Jharell Jerome Is The Breakout Star Of 'When They See Us'

There’s a scene in When They See Us, when Korey Wise, played by Moonlight star Jharell Jerome, is being attacked in his prison cell by gang of inmates. He’s desperately holding onto the cell bars and screaming for his life when a corrections officer walks over, beats his knuckles with a baton forcing Wise into the arms of his attackers. They pound on him and then blood sheds as he is stabbed in the flank with some object. Jerome grimaces and pain and grits his teeth, unleashing spit from the corners of his mouth. It’s an intense scene that feels like trauma porn, but it’s not, it’s real life.

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From the moment Jharell hit the screen, he played Wise to a tee. He captures his stutter, his naiveness, his fear. And when he’s on the stand, his illiteracy and frustration. Jharell delivered a performance so emotional, the pain feels unreal.

“It was definitely the most difficult process I’ve ever had getting into the mindset for a role. This was real life; he really went through this. And here I am playing somebody who has never been seen — like, really seen — before,” he told TheGrio.

His breakout role has garnered praise from celebrities like his Moonlight co-star Trevante Rhodes, Octavia Spencer, Lil Rel and a host of others.

Wise was so taken aback by Jharell’s table read, he burst into tears. “We were at the table read. We hadn’t even begun filming yet. We read episode one and it was to the part where Korey was being sentenced and he was freaking out in the court room. And Jharrel started to go in at the table read,” Michael K revealed to told BET. “I’m sitting here and he’s to my left. I’m looking at him like, OK, this kid is going too hard, he’s gonna get you, Mike. He’s gonna get you.”

When They See Us is currently on Netflix.

1. Netflix FYSEE Scene Stealer Panel

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 30: Jharrel Jerome attends the Netflix FYSEE Scene Stealer Panel at Raleigh Studios on May 30, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Netflix) photography,celebrities,people,one person,arts culture and entertainment,attending,horizontal,usa,looking at camera,portrait,music,film industry,headshot,california,city of los angeles,fashion,jharrel jerome,netflix fysee,raleigh – north carolina

2. Celebrities Visits SiriusXM – May 21, 2019

NEW YORK, NY – MAY 21: Jharrel Jerome visits the SiriusXM Studios on May 21, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Taylor Hill/Getty Images) vertical,color image,photography,celebrities,people,full length,one person,arts culture and entertainment,usa,new york city,looking at camera,visit,siriusxm studios – new york city,jharrel jerome

3. Celebrities Visit Build – May 21, 2019

NEW YORK, NY – MAY 21: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Actor Jharrel Jerome visits Build Series to discuss Netflix’s drama miniseries “When They See Us” at Build Studio on May 21, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images) vertical,color image,photography,celebrities,arts culture and entertainment,usa,new york city,waist up,actor,discussion,visit,netflix,miniseries,aol build speaker series,jharrel jerome

4. "When They See Us" World Premiere

NEW YORK, NY – MAY 20: Jharrel Jerome attends the premiere of “When They See Us” at The Apollo Theater on May 20, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Taylor Hill/FilmMagic) vertical,color image,photography,celebrities,people,full length,one person,arts culture and entertainment,attending,usa,new york city,looking at camera,television show,apollo theater – new york,jharrel jerome,premiere event

5. "When They See Us" World Premiere

NEW YORK, NY – MAY 20: Jharrel Jerome attends the premiere of “When They See Us” at The Apollo Theater on May 20, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Taylor Hill/FilmMagic) vertical,color image,photography,celebrities,people,one person,arts culture and entertainment,attending,usa,new york city,looking at camera,television show,smiling,green color,three quarter length,apollo theater – new york,top – garment,blazer – jacket,prada,green blazer,black color,bottle green,jharrel jerome,premiere event

6. "When They See Us" World Premiere

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 20: Jharrel Jerome attends “When They See Us” World Premiere at The Apollo Theater on May 20, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by John Lamparski/Getty Images) vertical,photography,celebrities,people,one person,arts culture and entertainment,attending,usa,new york city,looking at camera,television show,smiling,three quarter length,apollo theater – new york,jharrel jerome,premiere event

7. Teen Vogue's 2019 Young Hollywood Party Presented By Snap – Arrivals

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 15: Jharrel Jerome attends Teen Vogue’s 2019 Young Hollywood Party Presented By Snap at Los Angeles Theatre on February 15, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Presley Ann/FilmMagic,) vertical,photography,celebrities,people,one person,arts culture and entertainment,attending,usa,looking at camera,california,city of los angeles,three quarter length,teenager,jharrel jerome

