Black Panther’s Michael B. Jordan Named Sexiest Man Alive!
Michael B. Jordan, who played Erik “Killmonger” Stevens in Black Panther, has been named People Magazine’s 2020 Sexiest Man Alive.
Commenting on the honor, Jordan said that the women in his family “are definitely proud of this one.”
Marvel
Humble Beginnings
Jordan was born on February 9, 1987 in Santa Ana, California. At 2 years old, he moved with his parents, Donna and Michael A., to Newark, N.J. There, he spent the remainder of his childhood, raised alongside his brother, Khalid, and sister, Jamila.
Although Newark was a tough place to grow up, Jordan stayed out of trouble. He started modeling for newspaper ads at 10 years old.
Grateful for the sacrifices made by his parents, Jordan credits his family for keeping him grounded throughout his career.
BuzzFeed
In the People Magazine article, Jordan says:
“Honestly it’s like they all have had such an impact on me and who I am and how I approach each day. Without that, a lot of things about me just wouldn’t be the same. So it all comes back to that foundation. I’m really thankful for that.”
Jordan’s Rise to Fame
Michael B. Jordan’s first “big break” was a 1999 appearance on the Sopranos. He played a Newark bully in a flashback scene with a young Tony Soprano.
He also appeared on The Wire. Although he was only on the show for one season, Jordan’s portrayal of soft-spoken Wallace solidified his place as a sought-after Hollywood actor.
The Wire | Fandom
Additional television roles include a three-year stint as Reggie on All My Children, quarterback Vince Howard on Friday Night Lights and Alex on Parenthood.
Jordan won critics over with his portrayal of Oscar Grant in 2013’s film festival favorite, Fruitvale Station. Based on a true story, the film tells the story of a 22-year-old African American man killed by police in a California Subway Station.
He went on to play Adonis Johnson in 2015’s Creed. In order to offer an accurate depiction of the unknown son of Rocky’s rival and friend, Apollo Creed, Jordan trained vigorously. A former accomplished high school athlete, Jordan spent more than a year training with boxers and adhering to a strict diet to prepare for the role. He went on to appear in 2018’s Creed II, which saw Adonis Johnson get in the ring with Ivan Drago, the son of Dolph Lungren.
The New York Times
Then Came Black Panther…
Perhaps Jordan is best known for his portrayal of the ruthless villain Erik Killmonger in 2018’s Black Panther. The film was a tremendous success, bringing in more than $1 billion in ticket sales within three weeks of its release.
Jordan has spoken openly about the challenges of playing such a dark role. He spoke with USA Today just before the Oscars last February, reflecting:
“It was a little tough for me at first. Readjusting to people caring about me, getting that love that I shut out. I shut out love, I didn’t want love. I wanted to be in this lonely place as long as I could.”
Vulture
The question now is, will Jordan’s Killmonger return in Black Panther 2? With no official word yet, fans and colleagues have speculated that this is a very real possibility! Although it looks as though Killmonger died at the end of Black Panther, there are endless possibilities in bringing the character back.
Whatever the future holds, one thing is certain – Michael B. Jordan’s star is shining bright. We can’t wait to see what’s next for the Sexiest Man Alive.
Featured Image Credit: People Magazine
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