Nick Jonas Says There's One Major Difference Between What He Does Before Singing Onstage and Acting in Movies (Exclusive)
Nick Jonas Says There's One Major Difference Between What He Does Before Singing Onstage and Acting in Movies (Exclusive)
Tommy McArdle, Topher Gauk-RogerSat, May 30, 2026 at 3:15 PM UTC
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Nick Jonas says he relaxes with a cocktail before concerts but avoids alcohol before filming scenes
Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas bonded on the set of Power Ballad and praised each other's talents and work ethic
Power Ballad follows a wedding singer and a pop star whose collaboration sparks career and personal conflicts
At this point in his career, Nick Jonas is an experienced onstage performer and actor with plenty of film and TV credits. Is there any difference in how he prepares for a concert versus filming a scene?
"I mean, it's the same thing at the end of the day. You're putting on a performance, you're opening up the walls of your personal life and experience to everyone else to kind of engage with," Jonas, 33, tells PEOPLE during a recent interview with his Power Balladcostar Paul Rudd. "The only difference is, and this is actually not all that interesting, but the only difference is before a show, I'm relaxed. I might have a little cocktail, get the vibe right. For a scene, I'm not doing that."
In Power Ballad, Rudd, 57, plays Rick, a "past-his-prime wedding singer" who performs at a wedding where Jonas's pop star Danny is in attendance. The two bond over music during a late-night jam session, and when Danny turns one of Rick's songs into a hit that reignites his career, Rick sets out to reclaim the recognition he believes he deserves. The pair filmed the movie in Ireland with costars Marcella Plunkett, Havana Rose Liu, Jack Reynor and Peter McDonald, who also wrote the screenplay.
"We never did that," Jonas adds of the aforementioned pre-scene cocktail. "But that's only because it's really hard to find alcohol in Ireland," Rudd jests.
Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas in Power Ballad
Credit: David Cleary for Lionsgate
Rudd and Jonas come from very different areas of the entertainment industry. Rudd is a comedy movie veteran who has appeared in some of the biggest movies of the last 15 years thanks to his role in the Ant-Man and Avengers franchises, while Jonas is a former child star best known for his work with his brothers Joe and Kevin as part of the Jonas Brothers band. Both men told PEOPLE they learned from each other on Power Ballad's set.
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"I learned that you could be an incredibly talented musician and still be the coolest, nicest guy. Nick, that is you," Rudd says. "And you have a real way of conveying emotion and showing exactly what your character is thinking without saying anything, which is just the best thing to be able to do when you're acting."
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Nick Jonas performing at a Jonas Brothers concert on Aug. 10, 2025
Credit: Kevin Mazur/Getty
"I mean, one of the most exciting parts of stepping into this film with you, but specifically just any acting projects I've been fortunate enough to do is you kind of do learn something from everybody," Jonas adds. "And [Rudd] mentioned some stories about being on set with Jack Nicholson, other people you've worked with. It's just so cool to see that even at your level and with your experience, that there's still that ability to kind of be a sponge, and I tried to do that with you."
Power Ballad is in theaters now.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
