How Keiynan Lonsdale went from MTV VJ to Insurgent star in nine months

DESPITE chatting to celebrities for two-and-a-half years as an MTV VJ, the tables have turned and now the 23-year-old Aussie is the one answering the “daunting” questions.

INSURGENT star Keiynan Lonsdale is still getting used to being interviewed.

Despite chatting to celebrities for two-and-a-half years as an MTV VJ, the tables have turned and now the 23-year-old Aussie is the one answering the “daunting” questions.

“It’s definitely something I am trying to adjust to,” he told news.com.au while back in Sydney to promote the Divergent sequel. “Right now I’d be used to sitting in that chair (the reporter’s chair) so it’s kind of weird.”

The Aussie actor, singer and dancer added that he thinks his job interviewing celebs for MTV helped in his own new role as a movie star.

Keiynan Lonsdale has landed a lead role of Uriah in a scene from THE DIVERGENT SERIES: INSURGENT.

“One second you’re interviewing the celebrities, the next you’re working alongside them and that is kind of a strange thing, just because I wasn’t expecting it to happen. People are like ‘you should probably feel more comfortable (being interviewed)’ but I find both kind of nervewracking.”

It’s been a swift and sudden rise to fame for the 23-year-old, who only got the call nine months ago to tell him he had landed a lead role as Uriah in the blockbuster teen franchise.

MTV VJs Kate Peck and Keiynan Lonsdale.

Uriah (Keiynan Lonsdale) in a scene from THE DIVERGENT SERIES: INSURGENT.

With his previous biggest role to date in ABC’s Dance Academy, no one was more surprised than him that his next gig was alongside big names such as Kate Winslet, Naomi Watts, Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort.

“It was pretty daunting,” he said of meeting his famous co-stars, “because to be honest I’m a fan of each and every actor in the film already, so one second I was watching Fault In Our Stars with Shailene and Ansel and the next second my first scene was me and Shailene, so I kind of had to jump in the deep end and get into it straight away, but it was cool everyone was really relaxed and they all introduced themselves to me and made me feel really comfortable.”

Divergent opens in Australian cinemas this Thursday.

Lynn (Rosa Salazar), Hector (Emjay Anthony), Marlene (Suki Waterhouse), Uriah (Keiynan Lonsdale) Christina (Zoe Kravitz) and Tori (Maggie Q) in a scene from THE DIVERGENT SERIES: INSURGENT.

Originally published as How Keiynan Lonsdale went from MTV VJ to Insurgent star in nine months