On ‘Live with Kelly and Ryan’, ‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’ actor John Boyega confesses stealing Finn's jacket, waistcoat and rifle
On Wednesday’s episode of ‘Live with Kelly and Ryan’, actor John Byega made an appearance. The British actor who plays the role of Finn in ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ and ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’, spoke about being a stock photography model and how he fell in love with acting and, of course, ‘Star Wars’ on the daytime talk show.
“In school, we used to have a lot of drama clubs and school plays. My teacher cast me in this story about a leopard and I played the title role -- It’s one of my best roles yet,” said Boyega. “And I think after that, I just caught the bug for it. My teacher recognized it in me and gave me the opportunity to a scholarship at our local theater school.”
But other than acting, Boyega has also done some modeling work. Speaking about that, he said jokingly, “I like to think my face is mathematically correct.”
“I’ve done stock shoots. And basically, they would use a series of [these] picture[s] to promote diversity in colleges, schools, workplaces. So my pictures are all over the world,” said Boyega. “Every day I get emails from Dallas and wherever saying that ‘We just saw you on the wall of our college’... and it’s just me next to a computer, like this [gesturing typing]".
He added, “You know, the challenge with being a stock shoot model is that you’re actually mentally depressed half of the time you’re doing it. So when they take the picture, you’re next to the computer -- you have to act all engaged, act as if you’re learning stuff and act as if you want everyone to come to your college.”
Boyega said he was paid only £50 ($65) for his first photoshoot and of that money, he spent £30 ($39) on a pair of new shoes. “And then I used the £20 ($26) for food. So it was a big break,” he said. “At least I had a job. I knew I was going places,” he added in jest.
Actor Billy Dee Williams is all set to make a comeback in the upcoming ‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’, reprising his role as Lando Calrissian. Speaking about working with him, Boyega said, “He’s just cool.”
He added, “He’s still got it. It was just great to do scenes with him and riff off of him as well. He’s still charming and so funny. And I can’t wait for people to see Lando.”
“To be part of the young cast and to be with the legacy characters -- that’s when you feel like you’re in legit ‘Star Wars’,” he said about getting the opportunity to be in the company of Williams and Harrison Ford.
Talking further about ‘Star Wars’, Boyega confessed to stealing some props from the film franchise: Finn’s jacket and waistcoat, his machine gun and his rifle. “It was the last one; what are you gonna do, fire me?” joked Boyega.
'Live with Kelly and Ryan' airs weekdays nationwide.
