Jamaican-born actor Sule Thelwell has joined season three of the cast of Netflix original series XO, Kitty.
The revelation was made by Netflix, as the outfit confirmed that production in Seoul, South Korea, was complete.
The Glenmuir High School alum, who earned a Bachelor of Arts in Acting (honours) at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London, plays the role of Marius.
“I auditioned for the role, much like many of my contemporaries did, but there’s one particularly funny story that happened during that process. Whilst in the off-season [which is just a term for when you aren’t actively engaged in a project] I was auditioning a lot, and for a variety of different castings, a very good friend and colleague of mine received an audition for this very role. And, as I’m a good actor, I’m a good person to audition with,” Thelwell told the Jamaica Observer during a virtual interview.
“So that was our plan — as we often help each other to tape. I then received the same audition a few days later, and right before helping him tape his, and I said to him: ‘If you get it, it’s because you’re a good actor. If I get it, it’s cause I saw you do it first.’ So said, so done. The entire process started with me getting the initial audition on the 19th of February and, after recalls, producer meetings, and chemistry reads, I was officially cast on April 10th,” Thelwell continued.
XO, Kitty is a romantic comedy spin-off of the To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before franchise about teen matchmaker Katherine “Kitty” Song Covey (Anna Cathcart) moving to Seoul, South Korea, to attend the same international boarding school as her late mother, her long-distance boyfriend Dae, and experience her own complex romantic dramas at first hand. The series follows Kitty as she navigates high school, love, and her mother’s past while trying to find her own true love.
Thelwell is no stranger to major roles. Since the advent of his conservatoire training, he has been cast in a Disney+/Hulu Original show titled SAINT X. That psychological thriller takes place on a fictional Caribbean island, where he played a young earnest tour guide.
Meanwhile, the 24-year-old explained that he arrived on South Korea on May 5, after concluding two independent projects in Jamaica. He managed to assimilate his character seamlessly.
“Marius is the rock star fourth man. He oozes confidence, and is generally used to life bending a knee to him. He’s the missing piece to Minho, Dae, and Q’s dorm room antics. He’s a filthy-rich high school charmer, whose favourite pastime is partying. He’s often the most stylish in the room, but is definitely the most calculated. When he wants something he gets it and he never loses his cool. But, at his core, he’s only just discovered love, and is chasing it the only way he knows how,” he told the Observer in explaining his character.
Despite a new country, culture, and people, the Jamaican talent touted his talented castmates for an unforgettable experience on set.
“The people make the place, always. I’ve been extremely lucky that both times I’ve been to bat the teams around me have been absolute class acts. My favourite part about this project was engaging with all the people I met. The connections formed have not only been invaluable, but will be real assets to my continued success. The lessons I learned from them will only inform more abundance in my career and life. With every conversation I had the more it was reaffirmed in my mind that I was exactly where I was supposed to be. The
XO family made me feel the most valued I’ve ever felt in on project,” he said.
It is no surprise that Thelwell, a creative, has coined his own words of inspiration. This has included original poetry such as We All Win One Day Or Another.
He is currently working on releasing a body of music, following the release of WOMAN DEMON featuring JIA Beatz.
