Diogo Morgado, 'Bible' Series Star, Talks About Portraying Jesus
Rising star Diogo Morgado has opened up about his monumental role as Jesus Christ in the upcoming "Bible" series set to air on The History Channel.
Created by television mogul Mark Burnett and his wife, actress Roma Downey, the "Bible" series will reenact several events found in Scripture. Noah's Ark, the Exodus, Abraham, and the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ are among the Bible stories covered in the highly anticipated television series.
"I was scared when I knew I was going to play Jesus," Morgado admitted to The Christian Post of his daunting role. "I went to the place where everything [Biblical] supposedly happened and got involved with this energy."
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Morgado went on to divulge that filming in Israel where Jesus was and where events in the Bible actually took place provided a "magical energy" that helped him assume the role. Furthermore, the actor cited his childhood in Portugal where he was raised as a Christian provided a means to tap into the role.
"The opportunity to participate in this project made me go back to my spirituality and communion with God," Morgado added.
Fulfilling the essential role of Jesus Christ, Morgado had been hand-selected for the "Bible" by Burnett and Downey, who described the actor as "a beautiful person."
"He has a gentleness and humanity about him," Downey told CP while talking about the series last year.
When asked if the role of Jesus Christ was his most challenging of his acting career thus far, Morgado chortled, "Is that even a question?"
"Sure! There is nothing harder than this [role- Jesus is the most complete and complex figure of mankind," explained the actor. "We're talking about someone that billions of people died for and live by."
The 33-year-old actor remarked that modern culture is the result of Jesus' work and words.
"Everything in society is basically touched by Jesus' words, Jesus was the living proof of God and that is what the Bible was all about," said Morgado. "So yes, it is and I bet it will be the most difficult challenge I'll ever have."
The History Channel will premiere "Bible" series this Sunday, March 3 at 8 p.m. EST. Following its premiere, remaining episodes of the series will air each Sunday with the finale arriving on Easter Sunday, March 31.
The 10-hour series will bridge the Old Testament with the New Testament, or as Burnett said, "from Genesis to Revelation."
As for viewers this Sunday, Morgado hopes that the "Bible" series will be an educational if and new look at the sacred text that reconnects them to their spirituality.
"I know that there are a lot of people out there that simply don't know the Bible," the actor told CP. "Ultimately, this is a beautiful [take] on why the Bible is one of the most important books in history. I think that people who aren't spiritual or connected to their spiritual side, will be more connected after seeing this."
To learn more about Morgado and the "Bible" series, the up-and-coming actor will appear on a special segment of "Entertainment Tonight" on Thursday night.
