Let the swooning begin! What do you get when you mix god-given talent, an irresistible smile, and alluring charm perfectly wrapped in a 6’2 frame? South Carolina native Jay Ellis. Just when you thought the summer couldn’t get any hotter, Ellis brings a dose of sexy as the newest star to the second season of Showtime’s “Masters of Sex.”
A fan favorite on the revived and highly-successful “The Game,” the former model shows his acting chops as Dr. Cyril Franklin in “Masters of Sex,” a sultry period piece with Hollywood veterans Michael Sheen and Lizzy Caplan. The show chronicles the pioneers of the science of human sexuality that touched off a sexual revolution. From playing Heisman Trophy-winning wide receiver Blue to Dr. Franklin, Ellis’ mysterious, yet intriguing mastery to transform into any role makes him even that more appealing.
In speaking with UPTOWN, Jay Ellis gets candid as he reveals details on his new role, what he finds most attractive about women, and what he says is the biggest misconception about him — an answer that may surprise you!
UPTOWN: How did your new role as Dr. Cyril Franklin on Showtime’s “Masters of Sex” drama come about?
Jay Ellis: It’s cool getting to tell a piece of history and “Masters of Sex” is based off Phil Masters and Virginia Johnson’s real life and [their] study of sex in the ’50s. It was the first period piece I’ve ever done and I was super excited to do that. Then to work with Michael Sheen and Lizzy Caplan who are giants in the acting world and such phenomenal actors. And the writing on the show is insane!
Phil Masters is forced to move his practice and move his controversial study where he now has to work in an African American hospital in the 1950s in St. Louis. There’s a lot of racial tension that arises from that. He’s getting special treatment based on who he is and that doesn’t sit well with Cyril Franklin and he wants to make sure Dr. Masters knows that.
U: What made you pursue acting? You had a basketball scholarship to Concordia University with a successful modeling career.
JE: Acting was something I always wanted to do but I didn’t know how or how to pursue it. Fortunately, I was blessed enough in high school to play basketball, but when you’re playing college basketball, that’s your world. Everything you do revolves around basketball and working out and being the best athlete you could be. There wasn’t time to take a theater class and get in a play.
As I finished college and started modeling, I thought modeling would lead me into acting which wasn’t the case at all. It’s a completely different world where you don’t get to use your artistic expression, voice, body, thought processes, and mind — you use them in different ways actually. I got to do that for a bit but I realized it wasn’t my passion. It wasn’t going to get me to my goal of being an actor. Once I got to Los Angeles, I got on the road, got on the streets and figured it out, although it took me some time. It has always been a passion of mine and it took me working in different areas and fields, being successful and failing, to see where my dreams and passions really were. It took me full circle to my love for telling stories.
U: Raised as an army brat, how has your upbringing impacted your career and the roles you chose to take?
JE: First of all, I have the utmost respect for anyone in the armed forces, as well as their families. I don’t think people realize the sacrifice they make as well. My parents were really young — neither one of them graduated college until my mother was in her early 30s and my father in his early 40s. Seeing them stay together, work, and become this amazing unit and this amazing team made me want to continue to tell stories like that.
We have so many positive and uplifting stories, whether we’re from families in the armed forces or families who stuck together, young families who turned out to be successful and their children who turned out to be successful that we don’t get to tell. So for me, one of the things I try to do when I am fortunate enough to work is to be a part of something that tells positive stories. And not just throwing junk out in the atmosphere. There’s already enough junk out there and I don’t want to be a part of putting anymore out there.
U: You play Blue on BET’s “The Game.” How similar are you to your character?
JE: We go back and forth. I find myself reading a script and I cannot relate to this dude at all! Then all of a sudden something will click like, “Oh yeah, I remember that when my dad was in the Air Force!” So there’s these weird moments, this flip side where I do relate to him. For instance, I do know what it’s like to be a kid in the military who traveled around quite a bit. I do know what it’s like to be young and want to be successful and want to focus on your career and be the best you can possibly be. I know what it’s like to be vulnerable with a woman you love. I like it, but I don’t think Blue likes it. But I know what it means and that feeling. I don’t know what it’s like to make $20 million dollars a year as a star athlete in the world! I don’t know what it’s like to date a famous actress! So those things are harder for me to relate to but we’re both good guys. I like to tell people I have all of Blue’s good qualities.
U: Let’s play a game of “Finish this Sentence!” My ideal woman is …
JE: Confident
U: My relationship deal breaker is …
JE: Lack of communication.
U: My favorite date was …
JE: Dinner in Harlem.
U: The last three songs I downloaded were …
JE: “Believe Me” by Drake and Lil Wayne, “Backseat Freestyle” by Kendrick Lamar, and “Brand New” by Pharrell.
U: The oddest job I worked was …
JE: I was the meat and cheese slicer in my college cafeteria! 6 a.m.!
U: My wildest day as a professional that no one would believe happened …
JE: One day at last year’s Essence Music Festival, I presented a 17-year-old kid a McDonald’s 365 Black Award for his work in the community in Atlanta where he lives. I got my sleeve ripped off my jacket by a fan who got out of her car and ran me down in the street. I also met a cold-blooded, street famous killer in a matter of like three hours.
U: The three things I cannot live without …
JE: My cell phone, good friends and family in my life, and Burt’s Bees chap stick.
U: The biggest misconception about me is …
JE: I’m as wholesome as everyone thinks I am.
The second season of “Masters of Sex” premieres on Showtime, July 13 at 10:00pm EST.