Jeremy Rudd’s View from The Hill

The young, dedicated, and disciplined actor is now a season regular in Showtime’s new crime series,“City on a Hill.”

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When I asked Rudd what drove him to pursue his professional career, I anticipated some profound realization or inspiration, but what I got was even better than that. The raw unexpected truth is so much better than what we imagine. “I kinda stumbled into it. My brother ran into someone who was looking for extras for a show on Netflix, and he asked us if we’d like to be a part of it.” Just a casual, unsought intro to the exciting, intense acting industry, was enough for Jeremey Rudd to realize he would give it a go. The Seattle native, along with his identical twin brother, Nathan, was offered the opportunity to film a few scenes as extras for the Netflix series, “Ozark.” The unforgettable experience pulled him in further to acting.

“I just looked into it, and never looked back since.”

Though Rudd’s segue into the industry sounds like a dream, the cutthroat audition process is anything but. Behind the glamorous lights and cameras, are actors who continuously put themselves out there with no guarantee of success and the likelihood of rejection. The process requires serious discipline and bold spirit.

The challenges in the industry for those who seek to “make it big” weed out many aspiring actors. Hearing “no” so many times can be discouraging, but Rudd uses every audition and rejection to his advantage.

“I’ve heard a lot of no’s as I audition, but every rejection, I’m learning more.”

These difficulties have not gotten the best of Rudd, who remains as ambitious as ever.

When he’s not auditioning, Rudd is in private coaching sessions and classes, sharpening his craft. Though his first gig happened by chance, all of his hard work and dedication earned him a role in Showtime’s new crime series, “City on a Hill,” starring Kevin Bacon and Aldis Hidge, with Ben Affleck as Executive Producer. The show takes place in 90’s Boston and exposes the racism, corruption, and crime of the city at that time.

Rudd assures us “if you like crime shows with a lot of action… This is definitely the TV show to watch.” Sprinting from the cops, hopping fences, and shootout car chases are an ordinary day on set for Rudd. The action-packed scenes are some of his favorites to shoot, mostly because he knows how exciting and entertaining they are for viewers at home.

Rudd played the role of a Braxton Boy, (one of the drug-dealing gangsters reeking havoc on the city) in season one of the series, and is returning to season two as a regular. Though Rudd’s character in “City on a Hill” is a drug dealing gangster, there are aspects of his character he can identify with. Both grew up in lower-income neighborhoods with similar upbringings. Unlike his character however, Rudd has not let any obstacles deter him from pursuing his education and career.

“I went to college and graduated, and I’m starting to see more success in my life. I was able to overcome a lot of hurdles on the way.”

@rogerlurie

It’s no doubt his persistence and enthusiasm both in the industry and in everyday life have brought him his success.

Working with industry icons on “City on a Hill” has been an eye-opening experience for Rudd. The energy and focus Bacon and Hodge bring to the set motivates Rudd to hone his skills and further his career.

“Working with Kevin Bacon and Aldis Hodge… they make the people around them better.”

Rudd hopes to follow in the footsteps of such talents. His main goal for 2021? Score the lead in a series or a movie. The coveted leading roles require more than just raw talent. Discipline, open-mindedness, and enthusiasm are vital - all qualities Rudd himself exemplifies.

While the older generation of actors have more experience, Rudd is confident in the up and coming generation to take creativity to the next level. “A lot of stuff has been done, you have to figure out what's different.” To keep the viewers engaged, actors must continuously rework their craft and keep things fresh.

Beyond acting, Rudd looks forward to using his acting experience to experiment with writing and directing.

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Watch Rudd in action in season two of “City on a Hill” on Showtime this June. You can follow him @jeremyrudd3