Learn spoken English with Jaafar Jackson . #englishvocabulary #spokenenglish

Added: 2026-05-25

[00:00:00]Thank you for coming on. I can't wait to talk about Michael and what a great performance you've done in this film. This is your first movie role. You're playing Michael Jackson. Okay, this is [cheering] big.

[00:00:14]That's as big as you can probably pick for any character to portray in a film.

[00:00:21]To portray someone simply means to paint a picture of them, either with acting, with art, or with your words.

[00:00:29]Let's break down the two main ways native speakers use this every day.

[00:00:34]The Hollywood meaning. This is the most literal way we use the word. Whenever an actor plays a character in a movie, a TV show, or a play, they are portraying them.

[00:00:46]In the new historical drama, the queen is portrayed by a totally unknown actress.

[00:00:52]Second, the storyteller meaning. Heart shadow. Outthink, outsmart, outplay.

[00:00:58]Unleash game night chaos today.

[00:01:02]WATCH THIS.

[00:01:03]MOONFALL?

[00:01:04]>> [screaming] >> NO WAY. SHE'S GOING FOR IT.

[00:01:07]HEY, MOONFALL. You've got to be kidding.

[00:01:10]No way. No way.

[00:01:12]And boom! All right, rematch.

[00:01:14]>> Outthink, outsmart, >> outplay.

[00:01:19]Second, the storyteller meaning, describing. This is the most common way we use it in daily conversation and the news. You use this when someone tells a story or writes an article that makes a person or a situation look a very specific way, good or bad.

[00:01:37]For instance, the media portrayed the CEO as a greedy villain, but he actually donates a lot to charity.

[00:01:46]Talking about yourself.

[00:01:48]I don't want to portray myself as an expert, but I do know a little bit about fixing cars.

[00:01:57]But also this character that you're playing Michael Jackson, the one and only, happens to be your uncle.

[00:02:04]Yes.

[00:02:05]So Jermaine Jackson is your dad? Yes, Jermaine is my father.

[00:02:08]>> I love Jermaine.