Kingdom

Season 2 e.tv (*194) 22:00 Action

Jonathan Tucker is a loose cannon as mixed artist arts fighter Jay Kulina in fighting-themed action series Kingdom (2014-2017) but in real life, the 36-yearold is nothing like his boozy, drugging character. Not only does he prefer quiet nights in with his wife Tara, he also runs the non-profit Pegasus Fund that helps young students in under-served communities prepare for their futures.

While Jay dances around the fight ring, Jonathan dances for real – he has trained in ballet since he was seven and says “it’s the most difficult rigour that I have done and ballet instructors are the most intimidating people alive”. He’s an art lover thanks to his dad Paul Tucker, who is a professor at the University Of Massachusetts and considered the world’s leading expert on impressionist painter Claude Monet. Jonathan trained twice daily for three months to get into shape for the role and learnt to fight with professional MMA fighters. The worst injuries that he got were blisters on his hands. He also learnt to drink Bulletproof Coffee before his training. “It’s a frothy mega coffee with triglyceride oil and a chunk of grass-fed unsalted butter. It’s so gross but it turns you into a super training machine,” says Jon. He has one vice and can’t say no to dark- chocolate peanutbutter cups. He loves rap and electronica music but what gets Jonathan through his training sessions is Hindu music from his wife’s iPod and Christian rock. And while Jon loves travelling for work, there is one country that he isn’t in a hurry to go back to. “Working in Australia [for 2008 thriller The Ruins] was so lonely. In The Outback, there is nothing. Miles of nothing!” he says.