Interviewing actress Jordan Hundley

1-. How was your childhood?

My childhood was really good, all things considered! I’m blessed that I grew up in a great area (Fairfax County, Virginia) with an awesome school system, my parents were super attentive and caring to me, my twin sister, and my little brother, and I remember having a lot of fun with my friends playing soccer, video games, singing, etc. My twin sister is a cancer survivor (she was diagnosed when we were 4), so that was a hurdle for our family, but she had a great team of doctors and was in remission by the time we were 6, and from that experience we’ve been able to raise thousands of dollars for pediatric cancer awareness, so I’d say everything worked out in the end. I was a creative, smart, and driven little kid, so I was always keeping myself busy with fun projects. I have suffered from OCD and anxiety pretty much my entire life, including my childhood, but luckily I don’t recall it affecting too many of my fond memories and the good times outweigh the bad.

2. - From what age did you decide to be an actress and how did you know you had the skills to go on TV?

I decided to begin acting when I was 12 in 2014 because it gave me another outlet to express my creativity, develop social skills, and explore my inner self. I joined an improvisation team in 7th grade, and then did my first play in 8th grade (Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream), I went on to fall in love with acting and storytelling and decided to study it in college at James Madison University, where I just this past year in 2024 received by B.A. in Theatre with a double concentration in Theatre Performance and Theatre Studies. I have done over 30 plays and musicals across the last decade (of all genres), but did not get into film and TV acting until 2023 when I got cast in a horror short film. I immediately realized that was where I belonged and dove headfirst into acting for the camera (and I had developed some throat problems across the years from the overuse of my voice from consistently doing live performances with no rest). In the last year and a half and have since filmed 10 films and have 5 more upcoming.

3. - Did your parents support you in the decision you made to be an actress?

Not really. They never actually stopped me or forbade me, but they were not fans. They really tried to persuade me to study something else in college and go a different route, and even now they just want me to become a teacher or something. However, they still watched all my plays and haven’t like cut me out so, I’d say they somewhat support me (a little bit).

4. - What was your first appearance on the screens?

My first professional appearance on screen (excluding student films and 48 hour festivals) will actually be this October in a short film called Haig’s Heart, which is a part of the 10/31 anthology. We shot it in March of 2023, so I’m super excited to finally see it. I’m not going to provide any spoilers, but let’s just say I really showcase my haunting scream in this film.

5. - What was the role you liked the most?

This is the hardest question in the world because each of my experiences have been so different, taught me so much, and been such a pleasure. However, recently I really enjoyed shooting a role I have in an upcoming horror film called Bloody Summer Camp 2. Without giving any spoilers, we got to shoot in a real summer camp which was awesome, it was super bloody and gory, the cast and crew were packed of some of the most talented and amazing artists I’ve gotten to work with, and I got to play a mean girl (which is always a good time).

6.- What do you think led you to fame?

I would not say I have fame (yet hehehe). I guess that in the east coast indie horror scene people are starting to recognize my name, but it’s definitely not what I’d call “famous.” I still consider myself a baby around here since I’ve only been working on films for about a year and a half and have got a long long way to go before I reach fame status.

7-. What types of characters you would like to interpret?

This might make me sound awful (and I promise I’m not like this in real life), but I LOVE to play a villain, especially a manipulative or cunning role. It’s just so fun to play the two faces and portray the complexity and depth of those characters.

I also adore playing super dramatic realism roles. As a theatre studies student, I was trained to really dive deep into my character work, and dramatic realism roles present the perfect opportunity to spend hours upon hours digging in, finding the connections between myself and the character, and really feeling the emotions required to accurately represent and depict the circumstances.

Finally, and obviously given my previous projects, I’ll always accept a scream queen role. I get to really let loose and have fun with those generally.

8-. What actresses and actors do you feel comfortable working with?

I feel the most comfortable around artists who are open-minded, respectful, prepared, and eager and willing to play and explore. So far, I haven’t really met anyone that I’d say didn’t fit that bill. I just want to work with people that are as passionate about telling stories and making art as I am.

9-. In what other genres of art would you like to participate? (Works of theater, music,among others)

As mentioned, I’ve been doing theatre and live performance for 10 years, and I still love to do it on occasion. I’ve also been a professional cosplayer/character performer for 6 years and actively still do that (especially for children’s parties!). I haven’t done much with music, but if the opportunity arose, I’d be eager to learn.

10.- Do you have any anecdotes that have marked you in your life and as a person?

I believe the answer to this question ties in with my response to the next one, so see #11 J

11.- What has been your greatest achievement?

I don’t know if I have just one, so here’s a short list of 4 achievements that have marked who I am as a person today:

In 2018, I booked my first role in a professional theatre. Up until then, I had only done school shows and was seemingly unsuccessful (I’d really only gotten ensemble and small roles) so I was near my quitting point (I was just going to study politics instead). I decided to audition for a professional theatre on a whim as one last shot at acting and ended up getting cast as the lead in The Wolves at NextStop Theatre Company. It was HUGE for me. I realized that I wasn’t a failure and that I should stick with my passion of acting. That role is single-handedly the reason I am still an actor today.

Deciding to break out of my stage-acting-only shell and audition for my first film. It was a huge step for my career, my confidence, and my independence as an actor. And I booked it!

Writing a 250 page undergraduate thesis on the importance of theatre and performance arts in the pediatric hospital setting (it can improve their mental health and wellbeing drastically and is so so so important to a young patient’s battle)

Graduating college with my BA in Theatre and double concentrations in Theatre Performance and Theatre Studies. I began college during COVID in 2020 and consequently ran into several mental health challenges that almost prohibited me from finishing my degree, but I persevered and was able to graduate with honors (summa cum laude!)

12.- What projects will you make next and which ones do you have in mind?

I’ve got a bunch of fun stuff lined up for the rest of 2024 and 2025! Some horror, some dramas, a comedy, a holiday film, and even a sci-fi! The sky is the limit and I’m so excited to explore all these different genres.

13.- Would you like to make a movie in Spain?

I would love to make a movie in Spain! I’ve never gotten an opportunity nor have had the funds to travel to Europe, so it’d be super awesome to travel abroad for film.

14.- Do you like Spanish cinema?

I am unfortunately unfamiliar with Spanish cinema.