Actor Giavani Cairo’s Journey with ‘I Was Chosen’

Giavani Cairo, who plays Thadeus in the series I Was Chosen, found that taking on this role not only renewed his Christian faith but also led him to meet his future wife.

Back in 2018, Cairo was living in Los Angeles and feeling a bit lost in his acting career. He was discontented with the roles he was landing, feeling they didn’t fulfill him. At his lowest point, a friend encouraged him to volunteer in the community, including at homeless shelters. This pushed Cairo to set two personal goals: to land his first role in a series and to deepen his spiritual connection with God.

He shared his feelings of emptiness at the time, reflecting, “I grew up as a Christian, but it felt more like something you did as a kid. There wasn’t any real connection.” A few months later, he discovered auditions for I Was Chosen, which was just starting to take shape.

“I felt it was the beginning of my renewal of faith. I wanted to be a better person,” he said, adding, “It’s interesting how God works. I don’t think you can plan for that.”

At one point, just when he was considering putting his career on hold and returning to Michigan to be closer to family, he received the news of his casting as Thaddeus.

“That was a moment of complete surrender for me, as I was ready to pause my career,” he recalled. “But he clearly had a different plan. Even when it appeared there were no signs, I learned a lot about trust.”

Cairo was eager for his new role but was also curious about the character he would portray. Thaddeus is a somewhat enigmatic figure, mentioned mainly in the New Testament, and sometimes referred to as Judas (though not Iscariot).

The show’s director, Dallas Jenkins, was impressed with Cairo during auditions. Cairo joked, “I thought I was channeling a disciple.” In the series, Thaddeus is depicted as kind-hearted, reaching out to those he connects with in his quest for peace.

As one of the few cast members to stay on since the inaugural season, Cairo noted that I Was Chosen was entirely crowdfunded and he was initially uncertain about its future.

“We had just four episodes and a small budget. My co-star and I were only around for those initial episodes,” he revealed. “I was thinking, ‘This is such a blast; I hope I get to do more.’”

He values the role, understanding it goes beyond the typical television experience. “I really hope the show is part of something larger,” he said. “This means so much from a faith perspective to many, including myself. It’s about bringing people together.”

Additionally, his role connected him with his fiancée, Bella. They got engaged this summer after she watched the show and rekindled her faith. “That’s how we met. She’s a talented journalist who interviewed Dallas a few years back,” he shared. “And the rest is just history.”

I Was Chosen Season 5 will begin streaming on September 28th through its official app.