A decade ago, Jordi Webber was on stage in New Zealand as a member of the country’s leading boy band, ‘Titanium.’ Their style, swag and sound made them an instant success with viewers, and their fanbase swelled overnight. But it was Webber’s stunning looks –chiseled face, piercing eyes, curly dark hair, and a fit physique– that set listeners ablaze.
Then things went dark.
When ‘Titanium’ decided to go international, Jordi opted to stay home. The years after his departure saw the star in uncharted territories. A beloved role in New Zealand’s version of Power Rangers, a solo album and a fashion line were all milestones that kept his fan base close. Jordi chose to gamble on a career that felt as authentic as he is. Today he is an international star, deftly balancing a career in two industries, in two countries, with one goal: remaining true to himself.
As Tarchon, his character in Starz’s popular series, Spartacus:The House of Ashur, Webber showcases stunning range and depth. On-screen, his performance as the sexy gladiator is nothing short of mesmerizing. But in real life, that sultriness is almost too easy to objectify. In his third act as a heartthrob in the spotlight, we sit with Webber to talk sex appeal, his latest role and his goals.
‘Spartacus: House of Ashur’ • Photo: Starz.
Do you regret leaving ‘Titanium?’
I needed to. It was my breakout in a way. My Zayn Malik or my Justin Timberlake way into the scene.
Now that you are solo –and a star in your own right– do you feel fulfilled?
It’s funny, with dreams your goalpost always moves. So, finding myself doing the thing I wanted to do when I was a boy is amazing. When I dreamed of acting, I dreamed of playing Achilles and swinging a sword. That’s what made me fall in love with the idea of it. And I just did that thing I dreamed of. I am living it. I am breathing it and I am grateful.
‘Spartacus: House of Ashur’ • Photo: Starz.
As Tarchon, you sizzle in the Spartacus’ sequel. Has playing a heartthrob on-screen shaped you off-screen?
Every role that you play teaches you something because you’re embodying a whole different person and you’re getting to live the life of a person for a moment. Tarchon taught me that it’s okay to speak your mind. He taught me that it’s okay to be brash and to not be perfect and to not be reserved sometimes. I really found a voice playing Tarchon and being on an international set. At the start, I felt I should just do what the director said. But as I started to bond with this character and sit in him, he was unapologetic and he just says things and goes for it. That really helped me find my voice and my respect as a man and as an artist. I’ve got something valuable to bring to the table. So, it gave me confidence in myself, which I’ve carried into my life.
‘Spartacus: House of Ashur’ • Photo: Starz.
With such a devoted female audience, did playing Tarchon give you a different understanding of women?
There’s a lot of toxic masculinity out there and especially in the previous iterations of the show. And its world comes with an innate stigma: gladiators and brash men. But to be fair, there were a lot of moments where this show broke that stereotype. You know, a lot of our gladiators are different. The softness that we see in Ashur is different from the norm. We got to explore a lot more warmth in this sequel. There’s a lot more warmth. There’s a lot more heart. There’s a lot more softness in our men. Getting that appreciation and seeing it play within a world that’s so masculine and strong, seeing how much the feminine affects it and seeing the power of women was beautiful. This is a completely different world and I can be vulnerable and I’m not judged [because of it.]
‘Spartacus: House of Ashur’ • Photo: Starz.
You touch on toxic masculinity within the sword and sandal genre. Some could say they see a feminine version of that on the show as well.
There are two sides to a coin, you know. There’s always going to be people out there that disrespect the other. There’s always going to be men out there that are stubborn and that disrespect women. And vice versa. It doesn’t mean it’s an accurate portrayal of all women. I don’t think that toxic is an accurate portrayal of all men, because there are some beautiful men out there that love women, that lift women up. And there are a lot of women out there that love and respect men as well. So, I think it’s how you choose to look at it and how you choose to perceive it. I think on the screen and for the story, there needed to be toxicity. There needed to be conflict.
‘Spartacus: House of Ashur’ • Photo: Starz.
Did you find it challenging playing such a raw, aggressive character?
It was hard to play, because it’s so far from my own nature. I love to live in a positive vibration, and I love to lift others up. I’m always living in a pretty cheerful state. So, to do and say some stupid things and to constantly spit on somebody, I was just like, to my core, this sucks. Like, Jordi: what are you doing, man? But it was also beautiful to lean into something and accept what the story needs. And in order for you to push this champion or to push this woman who’s got this whole journey, she needs that. She needs a hard wall to come up against. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have worked. So, it was quite nice to say, ‘Hey, this is OK. This is your job.’
‘Spartacus: House of Ashur’ • Photo: Starz.
What did it feel like having a female gladiator opponent as a main character?
It was really cool. And it was needed in order for the show to evolve. Obviously, it was historically accurate too. It was a beautiful contrast. It’s funny because it has also mirrored society’s response and how some loyal fans of the series are responding. They are stuck in a way and not welcoming the change. This season is like a reflection of the change in the world off-screen that we’d like to see, but also the change in that world on-screen.
How have you managed to not feel objectified as you navigate being a sex symbol a third time over?
I saw this really cool quote somewhere. I can’t remember who said it, maybe it was a casting director saying like the people in Hollywood don’t cast the fresh face that’s just showing up or the person who’s really talented, they cast the person who they can rely on. They cast the person who’s been doing it for like 15 years that they know that like, hey, this person can hold it down. When things hit the fan and everyone starts losing it, we can trust that this person is going to keep their cool and they’re going to do the job. For me, it’s all part of my becoming. I’ve been acting for 10 years now. In hindsight, that’s long. But it’s not. In the grand perspective of how long these careers can be, I still treat this era as my youth. I’ve just been doing it long enough that my gigs are now getting bigger and I’m getting more responsibility and it’s helping me evolve. But if I was given this role seven years ago, I would not have been ready. I would have done a real shit job. And the depths in which I was able to go to in this, I wouldn’t have been able to get there with my little life experience. So, all things in their time.
‘Spartacus: House of Ashur’ • Photo: Starz.
Do you see yourself ever singing again?
I do. I definitely do. Music is a big love of mine. I released two songs last year and then I decided to step back.
Why?
I think when you’re not doing it full time… you put all the work, you put all the money into it, you go and do the recordings. But because you’re not actively developing and growing, there was a sense of sadness growing. I felt like people aren’t receiving it in the way that I want them to. I got to a place where I was doing music as a chore and doing it to be received. The reason I love music is because I love creating and I love writing it. So, I said, I’m going to take a strategic step back. I’m focusing on my acting, focusing on my writing and directing. Both of those things in themselves need be 100 percent. So, you add another 100 percent in music. I don’t have 300 percent to give.
No, you also got to leave space for your lovely wife!
[LAUGHS] That’s it. Yes, I do.
