netflix’s Lucifer, CBS’ NCIS: New Orleans, Amazon’s Transparent, and Masters of Sex, among other projects.

Suit by Le Catou at The Confessional Showroom
Short by Brooks Brothers
Sweater by Everyday Mountaineering
Shoes by Hugo Boss

Joey, you’re most known for your role as Thomas from The Chosen. How has this character influenced your professional and personal life?
Thomas and I share a lot of qualities. We both question things because we care and we fight hard for the ones we love. If anything, Thomas has taught me to lean more into those qualities. I know those are traits that will serve me in my personal and professional life.

The Chosen is entering its 5th season and rumor has it—there will be a total of seven. What can fans expect from your character, Thomas, in upcoming seasons of the show?
We actually just finished shooting our 5th season, which is pretty wild! In Season 4, Thomas goes through a significant trauma which alters the trajectory of his path with Jesus and the disciples. He deals with the fallout of that event in Season 5. Lots of questions come up for him. “Why did this happen to me?” “Can I trust Jesus anymore?” “Why am I still here?” I think the fans are going to like what they see.

Full look by Brooks Brothers
Shoes by Florsheim Shoes

The Chosen is recognized for its authentic depiction of biblical stories. How do you ensure that your performance remains historically accurate?
The cool thing about The Chosen is we don’t have video or audio footage to reference. The actors, along with the writers, get to make up who these people are. How they speak, how they behave, how they feel about one another—it all comes from us. Of course, the writers do everything they can to maintain historical accuracy, but the creative leeway we have as performers is what makes the show exciting and fun. People feel like they can really see themselves in these characters and it seems like that’s what makes The Chosen so successful.

Ranked 100% on rotten tomatoes, The Chosen is a global sensation airing on Netflix, Hulu, The CW, Amazon, and releasing theatrically. How does it feel to be a part of such a critically acclaimed project?
It’s very humbling. I came onto this show in 2019 not knowing what I was getting myself into. I think all the actors would probably say the same thing. We were this completely crowd funded show and here we are 5-6 years later distributed globally on television and in theaters with an international audience. The show is being translated into 600 languages. We’ve garnered over 470 million views worldwide and growing. Most importantly, we have a fanbase that is so wonderful, which makes this one of the great joys of my career. I know I’ll look back on this experience in 5-10 years and have a moment of, “Whoa…we did that.” I feel very lucky.

Blouse by Brooks Brothers
Suit by Le Catou at The Confessional Showroom
Coat by Brooks Brothers
Shoes by Hugo Boss

You’ve had great success with your acting career with roles in popular series such as Netflix’s Lucifer, CBS’ NCIS: New Orleans, Amazon’s Transparent, and Masters of Sex. Do you have a favourite character that you’ve played and why?
Working on Lucifer was really fun. The cast and crew were all really sweet. I played this kid named George who was a little gangster and not too great at his job. Myself and the gangster crew from that episode had a sort of three Stooges thing going on. I got to talking with Chris Rafferty, one of the writers, on set and he joked around about doing a spin off of just those three guys. Chris, if you’re reading this…it’s not too late!

What advice might you give aspiring actors looking to audition for their first role?
You need to be very honest with yourself about whether your work is consistently improving. Bookings come and go, but you need to gauge if your work is getting stronger. Get in class. Surround yourself with people that are better than you. People that will push you to be the best version of yourself in work and in life. I owe so much of my career to other actors, teachers, friends and mentors that pushed me because they believed in me as much as I believe in myself. They took a chance on me. Those people exist. Find them. And remember to thank them!

As an LA-based actor of Mid-East descent, have you faced any unique challenges in the industry, and have your cultural experiences influenced the roles you choose or how you approach them?
I’ve definitely had my fair share of auditioning for roles that were very stereotypically written or only showcased Middle Eastern people in a bad light. Some with completely made up names that don’t even exist in the culture. All you can do about that is laugh because it’s so wild. Luckily, I never booked those roles. Many years ago I set a new standard for myself not to take auditions like that. It doesn’t make me feel good. If they are fully flushed out human beings or based on historical figures then that’s a different story. Honestly, it was a little scary to make that decision because I thought it would limit my opportunities and casting wouldn’t call me in anymore. However, I realized that’s a false narrative and I think the rest of Hollywood has been catching up with that idea, too.

White + Black Blazer by Akobimen at The Confessional Showroom
Black Blazer by Le Catou at The Confessional Showroom
Pants by Brooks Brothers
Shoes by Florsheim Shoes

In your acting career, you’ve worked across a multitude of genres ranging from crime and historical drama to supernatural thrillers. Is there a particular genre that you hope to explore in the future?
I’d really love to get my hands on a dark comedy or maybe even a sci-fi. Going to work every day to laugh and make my co-workers laugh is a really fun job. We do a lot of that on The Chosen already despite the serious subject matter. It brings me so much joy.

Do you have any hidden talents or hobbies that fans might not know about?
I can draft a better fantasy football team than you. Feel free to @ me. Shoutout to all of my league mates across all my leagues! You’re going down (again). Also…huge Pokemon fan. Enough said.

Suit by Brooks Brothers
Shirt by Calvin Klein
Pocket Square by Stylist Own

Are there any dream roles or projects that you aspire to work on?
I more so have a bucket list of directors I’d like to work with. Ari Aster, Taika Waititi, Safdi bros, Coen bros…the list goes on and on.

Do you have any upcoming projects that you can tell us about?
I’m looking to shoot a pilot written by a friend around fall time. Our friend group has always had the goal to work on something together so hopefully we can make that happen. Other than that, if you missed Season 4 of The Chosen you can catch it on The CW September 1st! Feel free to follow me @joeyvahedi on Instagram for any and all career updates.

CREW CREDITS:
Talent: Joey Vahedi
PhotoBook Editor-In-Chief: Alison Hernon
PhotoBook Creative Director + Photographer + Producer: Mike Ruiz
Fashion Stylist: Alison Hernon at Exclusive Artists
Groomer: Alexandria Gilleo
Fashion Stylist Assistant: Atėnė Asakavičiūtė
Fashion Stylist Intern: Gaby Ross
Tearsheets by Daniel López, Art Director, PhotoBook Magazine
Interview by Brya Sheridan

Joey Vahedi Flourishing in 'The Chosen'