Is ‘GQ’ Man of the Year Diogo Morgado too sexy to portray Jesus?

At least 60 films worldwide tell the story of Jesus. Last year, a 10-hour Emmy-nominated miniseries The Bible captivated at least 100 million viewers worldwide on History Channel, making it the highest rated cable show of 2013. In the US, it reached ratings of 14.8 million viewers, surpassing American Idol.  For the husband and wife producers, Mark Burnett and actress Roma Downey, the unexpected success served as the inspiration for the full-length 20th Century Fox movie Son of God.

The story of Jesus is emotion-packed — as son of God who became man, he had times of compassion, gentleness, love, humility, even sadness and anger.  Diogo Morgado, a 6’3” Portuguese actor and model, starred as Jesus in The Bible and his popularity in that role made him a shoo-in for the lead in Son of God.

Morgado told Fox News Latino in an interview that while he was extremely proud to get the role, it also made him panic. That fear pushed him to do extensive research on the story, reading many books and talking to religious historians.

“I grew up as a Christian, so for me it was something really, really big,” he said. “The last time that the whole life of Jesus was on screen was 50 years ago… so there (are) a lot of kids out there, there is a young generation that doesn’t have a visual reference of the life of Jesus.”

Morgado, who is a stunner and looks much like Brad Pitt,  has trended on Twitter as #HotJesus, a name he does not completely understand. The 34-year-old said, “There would be no ‘Hot Jesus’ without people watching the show, so I think it’s a reaction to the success of the show (The Bible).”

Born January 17, 1981 in Lisbon, Portugal, his career spans roles on television, film, and stage including a lead role in the #1 rated Portuguese television series and International Emmy winner Laços de Sangue. He splits his time between Los Angeles and Portugal. Aside from Portuguese, Morgado speaks English, French, and Spanish. In June 2013, he graced GQ Portugal magazine as their Man of the Year.

Morgado’s stunning looks has in fact sparked a controversy that he is too sexy to portray Jesus. Burnett brushed off the comment, “Listen, whatever attracts the biggest, youngest audience.” In an interview with The New York Times, Morgado suggested that though his appearance shouldn’t be the focus, it may make Jesus “more appealing” to a wide audience.

A more appealing Jesus

“It’s a compliment, obviously,” Morgado said, “but I don’t want that to take away from what we tried to achieve. The best story is the story that gets to the most people. If the message of Jesus was love, hope, and compassion, and I can bring that to more people by being a more appealing Jesus, I am happy with that.”

In a conversation with USA Today, Morgado said, “I take the nickname (Hot Jesus) as a compliment obviously, but I’m waiting for the good stuff. And the good stuff for me is if someone just nabbed me on the shoulder and said, ‘Look, you did a pretty good job.’”

Burnett and Downey’s film is adapted from the runaway success TV series that aired on the History Channel last year. The development process for the lengthier series involved a team of Biblical scholars and religious leaders to keep the show historically accurate and religiously correct.

The series was filled with dramatic moments, but perhaps the most poignant was the highly anticipated crucifixion scene. Morgado opened up to Oprah in an episode of “Oprah’s Next Chapter” about how powerful the crucifixion scene was for him even from the beginning of filming.

“I was haunted by that (crucifixion) scene,” Morgado told Oprah in the clip. “I was seeing that coming every second of the way.”

The crucifixion scene took three days to film and triggered a stirring reaction from Morgado when he was lifted onto the cross. “On that cross, I can tell you I remember one thing,” he said. “I saw all of my life just flashing in front of my eyes. It was this overwhelming feeling (that) every small single second of my life was leading up to that moment.”

Even reflecting on that scene now makes Morgado extremely emotional. “That was just huge for me. I don’t want to go there very often,” he said in the clip, as his eyes fill with tears. “Imagining that that was just a single fraction of a second of what Jesus did for us... It’s pure and unconditional love.”

Talk about a last minute blessing as producers of the film struggled to find the right person to portray Christ. With only a few weeks before filming, they came across Morgado and knew he was perfect for the role. “He has a strong presence but also a natural humility,” mentioned Downey. “We were really looking for someone who could portray the lion and the lamb.”

The role of Jesus, a daunting challenge previously taken on by great actors such as William Dafoe and Jim Caviezel, is both passionate and gentle in Morgado’s highly charismatic interpretation. “We auditioned hundreds of actors for the role,” said Burnett. “Diogo is a beautiful person inside, a beautiful person outside, and very humble. He has the quality of a lion and a lamb.”

Morgado told Elle on how he prepared to play Jesus, “Love. You just make yourself available to be full of love. And to be truthful and honest, 100 percent.”

And when they asked him whether Jesus had a sense of humor, he blurted,  “You know what? That’s the most clever question I’ve been asked tonight! Let me tell you this: Yes. How do I know? Laughter and joy are part of the beauty of life. That was something I worked hard to make sure was part of my portrayal. There’s a lightness and humor in how He behaves.”

Downey won’t deny her Jesus is good-looking but explained she was seeking a subtle mix of qualities. “Someone with strength, presence, charisma, tenderness, kindness, compassion, and natural humility,” she said.

Falling in love with Jesus

“I think people who don’t know Jesus will fall in love,” Downey predicted.  “And those who do know him will fall in love all over again.”

Son of God is billed as the first movie to tell Jesus’ story from birth to resurrection since The Greatest Story Ever Told in 1965. Burnett revealed that people now more than ever are feeling “a very big desire for Jesus” and the “need to reconnect.”

Traveling to numerous churches and communities since October promoting the film, “it’s been this great feeling to visit so many diverse parts of America and really get the same message back, that people are ready to see their Lord Jesus Christ,” Burnett (also executive producer of popular series such as Survivor, The Apprentice, and Shark Tank) said.

The world’s largest Christian university, Liberty University, bought out an entire local theater in Lynchburg, Va., where Son of God will show on 14 screens, with about 2,000 students expected to attend the midnight showings. Ever since Downey and Burnett visited the campus last month, the film has generated huge social media attention among students, said university spokesman Johnnie Moore.

“I haven’t seen a film more custom-designed for the next generation of Christians,” Moore said. “I think a lot of Christians can be wary of content about the Bible that tries to create a new story, but this is the old story that’s been told for thousands of years. Now, it’s being told to a new generation in a truly excellent way.”

“I think people are hungry for hope, hungry for God and are longing for that connection,” Downey added. “On the one hand, Son of God plays like an exciting, compelling drama — like a political thriller really — and yet, throughout the film is woven this extraordinary love story that we are loved so much by God that He sends Jesus for us.”

“We’re hoping people will come as families and share this together,” she said. “It’s a story for our time, for 2014.”

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