Juliano Krue Valdi's pride in the impact he had on the Jackson family is undeniable. At just 12 years old, he encountered various members of Michael Jackson's legendary family while filming the biopic Michael, where he portrayed a younger version of the late King of Pop.
"I knew that when they thought so highly of me, they had immense confidence in me," Juliano told E! News in an exclusive interview. "I felt a huge responsibility to live up to that trust—it was like taking care of a baby, being gentle and careful with every aspect of the role."
While the actor enjoyed playing Michael, his counterpart Jaafar Jackson plays the adult version of the "Thriller" singer, he admitted, "It was a lot of pressure. I had to make everyone proud because they believed I could embody Michael Jackson."
Juliano wasn't just concerned about the Jacksons seeing the final product. In fact, Michael's mom Katherine Jackson, sister La Toya Jackson, and brother Marlon Jackson would visit the set periodically to observe the cast in action.
"I remember the first day I saw the Jackson family," he continued. "I remember seeing Katherine, and when I saw her, I wanted to make her proud. So, I brought Michael's energy to the screen as closely as I could."
After inhabiting The Jackson 5 during his early days in music, Juliano hopes viewers will gain a new perspective on Michael.
"I hope they can understand who Michael was on a deeper level," he said of the movie, which is now in theaters. "I hope they can understand who he was when he wasn't on stage, who he was as a person. And I also want them to feel groovy in that Michael Jackson mode."
Meanwhile, Juliano's counterpart Jafaar—Michael's real-life nephew—recently shared what it meant to have the Jackson family supporting him.
"Having my cousins and other family members there meant everything," the 29-year-old told E! News at the movie's April 20 premiere. "Because it is a family story, and it all started in Gary, Indiana, so it meant the world to me."
