"There’s a moment when Michael is forced to bury his own family—people he had been dreaming of reuniting with. That scene stayed with me; it was emotionally devastating to film and demanded everything from me as an actor."
1. What first drew you to acting, and how did your journey begin?
I’ve always wanted to act—it’s something that’s been with me from a very young age. I started taking classes at the Chicken Shed Theatre Company when I was just eight years old, and my love for performing really grew from there. Honestly, I’ve never seriously considered doing anything else. It’s always felt like the natural path for me.
2. How did you prepare to play Michael Podchlebnik, a Holocaust survivor?
My preparation began with watching Shoah by Claude Lanzmann, an extraordinary and deeply moving film. Michael appears in it, giving a haunting interview about his experiences, and that became a crucial reference point for me. I was also fortunate to have the support of our director, Lior Geller, who provided a wealth of reading material and historical context. His guidance was invaluable in helping me connect with the emotional depth of the character.
3. The film delves into the harrowing escape from the Chełmno extermination camp. What part of his story impacted you the most while filming?
There’s a moment when Michael is forced to bury his own family—people he had been dreaming of reuniting with. That scene stayed with me; it was emotionally devastating to film and demanded everything from me as an actor. It really captured the horror and psychological toll of what he endured.
4. How did Lior Geller’s deep research shape your approach to the role?
Lior’s meticulous research gave me a much fuller understanding of Michael—not just as a survivor, but as a son, father, and husband. One particularly poignant detail he shared was that Michael never spoke to his own son about his experiences. That silence spoke volumes. It gave me a deeper insight into how trauma can live quietly within someone and affect their relationships for the rest of their life. Lior helped me explore the emotional and psychological dimensions of that silence.
5. What do you look for in a character before saying yes to a role?
For me, it all starts with a strong script and a director with a unique vision. In today’s landscape, there's such a demand for content that it's easy for projects to become formulaic. I’m drawn to stories that offer something different—where the characters are complex and the storytelling stands out. That said, it doesn’t have to be intense drama. It could be a comedy, a thriller, or even children’s television. What matters most is the quality of the writing and how the director brings it to life.
6. How have your language and music skills helped in your acting?
I speak four languages, and that really shapes how I think about communication and character. Every language carries its own rhythm, values, and emotional nuance. For example, in Gateway to the West, I play Eusebius, a monk who acts as a bridge between the Hungarians and the Mongols. Each culture sees the world—and concepts like gods, power, and war—very differently. Understanding those contrasts helped me bring depth to the role. Music plays a similar role for me; the tone and rhythm of speech can be just as important as the words themselves. Music helps me tune into that.
7. Did your family history and German citizenship influence your portrayal in this film?
Not directly. I tried to approach Michael’s story on its own terms, without projecting my family’s history onto it. While my family—thankfully—wasn’t defined by the Holocaust, they did experience persecution. My grandfather fled Germany in 1933, which certainly shaped our story, but it’s very different from Michael’s. To honor him and others like him, I felt it was important to step outside of myself and truly imagine what he lived through, rather than draw from my own background.
8. What do you hope audiences take away from The World Will Tremble?
I hope they come away with a deeper understanding of how oppression dehumanizes and strips people of their dignity. The kind of courage and sacrifice it takes to resist such forces—often at the cost of one’s life—is unimaginable. And, tragically, many don't survive. There’s a sobering lesson in that for all of us. Empathy, remembrance, and vigilance against injustice are things we must hold onto.
9. If you could play any historical figure, who would it be and why?
I’ve always been drawn to classical literature—I studied it and still carry a deep appreciation for it. I love Hector from The Iliad, and I find Julius Caesar incredibly fascinating as a historical figure. There's so much drama and complexity in those ancient stories. That said, I also think I could make a pretty decent JFK...
Bio:
Jeremy Neumark Jones is a versatile actor and producer based in London, UK. A graduate of Oxford University, he honed his craft with the National Youth Theatre's REP company, where he notably performed as Macbeth in the West End. His career spans acclaimed roles across theatre, television, and film in both the UK and the US.
Jeremy is best known for his powerful portrayal of Holocaust survivor Michael Podchlebnik in the critically acclaimed film The World Will Tremble. He has also starred in notable series such as The Last Post (BBC), Belgravia (ITV), and The Feed (Amazon Prime). This summer, he takes on a lead role in the epic historical drama 1242: Gateway to the West, sharing the screen with legends like Michael Ironside, Eric Roberts, and the late Ray Stevenson.
Beyond acting, Jeremy is a passionate storyteller. He writes novels and co-produces the internationally renowned film podcast Kermode and Mayo’s Take, continuing to engage audiences with his deep love for cinema and narrative craft.
Interviewed by: Shantanu Singh
Edited by: Shantanu Singh
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