Hector Lincoln Wynter more than just a pretty face - Pulse model turns to acting

At the beginning of the '90s, a six-foot tall young man going through puberty, was granted the opportunity to be the face of high-fashion campaigns and travel the world. Never did he imagine that one day he would be cast in popular international television series such as Law and Order SUV, and assume the role of one of the first video jockey on MTV's Tempo.

But that was what happened for Hector Lincoln. "I was a bit of an awkward youngster and did not quite fit in at school," he told The Gleaner. But where he did fit in was in theatre, music, and eventually, TV. He also watched and worked with one of his idols Harvey Keitel in ABC's remake of the British time-travel police series, Life On Mars.

The World of Make-Believe

He says that growing up the world of make-believe was always appealing. "I was attracted to the fantasy of it all, and as I got older, I was attracted to the characters and also the ability to make a change, shift things, even if only a bit," said Lincoln.

He describes himself as an actor turn model turn actor; and lists performer, adventurer, humanitarian and storyteller as other titles he has accepted. The roll call of models turned actors, is long and varied in the overseas market, but there's a shift now on the big and small screens for Jamaican talent, that more models are yet to try. Even recording artistes are landing roles in Netflix Films such as Popcaan with the The Intent and Shaggy's Mr Boombastic in Game Over, Man!;.

Study and take the craft seriously

This model believes most of the challenges come from inside the entertainment and film industry. "There are people who roll there eyes at yet another 'model-turned-actor', or MTA, because they are different fields - but with many similarities, and some look down on them mainly because many MTA's don't take it as seriously, and really think it's all about their looks. But it's up to these models to prove people wrong, study, and take the craft seriously," said Lincoln.

Models like Lincoln have to deal with actors taking over their territory from becoming the face of brands in the fashion industry, to gracing the cover of magazines.

But in the sphere, Lincoln has a new-found appreciation for Netflix originals, being an additional character in the new season of Orange is the New Black. He plays the boyfriend of an inmate - an opening that the casting director, Jennifer Euston called on him to try, after he had auditioned for another role.

"There are very few male roles on the show. When there are, it's very specific, and the casting office tends to be very particular. So when they called, I jumped at the opportunity," said Lincoln.

Much is to be made of Lincoln's commitment to playing the part - the real craft is in the way he gives the character a sense of himself. He truly nails the two minutes of his script in episode eight where he shows his humanitarian side to cast member Elizabeth Rodriguez (who plays one of the series-fan favourites, Aleida).

While being on the set of a female-prison story series did not ignite any questions regarding the penitentiary system in Jamaica, he says the level of injustice and human rights might be something he thinks about more from now on.

"For one, there's a lot of talent in Jamaica and in the diaspora that comes from all walks of life, and backgrounds, so we find a lot of stories to be told, to tell people who we are," he said. He continued, "We are not drugs, gangs, and violence, which is what the bulk of so-called Jamaican films have as their theme. The more stories we tell, the more we can change the way people see us."

Lincoln recently shot a short film titled, Unspoken, (which look at a relationship between a husband and wife) that premiered in July at the Bob Marley Museum, and is being promoted for its US premiere. Lincoln has also explored other areas of film, specifically writing short films and stories.

"It's a tough business, filled with rejection, but you have to love it. It is important to have an outlet creatively apart from the business side. Otherwise you will end up quitting the business all together," he said. "How does the beginning of that Shakespeare monologue go again? 'All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players; they have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts'."