Peyton Jackson stars as “Taylor” in the upcoming Blumhouse horror film “Woman in the Yard,” set to premiere on March 28. This film marks his second project with Blumhouse, following his role in the suspenseful thriller American Refugee. Jackson plays Ramona’s teenage son, Taylor. As his mother, Ramona, spirals further and further into depression and grief, Taylor, also dealing with the sudden death of his father, is forced to step up and become the de facto man of the house.
“Woman in the Yard” is his first venture into full-fledged horror, a challenge he embraced while filming on location in Athens, Georgia. The film allowed him to explore intense, suspenseful storytelling and work closely with special effects, expanding his versatility as an actor. For Jackson, working with Danielle Deadwyler became like a master class in acting. “I learned so much from Miss Danielle, from set etiquette to stuff about acting itself,” Jackson says. “Even though I’ve seen a bunch of horror films, being in one and seeing one are two different things. So, she taught me about how to act when your character is in a scary situation, which made it not only look better on camera, but also made it feel better when I was in the middle of doing it.”
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Jackson is a dedicated young actor whose passion for storytelling shines through in every role he takes. Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, he began performing at just two years old, first captivating audiences in church programs and winning two first-place titles at Amateur Night at the Apollo in New York City. His professional career took off with a breakout role in Tyler Perry’s Nobody’s Fool, and he has since worked alongside industry greats like Viola Davis and Regina King.
Peyton was also cast in Respect, a groundbreaking film starring industry powerhouse Jennifer Hudson. Additionally, he had the incredible opportunity to collaborate on scenes with Idris Elba during The Harder They Fall production that did not make it past final edits. Still, the experience further enriched his growth, tenacity, and passion as an actor.
In addition to Woman in the Yard, Peyton plays a lead role in the upcoming mystery-adventure film Pet Investigators, set for a U.S. release this year. He also has a recurring role in Nickelodeon’s Young Dylan, further cementing his effervescent presence on television.
While actively pursuing his acting career, Peyton is also deeply dedicated to his education. Currently in high school and taking college courses through a dual enrollment program, he hopes to study 2D animation and has dreamt of developing his own animated series. He is also exploring voice acting and music composition, further expanding his creative interests.
Beyond his creative endeavors, Peyton enjoys playing piano and ukulele, writing music, and spending time with his toy poodle, King. He strongly supports the American Cancer Society, a cause that holds personal significance to him.
Stylist : Brooklyn Wilson
Groomer: Magen Grays
Peyton welcome to OLC! You started performing at the age of two in church programs and went on to win at Amateur Night at the Apollo. How did those early experiences shape your confidence and passion for acting, and what made you decide to pursue it professionally?
Thank you for having me! Those early experiences gave me a natural stage presence and taught me how to connect with an audience. These experiences were something I truly loved with all my heart, and I knew I wanted to do it as a career because of how much life it gave me.
You’ve worked with incredible talents like Danielle Deadwyler, Viola Davis, Regina King, and Idris Elba. What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned from these industry legends, and how do you apply it to your own craft?
I learned mostly to always have confidence in my work and in myself and to persevere in this industry. I was told this path isn’t easy, which it isn’t but, with drive and determination I learned to push through. I also learned how to realistically act in a “scary” scene in horror films. Doing just enough, but not too much so that it leaves room for the audience to feel suspense.
Your role in Woman in the Yard is your first full-fledged horror film. What was the biggest challenge you faced transitioning from suspenseful thrillers like American Refugee to the horror genre, and how did you prepare to portray Taylor’s emotional complexity?
My biggest challenge was learning how to properly give just the right amount of intensity to suspenseful scenes to correctly impact my audience. As far as preparing to portray Taylor, I fully indulged myself in the role; writing down things that Taylor may do, feel, and take in the fact that even though he is going through a lot he still loves his family and wants to protect them.
