We’re going into the NYOTA archives to find some of our favorite interviews that weren’t originally shared on the site.
“On average, it takes an actor 64 auditions to book one project, and that’s not being said to discourage you. It’s being said to give you hope. So you’ve done 10 auditions, and you haven’t booked, don’t stress, you still have time. Just keep going, keep faith in yourself, and when everyone tells you ‘no,’ tell yourself ‘yes.'”
Dior Goodjohn
Dior Goodjohn is an actress, singer, songwriter, and dancer who is making her mark in the hit series “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” on Disney+. Goodjohn talked to NYOTA about getting cast as Clarisse, making music, and stepping onto the Camp Half-Blood set for the first time.
When the NYOTA team last caught up with you in 2021, you told us acting is what you’re destined to do. How have you been staying grounded while thriving in an industry that can be very self-centered and disingenuous at times?
In my own experience, having people around you that you love and trust and putting your faith in something/anything bigger than you is the remedy for all of that. If you are tight with your family, make sure you keep your family around you. If you’re tight with your friends, make sure you keep them around you. If you’re tight with your management, make sure you keep them around you, and so forth.
What was the audition process like for Percy Jackson and the Olympians? How did you feel when you learned you had booked such a major role in the series?
It was kind of like a whirlwind. Everything happened so fast, but also went at its own pace, if that makes any sense at all. When I found out I booked it, I was in Iran, so it was amazing news considering how far removed I was from the industry physically. But regardless of that, it’s always going to be amazing news to hear that you booked a job as an actor, haha. I definitely didn’t understand the magnitude of the project until I stepped on set, though, that’s when it got real for me.
Tell our readers about your character Clarisse La Rue. How would you describe her in your own words, and how did you get into character each day?
Clarisse is 100% herself and is not apologizing to anybody for it. She is headstrong and determined, that’s sometimes her downfall, but deep down she just wants to be accepted and acknowledged by the people that she looks up to. I actually had a playlist, titled “Clarisse,” that I would listen to on the ride from home to set every morning; it should be available for all my Apple Music users to add to their libraries.
When reading the Percy Jackson series, you can envision so much of it, but that’s completely different from seeing it come to life through the television series. How did it feel for you to step onto set for the first time and see the full scope of Camp Half-Blood?
It was so surreal. I’ve been seeing a lot of the fandom post TikToks with the captions saying Uncle Rick shook the book and everything just fell out, and it’s exactly that!
Did you do a lot of research to learn about Ares and the world of Greek mythology before filming, or were the Percy Jackson books all you needed to prepare?
I’ve actually been quite a fan of everything Greek and ancient Egyptian mythology since I was in grade school. I know they’re so different. Ha ha ha, but it’s definitely something that I’ve had somewhat of a background education in. Especially considering that I would categorize myself as somewhat of a mystic when it comes to the zodiac.
It seems like the cast of Percy Jackson and the Olympians has turned into a family on and off set. How did you and your co-stars go about creating such a tight and supportive bond?
The type of chemistry that everybody has is something that you can’t really fake. I got to give all that credit to the universe, spirit, God, or whatever you wanna call it. We all just mesh so well, and I think that we were destined to know each other in this exact way in this lifetime for sure.
It was recently announced that Percy Jackson and the Olympians got renewed for a season two. Book two in the series gives Clarisse some big moments. Are you excited to be able to flesh out Clarisse even more as a character?
Words can’t even describe the type of visceral reaction I had when I found out that we were confirmed for season two. It was like all of my favorite moments from The Sea of Monsters just flashed before my eyes, and I could see myself and Walker and everyone portraying it all in my mind. So yes, I guess you could say I’m excited.
Outside of acting, you also write and perform music. Has music always been a passion you’ve hoped to pursue?
If we’re taking it all the way back, music was how it all started. My mom loves to tell the story of how I was three years old in the car with all my family. I heard some music playing on the radio and told everybody with us to shush. Then allegedly proceeded to recite the whole thing. Acting came slightly later in my evolution, maybe at around four or five, when I would watch my favorite TV shows and movies, then force my family to gather in the living room while I reenacted the whole thing with it playing in the background. I love them both. They kind of fill in the blanks for one another and feed my soul in their unique ways. The beautiful thing about having duality as a creator is that there’s something artistic happening at all times. When one is off, the other is on, and vice versa, it allows you to appreciate the other in a deeper way as well.
If you can, tell our readers about your upcoming single. From a snippet you shared on Instagram, it sounds sultry and vibey. What were some of your inspirations when working on the track?
The simple answer is that it’s inspired by my life. Authenticity is the strongest vibration a human being can emit, so when it comes to music, doing my best to stay true to myself and whatever I’m making is the goal. The longer answer is that I was blessed enough to be in the studio with such talented people. Being in a room full of all that energy really allowed for there to be somewhat endless creative flow, and prayerfully the project will reflect that.
What advice do you have for aspiring actors?
I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again. Don’t. Give. Up. On average, it takes an actor 64 auditions to book one project, and that’s not being said to discourage you. It’s being said to give you hope. So you’ve done 10 auditions, and you haven’t booked, don’t stress, you still have time. Just keep going, keep faith in yourself, and when everyone tells you “no,” tell yourself “yes.”
This story first ran in Star Power Vol . 50. Read more from the issue here.
