HOLR is sitting down with Percy Daggs IV to discuss how he got his start in the industry and his upcoming roles. 

Meet Percy Daggs IV.

Percy is a charismatic “old soul” who, at just 12 years old, is taking the industry by storm. He’s set to make a remarkable impact in his upcoming role as ‘Nolan’ in the psychological thriller/horror film “NEVER LET GO,” where he stars alongside Academy Award winner Halle Berry.

Today, Percy is sitting down with HOLR to give us the inside scoop on how he got his start in the industry, his latest roles to date, and his strong passion for filmmaking.

Keep reading to learn all about Percy!

Talk to us about how you got your start in the industry.

Funny story, I was about 4 years old when my Dad was going to audition for something and I was like, ” I want to do that!” I took my Dad’s script, I read it and I did all the actions. Then I asked my parents and friends if I could perform it for them. I did the entire thing word for word and action for action. That’s when they realized that this was something I wanted to do.

From then on, we started doing photoshoots for Disney and other print jobs. I also did commercials and a short film. By the time I was 8 years old, I got some TV shows and we were on our way!

You describe yourself as an “old soul.” How do you think this perspective influences your approach to acting and storytelling?

An “old soul” is somebody who is wise beyond their years and somebody who can relate to or understand things about the past. I have a certain passion and an abnormal liking for nostalgia so I think that influences how I portray certain people like James. James is wise beyond his years and I consider him to be an “old soul.”

What was it like to star opposite Halle Berry in “NEVER LET GO”? Can you share a memorable experience from working with her on set?

Halle Berry is one of the greatest actresses of all time, hands down! She is also one of the nicest people I have ever met. It was a true wonder working alongside her. When we first started working together, she gave me a binder just like the one Spike Lee gave her when she first got started in the industry.

It was so kind of her and it was such an honor. She told me it was to help me always stay focused. I was so thankful for that because she’s so kind and I was so proud to be working with her.

You have a strong passion for filmmaking. Who are some of your biggest artistic influences, and how do they inspire your work?

My parents are a big influence on me. The things that are around me also influence me a lot. Things that affect me, that’s what I like to write about. For instance, what I’m feeling. I also love writing about things that happen to me during the day- I take things that I see and I put my own spin on it.

In “NEVER LET GO,” your character Nolan is part of a tense psychological thriller. How did you prepare to portray such a complex role, especially in a story about fear and family bonds?

Faith and family are the two most important things for me and I have a very close bond with my family. I was calling my family every day and making sure I kept that bond with them through filming. I was also bonding with Halle Berry in which we had a great acting coach who was wonderful to work with. He was there for us and sent us notes to work on. He was always staying on top of it and ensuring we were able to perform to the best of our abilities. The preparation was long but we got through it together- in turn we got to create a wonderful film.

You’ll be playing James Collins in Hulu’s “Paradise City.” What are you most excited about with this new role, and how does it differ from your experience in “NEVER LET GO”?

I’m so excited to play James! Everyone on set was so kind and we were always conversing on set- on and off takes. The show is so wonderful and it looks so amazing. I can’t wait for everyone to see it. James is a very smart kid and he is another “old soul” who is wise beyond his years. He is like Nolan in the way that he wants to get a better understanding of things. He is very curious and he has a lot of support from his family. However, it is a very different family dynamic. It’s a very different show overall and it’s very interesting.

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Published by HOLR Magazine

Image Credits: JSquared