Jessica Biel agreed to let her son Silas make a small appearance in Matchbox: The Movie, but she says a substantial acting role would have to be earned. Being her child should not put him ahead of young performers who have worked for an opportunity.
Silas, 11, whom Biel shares with Justin Timberlake, appears briefly near the end of the action film without speaking. The movie began streaming on Apple TV on October 9.
Speaking on Josh Smith’s Great Chat Show, the actress also recalled how quickly her son discovered that film work involves waiting. His first day on set ended without him shooting anything.
Biel, 44, and Timberlake also have a younger son, Phineas, 6. The couple have generally kept their children out of the spotlight, which initially made her hesitant about the offer.
Biel Says a Bigger Role Would Have to Be Earned
Biel told Smith that she had spoken to Silas about children who take acting and theater classes and put time into developing their skills. “You can’t just take a part from that person just because you’re my son,” she recalled telling him.
She said she would not have agreed to a role involving a big monologue. Silas would have needed to earn that opportunity, rather than expect it because of his family connections.
A Trusted Producer Helped Her Agree to the Cameo
Producer Jules Daly approached Biel about the small part. By then, Silas had repeatedly mentioned wanting to act, and he was due to join his mother in Budapest for seven weeks while she worked on the movie.
Biel saw the possibility of giving him something to look forward to during the stay. She also trusted Daly, a longtime friend and collaborator, to look after both of them if the experience became uncomfortable.
As People reported, Biel joked about not wanting to squash her son’s dreams, even though part of her was tempted to discourage his interest in acting.
His First Day Became a Lesson in Waiting
Silas grew frustrated when he spent the day on set without being called to film. He complained that he had been there all day and could not understand why nothing had happened.
Biel explained that actors can be called in and then sit for hours before they are needed. She used a 12-hour wait as an example of what the job can involve and asked whether he still wanted to pursue it.
His perspective changed when she reminded him that he was being paid for his time. He returned the next day and worked, according to Biel’s account, also covered by Entertainment Weekly.
Both Boys Were Excited to Meet John Cena
At the film’s October 5 New York premiere, Biel told E! News that visiting the production was especially exciting for her sons because they got to meet John Cena, whom they admired.
The staged fights fascinated Phineas, who sometimes struggled to tell whether what he was seeing was real. Silas understood how the action was being created for the cameras.
Alongside acting, Silas is also exploring music as a DJ. Biel said she and Timberlake are giving him time to discover which interests he wants to pursue.