Joey Vahedi is an American actor based in Los Angeles and known for the role of Thomas in The Chosen. Joey can be seen in other hit series including Lucifer, NCIS: New Orleans, Transparent and I Think You Should Leave. In addition to working in front of the camera, Joey has been the English dubbing voice for countless foreign films and TV shows such as 4 Blocks, Elite, Valley of Tears, How to Survive Being Single, and many others. I was delighted to have the opportunity to speak to The Chosen cast member, Joey Vahedi who plays the man who is probably most famous for doubting Jesus’ resurrection – Thomas the disciple.
Here’s how our conversation went:
Andy Godfrey (AG): Nice to meet you and thank you for talking to Sorted Magazine. Please can you tell us a little bit about Thomas and how his character has developed?
Joey Vahedi (JV): Nice to meet you as well … as for Thomas …
At which point I interrupted Joey. He was wearing an Arsenal Shirt and I had to tell him that he had the right colour but the wrong team. It appeared he hadn’t heard of Bristol City. He has now… so back to the interview transcription.
JV: So … Thomas, when we meet him in season one is a bit of a panicky person, a man who is trying to do well for his family. As the series goes on we see him start to question things, because Thomas is a man who looks at the world through logic and reason. He’s very curious. He joins Jesus’ group, and we start to see him joining in, even joking around a little bit. He starts to trust that Jesus is the way for him. In Season Four Thomas comes more and out of his shell and he does continue to pursue the girl he loves, who is also a follower of Jesus.
AG: How much research did you do into your respective characters and the world they lived in?
JV: I was familiar with the world of the New Testament. I talk to the writers and the director to get a feeling; Thomas, is mentioned in the book of John the most but only briefly. Therefore, we have to give a lot of credit to the writers who take these characters and really flesh them out.
AG: Joey, we are obviously building up to the moment where Thomas, after the resurrection expresses his doubts. Do you think that the reputation he’s had over the years for being a doubter is fair? There’s a moment in John’s Gospel where he says “If Jesus is going up to Jerusalem let’s go and die with him”. Is his reputation fair?
JV: One 100% unfair. The reason I say this is that I don’t think that Thomas is a person who doubts. He’s more someone who questions. The reason he questions is because of how much he loves Jesus. This is a man who totally changed his life and it’s totally OK to ask questions about what’s happened to someone you love. The thing that is so awesome about The Chosen is they are not yet saints. They are human beings and that’s how we portray them.
AG: I agree wholeheartedly and preached about Thomas just recently in a church here in the UK. Just one final question because our time is racing. Can I ask if you have a favourite scene that you have filmed up to date?
JV: Easily, the episode in Season Two where all the disciples are sat around a campfire. It was a 15-minute take and I love those ensemble moments.
Talking with the cast of The Chosen over the past few weeks has been such a privilege for me. I’ve discovered so much about them and their commitment to The Chosen.
For more information please visit The Chosen (thechosentv.co.uk)
Main Photo Credit: Courtesy of The Chosen
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