Watch Maxwell James in the season finale of The Family, Sunday, May 15, at 9/8c.
Maxwell James' Website, Twitter & Instagram.
Photo by Brandi Nicole.
Ten year-old Maxwell James is my kind of kid. I'm talking he loves video games, Vietnamese and Chinese food and lives in my favorite city in the world - Manhattan!
At the age of 8, Max discovered he enjoyed being on stage when the National Dance Institute (NDI), a non-profit arts education organization, visited his school, teaching students fundamentals of dance and performance.
What was your first reaction when you learned you booked the role of Young Adam Warren in ABC's thriller The Family?
It was after school, and I was at home and my mom came in and told me. I was kind of shocked, and very happy, and nervous, and very excited. I couldn't wait to get on set. It was a great feeling.
What do your friends think about you being an actor?
Everyone is supportive. They're definitely not jealous. They were wondering why I was out of school for some of the days. I do get questions about it, but mostly it's not a big deal to my friends.
Do you have any pets?
I have a cat named Kipper. He's kind of like my older brother.
Love the way your name sounds: Maxwell James. Is that your birth name or a stage name?
Thank you! It's my first and middle names, and I use that as my stage name. My last name is hyphenated and long, and Maxwell James works better. My parents both loved the name Maxwell, and Max, and also liked how James sounded with it.
What's it like living in New York City?
I love New York City. I live in Manhattan. I mostly take the subway, walk, or take a taxi sometimes. It depends on the traffic and time of day. When I ride my bike, it's usually for fun in Central Park or on Randall's Island and along the East River.
There are a lot of great restaurants in the city! I like J.G. Melon or Dallas BBQ for their cheeseburgers. If I am downtown, I have Vietnamese food at Pho Bang on Mott Street, or Chinese food at Hop Kee.
You're quite an athlete, enjoying swimming, basketball and track & field. Which sport do you enjoy PLAYING the most and why? Which sport do you enjoy WATCHING the most?
I enjoy running the short distance track and field events the most, such as the 100 and 200 meter. I like speed based running. When I watch sports it's usually the NY Giants football games. Eli Manning gets a lot of love in our household.
What are your favorite video games and which consoles do you have?
My favorite game right now is Mario Maker and Super Mario 3D World on the Nintendo Wii U. I just got a new Wii U, so I'm playing the games for it right now. I really like the addition of the touch pad. I also have a Nintendo 3DS XL, an old Game Boy Color (clear), an old Wii, and a PS4.
What do you do on your downtime while on set?
I don't have that much down time since I also have to get tutored while I'm working on set. It's okay, because I actually like it, and all of the tutors I've worked with have been really nice and I like talking to them.
What is your favorite subject at school? What do you want to do for a living when you're older?
Math and science are my favorite subjects. I would love to continue to act as a career when I'm older.