A Q&A with Homeland’s Jackson Pace


With Season 3 of everyone’s other favorite show about to gear up, Homeland fans are wondering what’s going on with the Brody family after the explosive events and revelations at the end of Season 2. Brody’s son Chris, in particular, is growing up quick, and we caught up with the actor who plays him to discuss his role and more.

Jackson Pace and Damian LewisYoung Adult: Hey Jackson, Mordechai Laub here from Young Adult Mag. Just wanted to say that I find your show brilliant and yours and Morgan’s characters are my favorite. Keep doing what you’re doing! And thanks for agreeing to sit down with us.

YA: How did you manage to snag the role of Chris?

Jackson Pace: I actually auditioned for this on tape.  I was living in Texas at the time, and my agents from Texas and California worked together to make it happen!

YA: What’s it like working with such a talented group of actors? Have you gotten any good advice while on set, that can you share with others?

JP: You’re right! They all are very talented and I am honored just to be a part of the show.  The advice that most of them give me is to just stay levelheaded and to listen to my parents because they know best.

YA: Tell me about Homeland and your character Chris?

JP: I play Chris, the son of Marine Sergeant Nicholas Brody.  In previous seasons Chris just wanted to please everyone.  Now that he is a teen, he is starting to have his own opinions.

YA: What do you take from your own life to make this character real?

JP: I really don’t take anything from my own life to play Chris.  I would say his life is different than any other kid I know.

YA: Dana, your sister on the show (played by the refreshing Morgan Saylor) tried committing suicide. You playing her brother, how do you as an actor deal with something like that? (I feel like it’s not easy to portray a feeling like that on screen, but when you’re sitting at the dinner table when she first came home from the ward you managed to pull it off beautifully.)

JP: Thanks, I just have to try to be that person and feel what he would feel.

YA: Dana always calls you funny names like ‘Dingis’—it’s so cute. Are those scripted or just something you and Morgan come up with ad-lib style?

JP: They are scripted.  She has come up with a few off camera though.

YA: Any funny moments to happen off camera?

JP: Nothing particular comes to mind, but after each take the cast and crew are always making jokes.  For such a serious show I’m glad we can all make jokes after each take!

YA: What has been your favorite scene to shoot, and why?

JP: The Pilot when we met Brody at the airport was my favorite scene.  It was such a great scene and set the tone for our family dynamic.

YA: Dana always has a guy with her. Will this be Chris’s season to get a girlfriend?

JP: No, Chris isn’t smooth enough to get a lady yet.

YA: What can you share with us about this season? What are some things you’d like to see?  

JP: I’m really not able to share anything about the season so far, they like the viewers to be surprised.  I’d like to see Chris get kidnapped by some terrorists.  I think it would be great to do some action scenes!

YA: Where would you like to see your career go after Homeland?

JP: I would love to do some movies. A comedy would be a nice change of pace (no pun intended).

YA: Who would you love to work with in the future?

JP: So many people come to mind but Tom Hanks is one on the top of the list.

YA: If you were to pick any film throughout time that you could be in, which film would it be and whom would you play?   

JP: Back To The Future!  Marty McFly, every kid’s dream.

Watch Season 3 of Homeland on ShowTime every Sunday at 9pm.

a-q&a-with-homelands-jackson-pace

With Season 3 of everyone’s other favorite show about to gear up, Homeland fans are wondering what’s going on with the Brody family after the explosive events and revelations at the end of Season 2. Brody’s son Chris, in particular, is growing up quick, and we caught up with the actor who plays him to discuss his role and more.

Jackson Pace and Damian LewisYoung Adult: Hey Jackson, Mordechai Laub here from Young Adult Mag. Just wanted to say that I find your show brilliant and yours and Morgan’s characters are my favorite. Keep doing what you’re doing! And thanks for agreeing to sit down with us.

YA: How did you manage to snag the role of Chris?

Jackson Pace: I actually auditioned for this on tape.  I was living in Texas at the time, and my agents from Texas and California worked together to make it happen!

YA: What’s it like working with such a talented group of actors? Have you gotten any good advice while on set, that can you share with others?

JP: You’re right! They all are very talented and I am honored just to be a part of the show.  The advice that most of them give me is to just stay levelheaded and to listen to my parents because they know best.

YA: Tell me about Homeland and your character Chris?

JP: I play Chris, the son of Marine Sergeant Nicholas Brody.  In previous seasons Chris just wanted to please everyone.  Now that he is a teen, he is starting to have his own opinions.

YA: What do you take from your own life to make this character real?

JP: I really don’t take anything from my own life to play Chris.  I would say his life is different than any other kid I know.

YA: Dana, your sister on the show (played by the refreshing Morgan Saylor) tried committing suicide. You playing her brother, how do you as an actor deal with something like that? (I feel like it’s not easy to portray a feeling like that on screen, but when you’re sitting at the dinner table when she first came home from the ward you managed to pull it off beautifully.)

JP: Thanks, I just have to try to be that person and feel what he would feel.

YA: Dana always calls you funny names like ‘Dingis’—it’s so cute. Are those scripted or just something you and Morgan come up with ad-lib style?

JP: They are scripted.  She has come up with a few off camera though.

YA: Any funny moments to happen off camera?

JP: Nothing particular comes to mind, but after each take the cast and crew are always making jokes.  For such a serious show I’m glad we can all make jokes after each take!

YA: What has been your favorite scene to shoot, and why?

JP: The Pilot when we met Brody at the airport was my favorite scene.  It was such a great scene and set the tone for our family dynamic.

YA: Dana always has a guy with her. Will this be Chris’s season to get a girlfriend?

JP: No, Chris isn’t smooth enough to get a lady yet.

YA: What can you share with us about this season? What are some things you’d like to see?  

JP: I’m really not able to share anything about the season so far, they like the viewers to be surprised.  I’d like to see Chris get kidnapped by some terrorists.  I think it would be great to do some action scenes!

YA: Where would you like to see your career go after Homeland?

JP: I would love to do some movies. A comedy would be a nice change of pace (no pun intended).

YA: Who would you love to work with in the future?

JP: So many people come to mind but Tom Hanks is one on the top of the list.

YA: If you were to pick any film throughout time that you could be in, which film would it be and whom would you play?   

JP: Back To The Future!  Marty McFly, every kid’s dream.

Watch Season 3 of Homeland on ShowTime every Sunday at 9pm.