Jason Momoa’s career trajectory in Hollywood has been rather revolutionary. He wowed us all by playing Khal Drogo on Games of Thrones. Then, he had another brilliant star turn in Aquaman, where he played the lead. His impeccable performances in both roles earned him exceptional praise from fans and critics alike.
Even though Jason Momoa has established a strong foothold in Hollywood and is poised to play some more iconic roles, his rise to popularity has been somewhat unusual in many ways. It did not even cross the actor’s mind that he could pursue a career in acting! However, when the opportunity to act presented itself, he went for it. He's got the looks and charisma to have a long career in showbiz.
Here are some more facts about Jason Momoa’s rise to popularity that will blow your mind.
13 A Talented Artist
The parents of this good-looking actor are both artists. So, it doesn’t come as a surprise that his mother encouraged him to study art and listen to his heart. Inspired by his talented mother, he pursued his penchant for working with pastels in France...and excelled at it.
12 Aquaman Was Interested In Marine Life
Jason Momoa never thought of taking up acting. Born and brought up in Hawaii, Jason was determined to earn a degree in marine biology. Sooner enough, however, wildlife biology began to capture his interest. Acting never crossed his mind, as he was always passionate about wildlife. He was keen to study it in detail.
11 Artistic, Yet Spiritual
Jason has always had a keen interest in spirituality, and he took that interest to the next level by studying Buddhism. He traveled to Tibet to explore spirituality and learn all about the Buddhist way of life. Meditation was fascinating to him and he always knew that he wanted to learn more about it.
10 The Story Of The Scar
If you’re a Jason Momoa fan, you can’t help but notice the alluring scar near his left eyebrow. Well, it has an interesting story behind it. While in Los Angeles, Jason got into a brawl that left a scar on his face. Needless to say, the scar added to his appeal in the showbiz world. It made him a perfect choice for warrior characters.
9 A Model Before An Actor
Before he started acting, this handsome hunk, who is known for his hunky physique, was a top model. He was passionate about modeling and was famous in Hawaii, thanks to his photogenic face and body. He won Hawaii’s 1999 Model of the Year pageant.
Later, he even hosted the Miss Teen Hawaii pageant. Even though he had a bright career ahead of him in modeling, Jason had bigger ambitions on his mind.
How he first got into modelling makes for another interesting story. A designer looked at him and recommended that he be hired as a model. Jason never looked back.
8 The Turning Point
Though he was a famous model in Hawaii, Jason Momoa was keen to try his hand at more significant things. It was during this time that he thought of giving acting a shot and voila - Baywatch Hawaii landed in his lap. He was on the show for three years and got plenty of attention because of his acting skills and good looks! However, he was never taken seriously by any of the actors, or the crew, of the show.
7 Real Life Lifeguard
Before Jason bagged the iconic role that proved to be the turning point in his acting career, he actually held a job at a surf shop and even worked as a lifeguard! Anyway, the show went on to be a big hit and helped launch Jason’s career in the right direction. He was getting into the big leagues.
6 Catapult To Fame
Khal Drogo from Game of Thrones needs no introduction. The challenging role, however, demanded several auditions from aspiring actors who were looking to make it big in the industry. Jason Momoa was one of them. Not only did he stand out for his muscled, powerful physique, he also bagged the role immediately after he performed the Haka war chant during his audition.
5 Jason Wears Multiple Hats
He's a painter, a model, a spiritual seeker and of course, an actor, but Jason Momoa has other talents to this credit. To begin with, he co-wrote a film six years ago, called Road to Paloma. He starred with his wife, Lisa Bonet, in the movie. This was their first stint in front of the camera together.
4 A Family Man And A Shy Actor
Jason is known to love his wife madly. The family guy gets extremely nervous during lovemaking scenes. The nude scenes that he shot with Emilia Clarke (who played his on-screen wife, Khaleesi, in Game of Thrones) made him extremely nervous and shy. He said that he found it very challenging to do the racy scenes.
3 A Prankster!
Jason Momoa loves having fun on sets and keeps things interesting by playing pranks on people. During the filming of Aquaman, Amber Heard tried her best to evade his pranks, but she became a victim of those on set jokes! He even tore the final pages out of the book that she was reading, which annoyed her to no end. He couldn’t manage to play any pranks on Nicole Kidman, though.
2 Gymming Isn’t His Favorite Thing
His enviable and sculpted physique has earned him iconic roles in Hollywood movies, so it comes as a surprise that Jason isn’t very fond of gymming. He is, however, as outdoorsy as a person can get. He says he maintains his physique by eating lean meats and vegetables since his career requires him to look a certain way.
1 What’s Next?
The man of multiple talents already knows what he wants to do next. He has a script on the mind, for a historical piece set in the 1800s. The movie, when it released, is sure to grab the attention of filmgoers, given that Jason Momoa is already Hollywood’s sweetheart and has a massive fan following.