Thomasin McKenzie says 13-year-old Jacobi Jupe’s "Okay, But Why?" stuck with her
You’ll want to hear the one question 13-year-old Jacobi Jupe asked Thomasin McKenzie — it genuinely impressed her.
On the set of Victorian Psycho, cinematographer Nico Aguilar asked 13-year-old Jacobi Jupe to nudge a candle closer to his face for the shot. Thomasin McKenzie says Jupe didn’t just comply—he stopped to figure out the reason first, a moment she shared during a recent appearance on Collider’s Ladies Night.
“Instead of just doing it, Jacobi said, ‘Okay, but why?’”
“Wow he is a deep thinker. Like, what he was saying (is) what is my motivation? what is my character’s motivation for moving the candle closer and I just thought that was cool.”
That exchange happened while filming Victorian Psycho, a horror thriller from director Zachary Wigon. The movie stars Maika Monroe and McKenzie as Winifred Notty, a young governess who arrives at Ensor House, where a sudden disappearance kicks off the story. Jupe is set to play Andrew Pounds. Plot details are largely under wraps.
Jupe comes from a family steeped in film: his father is filmmaker Chris Jupe, his mother is actor Katy Cavanagh, and his older brother is actor Noah Jupe.
Early credits
- Peter Pan & Wendy — Michael Darling (Disney+ )
- Before — Apple TV+ miniseries
- Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet — Hamnet
Jupe’s turn in Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet drew wide acclaim. The film earned eight Oscar nominations, with Jessie Buckley taking home Best Actress, and Jupe’s performance was singled out as a standout.
He also won an Astra Film Award for Best Young Performer for Hamnet.