8. Teen Vogue's Young Hollywood Party, Presented By Snap – Arrivals

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 15: Jharrel Jerome attends Teen Vogue’s Young Hollywood Party, Presented By Snap at Los Angeles Theatre on February 15, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Gregg DeGuire/Getty Images for Teen Vogue ) photography,people,one person,arts culture and entertainment,attending,horizontal,usa,looking at camera,smiling,california,city of los angeles,three quarter length,teenager,jharrel jerome

9. 2019 Sundance Film Festival – "Selah And The Spades" Premiere

PARK CITY, UT – JANUARY 27: Actor Jharrel Jerome attends the “Selah And The Spades” Premiere during the 2019 Sundance Film Festival at Egyptian Theatre on January 27, 2019 in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Sonia Recchia/Getty Images) vertical,photography,celebrities,people,one person,arts culture and entertainment,attending,usa,looking at camera,portrait,actor,film industry,headshot,smiling,film premiere,red carpet event,utah,park city – utah,sundance film festival,jharrel jerome,egyptian theatre,premiere event

10. 2019 Sundance Film Festival – "Selah And The Spades" Premiere

PARK CITY, UT – JANUARY 27: Actor Jharrel Jerome attends the “Selah And The Spades” Premiere during the 2019 Sundance Film Festival at Egyptian Theatre on January 27, 2019 in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Sonia Recchia/Getty Images) vertical,photography,celebrities,people,one person,arts culture and entertainment,attending,usa,looking at camera,actor,film industry,three quarter length,film premiere,red carpet event,utah,park city – utah,sundance film festival,jharrel jerome,egyptian theatre,premiere event

11. BET Hip Hop Awards 2017 – Roaming Red Carpet

MIAMI BEACH, FL – OCTOBER 06: Actor Jharrel Jerome attends the BET Hip Hop Awards 2017 at The Fillmore Miami Beach at the Jackie Gleason Theater on October 6, 2017 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BET ) vertical,photography,people,one person,arts culture and entertainment,attending,usa,looking at camera,actor,beach,black entertainment television,miami beach,gulf coast states,three quarter length,incidental people,red carpet event,miami,bet hip hop awards,jackie gleason theater,fillmore miami beach,florida – us state,jharrel jerome

12. Screening Of AT&T Audience Network's "Mr. Mercedes" – After Party

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – JULY 25: Actor Jhaarrel Jerome attends the screening of AT&T Audience Network’s ‘Mr. Mercedes’ after party at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on July 25, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Earl Gibson III/Getty Images) vertical,photography,celebrities,people,one person,arts culture and entertainment,attending,usa,looking at camera,waist up,portrait,actor,screening,smiling,california,after party,the beverly hilton hotel,incidental people,beverly hills – california,jharrel jerome,mr. mercedes

13. AT&T AUDIENCE Network Summer 2017 TCA Panels

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – JULY 25: Actor Jharrel Jerome on stage during the AT&T AUDIENCE Network Summer TCA Panels for “Mr. Mercedes” at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on July 25, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Brandon Williams/Getty Images for AT&T AUDIENCE Network) vertical,photography,celebrities,people,full length,one person,arts culture and entertainment,usa,actor,smiling,california,the beverly hilton hotel,summer,incidental people,audience,summer television critics association press tour,television critics association,at&t,television critics association awards,stage – performance space,beverly hills – california,jharrel jerome,mr. mercedes

14. AT&T AUDIENCE Network Summer 2017 TCA Panels

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – JULY 25: Actor Jharrel Jerome attends the AT&T AUDIENCE Network premiere of “Mr. Mercedes” during the AT&T AUDIENCE Network Summer 2017 TCA Panel at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on July 25, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Rachel Murray/Getty Images for AT&T AUDIENCE Network) vertical,photography,celebrities,people,one person,arts culture and entertainment,attending,usa,looking at camera,california,the beverly hilton hotel,three quarter length,audience,summer television critics association press tour,television critics association,at&t,television critics association awards,beverly hills – california,jharrel jerome,premiere event,mr. mercedes

15. Netflix FYSEE Scene Stealer Panel

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 30: Jharrel Jerome speaks onstage attends the Netflix FYSEE Scene Stealer Panel at Raleigh Studios on May 30, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Netflix) vertical,photography,celebrities,people,one person,arts culture and entertainment,attending,usa,music,film industry,california,city of los angeles,talking,fashion,three quarter length,jharrel jerome

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