Seven-year-old actor makes movie debut

By Meghan Byers
SPARTA — Sparta resident Jagger Nelson, just seven years old, made his movie debut this past weekend in “The Last,” a feature-length film currently shooting in New York City. “The Last” is directed by Jeff Lipsky, who was a Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Nominee for his film “Flannel Pajamas.”
Although this will be his first appearance in a feature film, Jagger’s professional acting experience has included voiceover work for the television show “Royal Pains,” as well as an appearance in a national commercial for the asthma medicine Symbicort.
“It’s amazing, sitting at home and watching television and seeing your son appear on a commercial in the middle of a show you’re watching,” said Jagger’s father, Joshua Nelson.
Jagger isn’t the only actor in the family. His father teaches acting classes in Parsippany, while his sister Sasha, age eleven, prefers musical theater.
“I’ve been teaching [acting] for a long time, but I wasn’t sure if I wanted to teach my own kids,” Joshua Nelson said. “Then they started liking it after being involved in drama camps like The Growing Stage, and I thought maybe we’ll just give it a shot.”
According to Joshua Nelson, Jagger began his acting career when he was just four or five years old. “He couldn’t even read,” Nelson said. “But when they’re good, they’re good.”
“I’m very, very proud,” he went on. “I know personally that it takes a lot of courage to audition.”
Jagger, who is going into second grade this fall, said that although he loves to act, it can have its challenges. “Memorizing the lines, that’s definitely the hardest part,” he said. “It’s hard to keep it in my brain, and I have to remember how to say it.”
Ultimately, though, the hard work is well worth it. “I really like getting to play all these different characters,” Jagger said. “I really like seeing myself on TV, and then I also get to meet a lot of new, nice, fun people.”
“Someday,” he added, “I’m hoping to meet the Rock.”
However, Jagger is also considering a number of other possible future careers, including chef, video game creator, and wrestling announcer.
“Then I get to be closer to the front row and I can see every wrestling match, and meet the wrestlers backstage,” he explained.
As for his film debut, Jagger said he was looking forward to it.
“You never know who I’m going to meet,” he said, “and what the props are going to be. I’m hoping there’s really cool props.”