Jacobi Jupe Was Already Shooting Hamnet When He Got an Unexpected Co-Star: His Older Brother Noah

The new movie Hamnet explores the idea of how William Shakespeare wrote Hamlet while deeply grieving the loss of his son. It’s based on Maggie O’Farrell’s acclaimed 2020 novel. Director Chloé Zhao, who won an Oscar for Nomadland, cleverly cast brothers to play the role of the young boy and the actor who portrays him in the play.

British brothers Jacobi and Noah Jupe come from a family of performers – their father is a producer and their mother an actress. (They also have a sister.) In the film, they act alongside Paul Mescal, who plays Shakespeare, and Jessie Buckley as his wife, Agnes. The movie portrays William and Agnes Shakespeare as a loving couple with different perspectives: William focuses on his writing, while Agnes is deeply connected to nature and spirituality. After the death of their son, Hamnet, they both grieve intensely but struggle to connect with each other.

Twelve-year-old Jacobi plays Hamnet, a thoughtful boy who hopes to one day work with his father in the theater. His older brother, Noah, known for the Quiet Place films, delivers the most famous speech in theatrical history. The casting intentionally highlights the similarity between the two actors. Agnes, watching the play at the Globe Theatre, is initially upset that her husband is drawing on their family tragedy for his work, but she soon realizes he’s transforming his grief into art. Seeing Noah perform, she is reminded of her loss.

It’s clear this is a sensitive topic, and when the Jupes spoke with TIME, they were both dedicated to their work and playfully affectionate with each other. They teased each other like siblings, but also genuinely celebrated each other’s successes.

Jacobi, did you always want to follow in your brother’s footsteps?

I remember first being fascinated by acting when I was just a little kid, maybe two or three years old. My brother was working as an actor a lot, and honestly, I didn’t really get what he did back then. But then I got to visit a set, and it just sparked something in me. Around age six, I turned to my mom and asked her straight up how I could become an actor – I just wanted to do what my brother was doing! My first actual gig was landing a small role on a production of Peter Pan & Wendy. It was a dream come true!

Who got involved with Hamnet first?

I went through several auditions with different actresses who were being considered to play my twin sister, Judith. I also did some individual auditions, and Chloé was the first one I worked with. We did a lot of improvising, and it was a really emotional scene. I had to act like my dad was being taken away and try to persuade Chloé to help him stay.

Noah, how were you cast?

Looking back, it makes perfect sense that we both ended up in this movie. But when it was just Jacobi working on it, I was thrilled for him – really cheering him on and feeling so proud.

Jacobi: He was also a bit jealous.

I was a little envious of Chloé Zhao. I’d met her a year before and really admired her. Once she started filming, she told me about how close and supportive everyone on set was. Then, about two months into the shoot, I was filming in Greece when I got a call from my mom and Chloé. They sounded really excited and asked if I’d be interested in playing Hamlet. It was an opportunity I couldn’t possibly refuse.

Jacobi, how did you prepare for this is a very intense role?

Jacobi shared that both Jessie and Paul were incredibly supportive during a challenging time. Facing death, even in a role, is difficult, and Jacobi had played several dying characters. Her mother playfully warned her she’d be playing another one, which initially frustrated Jacobi, as she hoped to portray a character who lived. However, she ultimately found the experience to be amazing and worthwhile.

I was always envious of Jacobi because, ever since I was little, all I’ve wanted is to dramatically die in a movie – I’ve never had that chance. Jacobi, on the other hand, was always getting killed off in roles, but he didn’t even like it! I kept thinking, ‘Why can’t we trade places? I’d love to die on screen – it sounds amazing!’

Noah, when did you get to set?

Noah and Jacobi weren’t originally supposed to be in the movie together, but the opportunity to have both Jupe brothers on set was too good to pass up. So, the writer, Chloé, created a scene where Jacobi appears onstage at the film’s conclusion. It seems she wanted to surprise Jessie, as Jacobi was constantly on all of our minds – mine, Jessie’s, and Paul’s – throughout the performances. I was even trying to find a way to connect with Jacobi, hoping we could almost portray a single character. Chloé’s idea was for Jacobi to emerge from the darkness onto the stage and capture Jessie’s reaction, which was fantastic.

What was it like playing a version of the same character?

It was actually pretty funny – Noah and I don’t really resemble each other, so they ended up having to bleach Noah’s hair blonde.

When I arrived on set, Chloé came into my trailer and immediately said I didn’t resemble Jacobi at all. I agreed, and she worried people wouldn’t believe we were related. But we managed to make it work.

Noah, did you get to see any of Jacobi’s scenes before you filmed?

I requested to watch the scene of his death, and Chloé shared a couple of versions with me, which was really difficult to watch. I wanted to subtly reference that intensity in Hamlet’s death scene, particularly the heartbreaking, choking sound Jacobi made when he was poisoned. However, Chloé didn’t want me to see much of it beforehand. I think she preferred I see the finished version, and I’m glad I waited, because it was incredibly powerful and emotionally devastating.

Were there moments of levity on set?

Jacobi recalls the dance sequences as being particularly memorable. He and Olivia Lynes, who plays Judith, were filming the scene where his character learns of her illness when the director, Chloé, unexpectedly announced they would be shooting a dance take. Jacobi and Lynes were both surprised, as they hadn’t heard of this technique before.

Noah explained that most dance scenes begin like a normal conversation, but then music starts, and the characters express themselves through dance instead of dialogue.

I was scheduled to film the dance sequence on Friday, but ended up doing it on Wednesday, the day I wasn’t feeling well. I asked Chloé if we could still film it, telling her I was really sick. She agreed, and I requested we use the song ‘Stayin’ Alive’ for the scene.

Do you ever share acting tips?

You know, watching Noah talk about his experience, it’s clear this isn’t just a working relationship – it’s a genuine brotherhood. He emphasized that they lean on each other for support and understanding, but also recognize they both have incredible mentors guiding their careers. Jacobi’s surrounded by amazing talent, and Noah’s had some fantastic opportunities himself. But what really struck me is how, when they’re together, it’s not about shop talk or dissecting the craft of acting. It’s about something far simpler and more profound: just being there for each other, like family.

How do you decompress?

You know, as a movie critic, I think a lot of us get into this because we genuinely love movies. For me, growing up, it was all about recreating the action we saw on screen. My friends and I were constantly staging these elaborate fight scenes – lightsabers, swords, even just branches we found outside! We’d choreograph whole battles and film them, bouncing around on a trampoline for hours. It was a blast, and really fueled my passion for film.

Noah: It was also interesting because we both have a stunt fight in this film.

What was your reaction to seeing the final film?

I cried throughout the whole thing. Seeing it all finished on screen was a real shock, and I was completely blown away.

It was a strange emotional experience, almost backwards. Having been involved with the project’s conclusion, I understood that part completely. What really moved me was seeing how wonderful everything was at the beginning. And Jacobi really stood out. I had high hopes for him, knowing he was talented, but his performance exceeded all expectations.

What really gets to me is when my character’s brother dies in the scene. It’s different watching a death when you know it’s not real for you, but my brother is such a talented actor that I genuinely felt his character’s death happening.

I’ve never experienced watching a performance where I felt such a close connection to the performer—someone I know so well—without it being me. Usually, when I watch a performance, I’m focused on my own flaws and feel somewhat detached. But watching my brother, I was able to fully immerse myself and simply enjoy the show without worrying about how I would have done it.

2025-11-17 21:07