IN CONVERSATION WITH JALEN THOMAS BROOKS
interview by JANA LETONJA
Actor Jalen Thomas Brooks is quickly emerging as one of Hollywood’s most exciting rising stars. Named to Variety’s 2025 Young Hollywood Impact Report, Jalen broke out with his fan-favourite role as Mateo Diaz on the Emmy-winning medical drama The Pitt, earning a 2026 Actor Award alongside his castmates for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series. As the series wraps its highly anticipated second season, he is also preparing for his next major project, starring as John Tucker in Off Campus, the upcoming coming-of-age romantic drama inspired by the international bestselling ‘BookTok’ phenomenon. With additional roles in films like Thanksgiving and series including Animal Kingdom, Jalen is building a dynamic career across film and television while continuing to connect with audiences through compelling, character-driven performances.
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The Pitt quickly became a critically acclaimed medical drama. What initially drew you to the role of Mateo Diaz?
Initially, I had gotten the audition for Mateo when I was living out of LA with family. My mother, who has always been my reader with me for auditions up until recently, works in the medical field, and she loved the sides for the show, and most importantly, loved how Mateo handled himself in the situation with Doug Driscoll. Playing a character that has two feet on the ground and is sturdy in tense moments was definitely something I was excited for.
Your character became a fan favorite during the first season. What do you think audiences connected with most about Mateo?
I think audiences love how calm Mateo stays, and it’s always appealing to see characters take on stress competently, which so many characters in this show do, and what so many health care professionals live out every single day. I also think there is always an audience for a romance in the workplace, especially if that means breaking a “no dating in the workplace” policy.
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Medical dramas often require intense emotional and technical preparation. How did you prepare for the role?
In order to prepare, I talked with a very close friend of mine who is a paramedic and listened to her crazy stories and the emotions that are both suppressed and brought to life by the job. We also had a two-week medical bootcamp, alongside a ton of rehearsals, in order to prepare for the controlled chaos. The creative team sent us documentaries to study and watch, as well. Code Black was one of the few. Very intense.
What has it been like returning for Season 2 now that the show has built such a strong fanbase?
Coming back for Season 2 was surreal for me. When Season 1 started to really pop off, I was out of the country filming Off Campus and was in a bubble. When I came back to film Season 2 after all the success and popularity, it was nerve racking, of course, but with the team running such a well-oiled machine, and every one from the cast to crew being such a delight to work with, coming back felt like going home for a Thanksgiving dinner. Noah was the first cast member I saw back and he gave me the biggest hug saying “Welcome home.” It was the first time I felt truly a part of something in this industry.
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Winning an Actor Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series is a huge achievement. What did that recognition mean to you and the cast?
Winning The Actor Award was larger than life, but at the same time very humbling. To be in the same room as so many people I look up to, the overwhelming feeling of gratitude and privilege is something I have a hard time describing. The moment felt like a “bookend” of sorts. To share it with the cast, and specifically the beautiful people they are and all the places in life they come from and have been, it felt like the ending to many books that still have so many more chapters. It’s a memory that I won’t forget, for sure.
You’ll next star in Off Campus, based on a hugely popular book series. What attracted you to the role of John Tucker?
I was drawn to Tucker’s willingness to care for his boys and to protect his brotherhood. His gentle nature and family first mindset, all while being a star athlete, were things I really admired about him. He’s also the youngest of the boys, which I could relate to, as I’ve also been the youngest in a lot of settings, especially as an athlete and in sports growing up.
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The story explores friendship, romance, and the transition into adulthood. What themes from the series resonate most with you personally?
Our showrunners Louisa Levy and Gina Fattore and the entire writing team have carefully weaved so many messages into this series, but the one that hit me when I read the first few scripts was how we build walls to protect ourselves. But life builds them as well, walls that we had no choice in deciding, and then you meet people who break them down or force you to climb them. It’s a college show, so a lot of the characters have walls and obstacles and are also finding new ones. It’s not the typical “first” for a lot of these characters. It’s a Goldilocks zone where life really happens between the first and last.
You’ve worked across genres, from medical drama to slasher films like ‘Thanksgiving’. What do you enjoy the most about moving between very different types of roles?
I’m very fortunate to have worked in such a variety of genres early on. It’s really helped me find my role as an actor on set and being a piece of a bigger puzzle and message that is greater than your performance. You may be a crucial, bloody kill in a slasher that moves the story along, or the nurse who gives a doctor a small look to signal something is not good. The variety has taught me there are no small parts, truly.
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What kind of roles challenge you the most creatively?
The roles that challenge me the most are always the one I’m currently doing and the next one up. I have no idea what I’m doing, but with each role, you learn that you may know a little and also that you know absolutely nothing.
Before acting, you played competitive basketball on the AAU and Under Armour circuits. Do the discipline and teamwork from sports influence how you approach your work today?
Playing basketball at a high level has influenced my approach to acting in so many ways. Understanding that you will throw all your preparation out the window and lean on your teammates, as well as support them, is something that is such a parallel. In basketball, you may be dreading a defensive matchup or playing in front of a crowd, but whether you like it or not, that moment is going to come and the repetitions you have done alleviate the doubt. So in acting, I want to be prepared as I can be to the point of never doubting myself. I know I’ll get the job done. Will it be sloppy? Maybe. Will it be my worst? Best? Maybe. But I’ll finish the job.
Are there particular genres or stories you’d love to explore in the future?
I’m a big fan of fantasy and action, so maybe getting to explore a medieval or cyberpunk genre. Altered Carbon, Game of Thrones, Narnia, and Blade Runner are stories I’m obsessed with. Not because of the vibes, but because of the stories those settings are able to illuminate.
TEAM CREDITS:
talent JALEN THOMAS BROOKS
photographer RAUL ROMO
stylist VENETIA KIDD
groomer LINDSAY ROGERS at The Wall Group
editor TIMI LETONJA
editorial director & interview JANA LETONJA
