‘The Chi’: Jacob Latimore On Why Emmett Is ‘Cool’ Role To Play

Emmett on Showtime’s “The Chi” is unlike any other roles Jacob Latimore has played before.

In a new featurette for the drama series, Latimore revealed that Emmett is the first character he has played that many people of his age can relate to.

“I thought it was a cool role for me because this is the first role where I feel like young kids can identify themselves with me,” Latimore said. “That really intrigued me because I hadn’t played a role like that when I was just like, ‘Yo, that’s me. That’s similar to my lifestyle.’”

“The challenges that Emmett deals with is definitely raising a child,” Latimore said of his entrepreneurial playboy character that is suddenly thrust into the tumult of teen fatherhood when his son’s mother, Tiffany (Hannaha Hall), entrusts their toddler to his sole care. “A lot of young fathers can really relate to that situation where they are just like they want to give up, and they can’t. That’s what we see in Emmett. We see Emmett just gets completely vulnerable when it comes to his child.”

Although Latimore isn’t a father yet, the 21-year-old actor can relate to the idea of young parenthood. “My mom had me when she was 18, and that’s kind of around the age that Emmett is,” Latimore told PopCrush last month. “So it made me think back to my parents’ perspective and how they had to just hustle and make sacrifices. But I almost liked the idea that I just didn’t know what to do, in real life and in the role. I wanted people to see me sweat and be nervous about holding a baby. I wanted them to see my fight and my struggle.”

Latimore made similar comments during his appearance on “The Breakfast Club” last month. “I didn’t want to be prepared for the fatherhood role,” Latimore said of why not having a child in real life has helped him portray Emmett more realistically. “I wanted people to see me fumbling with the baby. I really can’t get [my onscreen son] to stop crying on set like it’s a real thing. As soon as his dad passes him up to me, before they say action, the toddler is just like going crazy.”

“The Chi” airs Sundays airs 10 p.m. EST on Showtime.