Jordyn Curet on Her Recipe to Success in Pursuing Her Passions

By Arianne Granada

 

 

In a world where most teens are struggling to find their footing as they come of age, Jordyn Curet has already carved out her path in life by establishing herself as a talented actor and singer. Despite being only all of 14 years old, she’s making waves in the entertainment industry and is racking up a growing list of impressive credits under her belt.

Her talent has taken her to the big screen with roles in various TV shows and movies, including Disney series Bizaardvark to the acclaimed film Marriage Story, alongside Hollywood A-listers Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver.

Her most recent portrayal as Shamiah in the ABC sitcom Home Economics has further propelled her career, garnering her widespread recognition for her exceptional acting chops where she plays daughter to Caitlin McGee’s Sarah and Sasheer Zamata’s Denise, as the couple struggles to make ends meet in their family.

Catching up with the young star in our recent interview, Curet lets us in on her journey in the industry thus far, her love for music and acting, and her aspirations for the future.

 

Tell us about how you started out in the industry.

I actually started acting when I was only 18 months old! At first, I did some simple print work modelling for clothing brands like GAP and Skechers. But it wasn’t until I was around seven years old that I really got into acting. My mom waited until I expressed interest in it, and once I started, I realized it was something I was truly passionate about.

It all started with musical theatre, which I fell in love with when I was around six. I just thought acting was so cool and fun, so I kept at it. I booked my first Target commercial and that led to more commercial gigs. And then came my big break — I landed a role on Bizaardvark with Olivia Rodrigo, who was an amazing co-star. That experience really helped launch my career with Disney, and I’ve been working with them ever since.

I’ve gotten to work on some really fun stuff, and one of my favourite experiences was getting a big screen role in Marriage Story with Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver.

 

 

You’ve been in Home Economics since 2021, playing Shamiah. Can you give us some insight into what she’s like?

Shamiah is a really sweet girl who values her independence. She’s going through her teenage years and figuring out all the typical stuff like relationships with friends and boys. It’s been really cool to see her grow up over the past few seasons. When I first started playing her, she was really young, like a little kid. But now she’s getting older and the show is exploring that more, which is awesome. I feel really lucky to have grown up alongside my character and to be a part of this show.

 

You’re probably around the same age as your character, Shamiah. Do you share any similarities or differences with her?

I think Shamiah and I have some similarities, especially when it comes to being independent. I feel like that’s just a normal part of being a teenager, you know? But there are definitely some differences between us too. One thing I really like about her is that she’s really confident and knows what she wants. She’s not afraid to speak up and share her opinions. I’m still working on being that confident myself, so I really admire that about her. All in all, we have a mix of similarities and differences, which I think makes her a really interesting character to play.

 

It’s been three seasons since you began filming the show. How has it been growing up with your character?

Yeah, it feels really strange. I started filming the show when I was just 11 years old, and now I’m 14 and we’re already on season three. It’s just crazy to think about how much I’ve grown up during that time. I was still doing a bunch of childhood stuff when I started; I wasn’t even in middle school yet!

Now I’m about to go to high school and everything feels so different for me. My set family has seen me grow up and we’ve all grown together over the past seasons. The writers had to adjust to my growth and development, which was interesting to see. It’s funny to look back at pictures of myself from the first season and realize how much I’ve changed since then.

 

You got the chance to be in a musical movie on HBO Max’s Holiday Harmony. What attracted you to taking on this role? Did you relate to your character Rosemary’s journey?

Definitely! Taking on the role in Holiday Harmony was a really exciting opportunity for me. I’ve always loved singing and music, so being able to showcase that on-screen was a big step for me. I grew up watching High School Musical constantly, so it was really fun to finally get to sing on-screen, especially for an HBO Max movie.

There was definitely some pressure to get it right but everyone on set was incredibly kind and supportive, which made it such a fun experience. And playing Rosemary was really interesting because she’s so different from the characters I usually play. She’s shy and timid, so it was fun to play someone who was fragile and vulnerable. In my regular show [Home Economics], I’m usually very outgoing and independent, so it was a nice change of pace to play a character who was so different from that.

 

 

Can you give us any hints about any upcoming roles or projects that you have in the works?

I have a project in the works with Disney+ at the moment, which is pretty exciting. I can’t say too much about it but hopefully, we’ll be able to share more soon. I’ve also been spending some time in the studio, working on some music stuff, but we’ll see where that goes. I try to keep my fans updated on my Instagram, so if you’re curious about any new projects, that’s probably the best place to check. But for now, that’s all I can share.

 

You started your own non-profit organization at such a young age, which is simply amazing. Tell us about Jordyn’s Joy.

We always have toy drives and donate toys to shelters and hospitals. My mom has always been into giving back, and I continued that tradition. When I was seven, we decided to start another toy drive and that’s when Jordyn’s Joy was born. It’s a non-profit organization that gives back to hospitals, shelters and people in need.

Recently, we donated a whole truckload of toys, essentials, and supplies to the Ronald McDonald House, and it was such an amazing experience. We also work with other organizations, and my personal favourite is Jacaranda Housing. They help young women aging out of the foster care system get a secure place to live and learn essential life skills. It’s a three-year program where they stay together in a group home and learn how to file taxes and get a job. Once they complete the program, they’ll be able to live on their own and hopefully succeed in life. I’m really happy to be a part of such great work, and we’ll continue to help those in need.

 

You’ve been working since you were 18 months old. Looking back, what message would you give to younger Jordyn if you could?

Oh, that’s a great question. If I could go back and talk to younger Jordyn, I would tell her to keep her head up. You know, looking back, there were times when things were tough, especially when I started working on Home Economics during COVID. It was a really challenging time, and it affected me mentally because I couldn’t see my family or friends as much as I wanted to. But I kept pushing through, and I know a lot of other young people were going through similar struggles.

So I would say to younger Jordyn, “Don’t give up and keep doing what you’re doing because it’s going to work out. It may not always be easy, but the tough times will pass, and things will get better. Just keep pushing and keep being true to yourself.”