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Jharrell Jerome stars in “I’m a Virgo.” Photo courtesy of Prime Video
LOS ANGELES, June 23 (UPI) — Jharrell Jerome portrays a 13-foot giant character named Cootie in the series “I’m a Virgo”, streaming on Prime Video starting this Friday. Despite his larger-than-life on-screen presence, Jerome admits to feeling overwhelmed by the grandeur of Hollywood. However, he believes that these feelings of smallness provide opportunities for personal growth.
In a recent Zoom interview with UPI, Jerome expressed, “I always feel small. Sometimes feeling small isn’t bad because you know you’re learning and you know you’re just experiencing something new.”
Jerome gained recognition for his Emmy-winning performance as Korey Wise in “When They See Us” and now tackles the role of Cootie, a giant who has been kept isolated by his parents. When Cootie finally steps out into the world, he must navigate modern society for the first time, a situation that resonated with Jerome.
“Some of it was drawing from my own experiences where I felt somewhat uncomfortable in a space,” Jerome shared. “Entering spaces that have always felt larger than me, I used those emotions and feelings that stir up in me.”
In “I’m a Virgo,” Cootie encounters people of regular size, forming both friendships and romantic connections. To portray Cootie, Jerome approached the character with a childlike perspective.
“I also just leaned on the childlike movement and the childlike expressions,” Jerome explained. “I think that just comes from that bright-eyed energy and that naivety that everything is new.”
Jerome revealed that co-creator Boots Riley specifically wrote the character of Cootie with him in mind, reaching out to him via email with the subject line, “13 Foot Tall Black Man in Oakland,” a catchy phrase that immediately caught Jerome’s attention.
While he believes that his performance in “When They See Us” initially caught Riley’s eye, Jerome suspects that his memorable Emmy acceptance speech, in which he triumphantly raised his trophy, also played a role in securing the role of Cootie.
Notably, Jerome served as an executive producer on “I’m a Virgo,” contributing to the show’s pitches to streaming services and participating in the casting of his co-stars, such as Olivia Washington, who portrays Cootie’s first girlfriend, Flora.
In addition to exploring the fantastical circumstances faced by Cootie and Flora, the series delves into the relatable relationship issues that regular-sized couples experience. Jerome emphasized the underlying theme that despite our differences, we all yearn for love and connection.
Furthermore, “I’m a Virgo” subtly critiques capitalism as Cootie becomes a target for corporate interests and a superhero nemesis. Jerome sees the show as a unique blend of education and genre-bending entertainment.
Bringing Cootie to life required innovative special effects, with Jerome filming his scenes in undersized sets and physically crouching to appear as a 13-foot giant. The challenging process even required the assistance of a masseuse to relieve the strains on Jerome’s back. Meanwhile, his co-stars filmed in regular-sized environments, meaning Jerome rarely had direct interaction with them.
Reflecting on the demanding nature of his performance, Jerome shared, “Not at one point did I get to look any of my scene partners in the eyes. It was either a green tape mark or an iPad with their face on it.” Despite the difficulties, Jerome successfully balanced his performance with the consideration of special effects, improving over the course of the seven episodes.
“I’m a Virgo” offers viewers a one-of-a-kind experience that combines education and entertainment, providing a fresh perspective on societal issues and delivering unique and surreal storytelling.
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