ORLANDO, Fla. — In “The Deliverance,” Anthony B. Jenkins is literally climbing the walls. To be fair, he’s possessed by a demonic presence — or rather his character, Andre, is.
In reality, the 12-year-old Apopka actor has been far too busy for climbing the walls, in the colloquial sense. In just the past few weeks he has been seen in Netflix’s “The Deliverance,” directed by Oscar nominee Lee Daniels of “The Butler” and “Precious” fame; the Peacock series “Fight Night,” in which Kevin Hart plays his dad; and most recently “Never Let Go,” which opened Sept. 20 in theaters. In that film, Halle Berry plays his mother.
Working with Berry was a thrill.
“When I found out, I was like, ‘Wait!’ She’s Storm in ‘X-Men’ … and Catwoman,” Jenkins enthuses. “It was kind of intimidating. But I played it calm, and let her be my mom.”
Working with Berry is the kind of thing, though, that makes for good bragging material with friends. And who could blame him?
“Oh, I did do that,” he cheerfully admits.
The son of Anthony C. and Hannah Jenkins, the young actor says his parents encouraged him to try performing as a way to burn off youthful energy.
“I was such an energetic kid,” he says. “So my dad said, ‘Let’s get this kid acting.’ ”
His first role came at age 4, in a Huggies commercial. He politely waved to a woman who passed by him in the waiting room. When he went into the audition, it turned out she was the director. He booked the gig. See, kids, friendliness pays off — his career was underway.
And “it just kept going and going,” he says.
Previous roles include characters on NBC’s “Chicago Med,” The CW’s “Roswell, New Mexico,” and Netflix’s “Florida Man.” He also guest starred on ABC’s “The Wonder Years,” HBO Max’s “David Makes Man” and Nickelodeon’s “Tyler Perry’s Young Dylan.”
“The Deliverance” was his first film role, made when he was 9. Released in August, the horror film tells of a family who is fighting its real demons of abuse and poverty when supernatural demons also get in on the action. Jenkins still remembers the fun of filming his wall-walking scene, which involved being suspended in a harness.
“It was cool,” he says, taking a moment to lament the safety precautions that kept the experience from being even more of a thrill: “They were playing it so safe with me.”
He also remembers the kindness of Daniels and the actors he worked with, which included Andra Day, Mo’nique and Glenn Close.
“They all helped me become a better actor,” he said.
He admits he wasn’t a big fan of horror — “I don’t like the really gory stuff,” he says. “Maybe some jump scares.” But that started to shift after working on “The Deliverance” and then “Never Let Go.” In that film, he plays part of a family fighting to survive against an unspeakable worldwide evil.
“It’s growing on me,” he says of the horror genre.
Working with comedian-actor Hart on “Fight Night” wasn’t as scary.
“On set he was acting like a real dad,” Jenkins recalls. “He was very funny and comforting.”
He spent about three months working on the show, which debuted a couple of weeks ago on Peacock and concludes Oct. 10.
“I never get bored,” Jenkins says. “Going to set, meeting people, that’s cool. When you wrap, that’s when it gets really sad.”
Jenkins’ academic education is coming from Florida Virtual School. It has its own challenges — “especially fractions,” he says, echoing many a young student.
When a reporter suggests learning about fractions could help him some day if he was cast as a math teacher in a movie, he’s not buying it. “Oh, no,” he says decisively.
He’d rather play football, soccer or basketball, visit Walt Disney World or compete against friends on video games such as “Fortnite.”
Mostly, of course, he’d rather act. And he’s continuing to get the chance. When we speak on the phone, he is on location in New Mexico — working on a project he can’t announce just yet.
He’s full of gratitude for the career he’s building, thanking his parents, his agent and one more important being: “I mostly have to thank God,” he says, “for giving me these opportunities.”
