Video interview with Marvin Lawrence Winans III coming soon. Check back shortly to watch this exclusive conversation.
Marvin Lawrence Winans III, affectionately known as “Three,” is proving himself to be much more than just his famous last name. The young actor, who began his career at just 18 months old, has already built an impressive resume that includes a recurring role as Chad on Quinta Brunson’s “Abbott Elementary” and now stars as a series regular in Netflix’s “Forever,” created by Mara Brock Akil and featuring Regina King.
Beyond his acting prowess, Marvin balances life as a regular teenager with aspirations of becoming an NBA player. Coming from the renowned Winans family musical dynasty, he’s forging his own path while honoring his roots. In this exclusive interview, Marvin opens up about his experience on “Forever,” the guidance he’s received from industry veterans, and what drives him both on and off screen.
“Forever” is getting a lot of love. Tell me about your character. Who is he, and what do you like most about playing him?
Jaden is the main character’s, Justin, younger brother and he’s just a fun guy. He’s chill to be around, he’s funny, and he has a good personality, and he’s breezy. He doesn’t need too many things to happen. He’s just fine with going along with what’s going on.
I just love playing him because I feel he sort of fits my personality. Just chill, is okay with doing what’s going on, isn’t too needy and just a breezy guy.
Is there anything else in common that you may have had with your character?
Loves video games, I like video games, too. And then I think he’s just an athlete. He plays baseball, and also a little bit of basketball. I play basketball, and I just play some other sports. I play football a little bit. Just sort of an athletic person.
The show is about first loves. Why do you think that this type of story is important for kids to see?
I think it’s important to see because I think it really shows the difference between a crush and your real first love. What you’ll really do for your real first love, and how you’ll act different towards them, and what it really means for a person to get their first love.
Mara Brock Akil is phenomenal. What was it like being on set with her?
She was just so great. She was just caring for everyone. She was a very caring and loving person. She had a great personality, and she always made sure everyone knew exactly what to do. She was very distinct with her instructions, and did a great job of making it to where people could understand the actions and the different scenes, and how to carry out the lines.
Did she give you any advice personally?
She gave me great instructions all the time on just how to say the lines in certain ways, and just what to do, in certain actions, how to really bring out the character.
Was there a really funny or special moment on set that you will never forget?
We went to Martha’s Vineyard to shoot there, just the whole experience being in Martha’s Vineyard, because we were shooting outside sometimes, we would always be worrying about little roaches in the grass. And that was hilarious, because we would always just be wondering if there would be something gonna try to get us. And that was just a fun experience. I didn’t get any, thankfully, though.
Most people know your family for singing and acting. What is it like being an actor with such name recognition as the Winans?
It doesn’t put me in pressure or anything. It’s cool to have that name, because it’s such a legacy. But it doesn’t have any negative impact on me at all. It’s just honestly great to be able to carry out that legacy and be able to keep it going.
Do people come up to you and ask you to sing?
Yeah, some people do. It happens from time to time.
Can you actually sing?
I think if I really tried to sing I could, but I don’t really try very hard when it comes to singing, but I think if I really wanted it, I think I could get it.
What do your parents and siblings think about you being on TV?
The thing is my siblings also act, so it’s kind of just natural for them, but my parents, they’re congratulating me all the time, really making me feel loved and always making it feel like a very special moment every single time I’m on screen, even if we’ve seen it already. My siblings, they do the same thing, they just always made me feel loved and really made me appreciate the moment.
How was it working with Regina King and hanging out in a trailer with her?
It was great. She was always giving me great advice, and one day she had come to my trailer and just sort of talk me through acting, and basically choosing the right roles for me, and making sure that I didn’t get myself stuck in a situation where I didn’t want to be and it just wasn’t a good experience. She really emphasized me loving what I’m doing and making sure that it was always a great experience for me. It was so helpful, and it was just such a great thing for her to do, because she did not have to do that at all, and she made me feel so cared for.
You’ve been acting since you were 18 months. What’s something that you’ve learned about acting that people may not know?
I think I’ve learned that if you really try, then there are so many different personalities you can bring out of it. There’s all these different characters, and there’s a bunch of different things you can do. And I think honestly, it just gets fun, because, if you’re acting out different characters, and trying to unlock different personalities. It’s fun at a point where you just keep doing it and just be able to do that. It’s a good experience.
How do you manage to make time for it all, acting, basketball, school?
Honestly, I don’t worry too much about it, because I know God has me, and I know he’ll make sure that I’m going to be okay in whatever I do. So I don’t worry too much about it. I just go with the wind, I guess, and if I have got to do something, I’ll do it, and if I don’t have to, I won’t.
What do you do in your spare time, when it’s time to simply chill?
I’ll hang out with friends, family, or I’ll just play video games, or just train basketball. Train on my handles and stuff like that, and shoot around.
Someone told me that you have aspirations of becoming an NBA player. Who’s your favorite team and then your favorite player?
My favorite team is, probably gonna get hit on a little bit since I do live in LA, but it’s the Boston Celtics. I don’t even know why. I just love them, ever since I started watching basketball. And my favorite player is Jason Tatum, he’s on the Celtics. And we have very different games, because I’m a shorter player on the court. He’s 6, 9, but I still just love watching him play. He just has a great game.
What about any particular subjects that you like in school?
It hasn’t, at least especially this year, really been about the subject. It’s more but just about the teacher. So right now, my favorite subject is history, because of how amazing my history teacher is. She’s definitely one of my top favorite teachers that I’ve ever had. And she just does such a great job of teaching us, and that’s what’s made it my favorite subject so far this year.
What about your friends at school? Do they kind of think that it’s cool that you’re on Netflix and Abbott Elementary?
They think it’s cool, but we don’t treat each other any different, just because I do some TV shows and stuff. They don’t treat me different. We’re still just friends and just have fun, joke and laugh.
If you could create your own TV show, what would it be about?
I would probably create a show where it’s just about, probably a big family, and how they will just adjust to each other, not a big family, because my grandma had a big family. She had a bunch of brothers and sisters, and my grandpa had a bunch of brothers and sisters. I think it would just be how the children will be able to react and adapt to all these different people in the family. I think that would be an interesting concept.
What would you say to kids who want to act as well?
It’s not impossible, you just have to make sure you set your mind to it, and don’t give up, because there have been a lot of times where I wanted to give up, and I didn’t want to do it anymore, but then I didn’t. I pushed through, and it happened, and so make sure just don’t give up, and whatever you set your mind to, you can do.
If you could go back and talk to a younger Marvin from perhaps a few years ago, what would you tell them now?
I would probably say, just keep persevering, and don’t look at other people, because I know a lot of other kids who act and are a little older than me. I always try to tell them don’t look at them and make yourself feel little, don’t belittle yourself because they’re doing things. Just do what you gotta do and keep going. Keep acting, and you’re gonna get it eventually.
What is your biggest dream for your future beyond acting, and beyond becoming an NBA player?
Just be able to represent God the right way, and be able to spread the gospel and teach people about Jesus.
Where can we follow you? Where can we watch “Forever”?
You can follow me on Instagram at Marvin Winans III. And then also you can watch Forever on Netflix.
