To say that the television series, The Fosters, has consistently broken ground in attacking modern issues that would have never been addressed on television a couple of decades ago is an understatement. The Fosters takes on these issues and completely blows them out of the water. The show’s plot is centered on a lesbian couple who are rearing a mix of their biological and adopted mixed-race and ethnicity children. If this contemporary family makeup is not controversial enough for those on the extreme right, try on the fact that the youngest of the children, Jude, played by Hayden Byerly, has discovered he is gay and had his first kiss on the show.
Yes, ABC is doing it like that. Hayden Byerly is an exceptionally talented young actor who has embraced his role on the show. To help familiarize you with this young star, we have five little-known facts about him.
1. He Takes His Acting Career Very Serious
It is easy to assume that younger actors are just riding the waves of their popularity and that they don’t give a great deal of attention to refining their skills and perfecting their craft. This is definitely not the case when it comes to Hayden, who auditioned for the part of Jude because Jude’s character is so complex and he knew taking on this character would force him to develop as an actor – preparing him for more challenging roles in the future.
2. Working on the Show Has Changed His View About Foster Care
Hayden reveals that while many people see The Fosters as a show that is breaking ground and pushing the LGBT agenda, it is so much more than that. According to Hayden, the show provides a panoramic view into so many areas of human life that many people are completely oblivious to. He admits that he had no clue whatsoever as to how living in foster care could impact a youth until he took on his role in this show.
3. He Views Himself as an Instrument
People tend to judge one another through very narrow lenses that tend to reflect one’s own experiences without giving consideration to the experiences and feelings of others. Hayden sees his role in The Fosters as allowing him to be a tool through which different view and ideas can be examined through different lenses – encouraging people to take the time see things from a different perspective.
4. He Has Already Learned How to Handle the Critics
As you can imagine, playing such a complex character that is currently exploring his identity, there have been missed reviews. While the vast majority of responses to Jude’s relationship with Conner on the show have been positive, there have also been some very negative responses and many of them have been aimed directly at Hayden; however, he has learned how to take things in stride. He knows that no matter what he does he will never be able to please everyone.
5. He Is Pushing for Two Years with Girlfriend Alyssa Jirrels
It is amazing when a young actor can get so into character that you forget that they have a life outside of the role they are playing, and in most cases, their real life does not mirror the role they play on television. In this case, Hayden’s real-life love interest is not male and her name is Alyssa Jirrels. The two celebrated their one-year anniversary together toward the end of last year, and they are definitely pushing for year number two. Who knows, there may even be a wedding in the cards for the couple.
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