You’ve mentioned that working with Danielle Deadwyler felt like a “master class in acting.” Can you share a specific moment or piece of advice from her that stood out to you and impacted your performance in Woman in the Yard?
While I do not necessarily recall saying it felt like a “Master class in acting”, as I have had a lot of experience in acting before this film; however, she was a huge help with truly intense scenes between her and my character and in allowing the chemistry to flow naturally.
In Woman in the Yard, Taylor is forced to step up as the “man of the house” while dealing with his own grief. How did you connect with Taylor’s emotional journey, and what techniques did you use to portray such a mature role as a young actor?
Well, similarly to Taylor, my father left my mom, sister, and I when I was very young. He didn’t die, but feeling like I had to take on the role of “man of the house” was something I felt I had to do for years now even though my mom and sister constantly reminded me that it wasn’t my job…just be a kid. So, I really tried to include that truth to my portrayal of Taylor. Filming a horror movie involves intense scenes and special effects.
What was it like working on location in Athens, Georgia, and how did the environment contribute to the suspenseful atmosphere of the film?
It was really cool. The area almost felt deserted which added to the “scary” atmosphere we internalized to portray such a vibe on screen. Working with special effects was tricky and funny because oftentimes we were just reacting to nothing while making it seem like there was something there!
You’re also starring in Pet Investigators and have a recurring role in Young Dylan. How do you balance working across different genres—horror, mystery-adventure, and comedy—and what excites you most about exploring such diverse storytelling styles?
Well, each story has its own way of coming to life and within its own way, its own genre in which it’s told. Balancing this out isn’t only in the creation of the character in my mind, but also the vibe the rest of the project has to make sure my version of the character fits. It’s all a part of storytelling, so being able to tell these stories in so many different ways in so many different genres for so many different purposes, it’s really cool!
You’ve worked on both film and television projects. Do you find one medium more challenging or rewarding than the other, and is there a specific type of role or project you’d love to tackle in the future?
I don’t find either medium more challenging or rewarding than the other because they are both a form of storytelling and an opportunity for me to make my audience feel something. I would love to play a superhero one day or a character with some sort of supernatural powers… That would truly be one for the books for me!
You’re currently in high school and taking college courses through a dual enrollment program, with an interest in 2D animation. How do you manage the demands of acting, education, and your creative pursuits, and what inspires you to develop your own animated series?
Balancing acting, school, and animation takes discipline, but I love what I do, so I make it work. My passion for storytelling drives me, I’ve always been drawn to creating worlds and characters that feel alive. Animation gives me the freedom to bring those ideas to life in a way that’s uniquely mine.
You’re also exploring voice acting and music composition. How do these creative outlets complement your acting career, and do you see yourself blending them into future projects, such as your dream of creating an animated series?
Voice acting and music composition add depth to my storytelling. They help me understand characters from different angles, through voice, emotion, and sound. I also have a burning passion for doing character voices and just voice acting in general. It’s a medium I have been passionate about since I was 7 years old! I definitely see myself blending them into my animated series, making it a fully immersive experience where I have a hand in every creative aspect.
You enjoy playing piano and ukulele, writing music, and spending time with your toy poodle, King. How do these hobbies help you unwind from the intensity of acting, and have they ever inspired your performances or creative projects?
I have used my other instrumental skills for my animation creation and doing all of these things including hanging out with my dog truly makes life all the sweeter and makes everything seem lighter.
You’re a strong supporter of the American Cancer Society, a cause that is personally significant to you. How do you hope to use your platform as an actor to raise awareness for this cause, and are there other issues you’re passionate about advocating for in the future?
Well, I genuinely want to find a more certain cure for cancer as it has taken so many lives from my family and others… I hope that my public support for the cause makes for a shift in pace on how consistently they work on it. Currently, I am also really passionate about mental health. It’s a driving problem that continues to claim lives because people neglect it so much. I intend to begin advocating more on this subject matter.
Email:neill@outloudculture.com
Socials: @neill_frazer
