We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jaden Betts a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Jaden, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

I’m unquestionably happier as an artist, even on the hard days, especially on the hard days. I’ve had plenty of regular jobs, and honestly, I still do. I’ve worked at an AMC theater for a while (which felt oddly poetic because movie theaters have always felt like home to me), I’ve driven for Uber Eats, worked at a closet company, done whatever I needed to do to keep the lights on. But I’ve never looked at those jobs as a backup plan. They’re not Plan B, they’re what allow me to keep doing the thing I’m wired to do. Being an artist asks something different of you. It’s not just talent or even skill; it’s endurance. It’s commitment with 0 guarantees. Sometimes I even laugh at myself and wonder if I really have it in me and then I remember that for me, there is no alternative. I can’t give myself one. The irony is that while this path is infinitely harder, it’s the only one where I feel fully alive, fully honest, and fully myself.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Jaden Betts. I’m a 23-year-old actor and writer, and storytelling has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. Technically, my first job was a State Farm commercial directed by Spike Lee when I was a baby (which I desperately wish I could remember), but I began acting seriously around the age of seven. Both of my parents are actors and stunt performers, so the industry was always nearby, but my real entry into it was pure kismet. So, my dad Erik Betts played the infamous Panda in the iParty with Victorious crossover event, but way back before that I ended up going with him to his audition, where casting directors Krisha Bullock and Jamie Snow saw something in me while I was just killing time in the waiting room. That moment led to my first agency, Coast to Coast Talent Group, and eventually to my first major professional work on Doc McStuffins. Since then, I’ve grown not just as an actor, but as a writer with multiple projects in development, stories that reflect the kind of work I wanted to see growing up. What I’m most proud of isn’t any single credit; it’s just the commitment. This industry is designed to test how badly you want it, and staying in love with the work especially through strikes, slowdowns, and uncertainty is its own achievement to me. My goal is simple, be it whatever medium: to tell bold, meaningful, entertaining stories across genres that make people feel seen, energized, and excited. A more personal goal as an actor: playing Wallace “Ace” West in James Gunn’s DCU and Carter Kane in The Kane Chronicles would be pretty incredible. I’m putting that energy out there. The rest, I trust, will follow.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

For me, it’s like having a really bad itch and finally getting to scratch it. When an idea gets stuck in your head and won’t leave you alone, there’s something incredibly satisfying about actually bringing it to life. Writing it, acting it, shaping it, whatever form it takes, there’s relief in making something that only existed in your brain suddenly real. It goes from abstract to tangible. You can see it, hear it, feel it.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

I think the biggest thing society can do is keep giving space and opportunity to people who want to make new work. There are so many voices out there with stories that haven’t been told yet, and I don’t think we always make enough room for them. We live in a time where a lot of energy goes toward revisiting what already exists: sequels, reboots, familiar worlds, and while that can be fun, it shouldn’t be the main focus.

There are so many young filmmakers, artists and performers coming up with fresh ideas, new perspectives, and real things to say. Supporting them, trusting them, and letting them take creative risks benefits everyone in the long run. New stories keep the culture alive. Without them, it starts to feel like we’re just repeatedly remixing the past instead of moving forward.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jdnbetts?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Twitter: https://x.com/betts4real?s=21&t=-VP5RBg97XtoEFP6Q2ufYQ

Image Credits

Personal Photo: @joefortunato.art