Jay Ellis Talks Mindy Kaling's Genius, His On-Screen Glow-up and Savoring Life with Rémy Martin (Exclusive)

If Jay Ellis looks cool, calm, charming, and confident, it's because he is, and it's almost (keyword: almost) not even fair for the rest of us.

Consider this:

The 44-year-old actor oozes a likability factor that instantly makes him must-see TV, whether he's on HBO, Hulu, Netflix, or the big screen in an ensemble cast featuring Tom Cruise; he possesses stupidly handsome looks, enviable height (he's almost 6-foot-4), and an ever-so-curious mind that has taken him back to school. And not just any school. Ellis recently completed a program at Harvard Business School to learn "the business behind the business," Hollywood's underbelly, if you will.

On the surface, Ellis is on a trajectory that actors can only dream about. His breakout role as the vulnerable Lawrence Walker in Issa Rae and Larry Wilmore's HBO hit series, Insecure, made him a fan favorite. Shortly after season 5 ended in December 2021, Ellis' career exploded. He landed the role of Lt. Reuben "Payback" Fitch on Top Gun: Maverick. He plays Kate Hudson's love interest in Mindy Kaling's Running Point on Netflix. He also stars in Hulu's Not Suitable for Work (another Kaling masterpiece), in which Gigi Hadid plays his ex. Soon, Ellis will headline The Rookie: North, ABC's spinoff of Nathan Fillion's hit police procedural, slated to air in 2027.

After taking over the French Riviera with luxury French cognac Rémy Martin, Ellis took some time to speak exclusively with Men's Journal about why Kaling is a creative genius, living his dream, how he celebrates his success, and exactly when he plans to reflect on it all.

I first saw you in HBO's Insecure, and I truly connected with your character, Lawrence Walker. And I gotta say -- when you went back to the bank and hollered at the bank teller, I literally screamed, 'THAT'S MY BOY!!!' Now we see you in Netflix's Running Point, Hulu's Not Suitable for Work, and, soon, ABC's The Rookie: North. You're a bona fide superstar. Has that sunk in yet?

Ha ha. Nah. I don't know if it ever will. I keep blinders on to it all. As much as it probably sounds like a line, I really don't love the limelight. I love the work. I live such a low-key life when I'm not working with people who've known me forever and kids who don't care about my job. It's mad humbling in the best way. I'm very grateful though. I've gotten to do work I love on shows I'm proud of with people I genuinely like and care about, and I find that to be a rare thing in my industry. I feel like I haven't really missed ... also terrifying but ultimately a body of work I'll look back on someday and say, 'I got to live a dream and entertain millions of people around the world and loved every minute of it.'

The Rookie franchise is expanding, and you're going to be the face when the new series premieres in 2027. Congrats! What emotions do you feel as the news is getting out? Talk to me about Nathan Fillion. Have you talked to or worked with him, and is he as hilarious off-screen?

I feel all the feels. Excited and grateful are the two [words] that come to me the most. [The Rookie creator] Alexi [Hawley] has created such an amazing world for me to go play in, and being a part of The Rookie universe is surreal. People all over the world love The Rookie and that cast. So we know we have big shoes to fill, but we also know we get to create something of our own. And we have the perfect cast to do that: Chris Sullivan, Janet Montgomery, Karen Fukuhara, Froy Gutierrez, Malik Watson, and Mya Lowe. People are going to fall in love with both the actors and their characters.

I've spent some time with Nathan, and he's truly the worst (Ellis says sarcastically). I mean, wow! This guy is on time; he's always got a smile on his face, you can talk to him about anything, and he's gracious and giving with his time. Real diva, if you ask me. But we've found a way to co-exist, and I couldn't be more thrilled to get to work with him more. Truly one of a kind in the best way possible, and he's been great to have on this journey.

I mentioned Insecure earlier. Your character is very likable. But in that series, you weren't a ladies' man. Now we see you in Running Point with Kate Hudson. Gigi Hadid played your ex in Not Suitable for Work. Talk about the glow-up for your on-screen characters, right?!

Ha ha. Yeah, it's funny. I definitely didn't see it coming, but it's been fun to play in these worlds where my characters go through these mental and physical changes that manifest themselves in a version of a butterfly breaking out of its cocoon. It's fun character work to start in one place and end in another.

Mindy Kaling is a genius in every way. We'll talk about her shows for generations. And to be able to get a call from her to go work on both Running Point and NSFW is beyond an honor. She crafts her characters so well, and you feel something/identify with each one of them in some way. That's not an easy thing to do. You root for every character on her shows while laughing with them and sometimes at them. And the heart she's able to thread throughout is [a] chef's kiss. Isla and Coach Jay; Bill and AJ. Her writing truly brings me joy, and getting to go do the work that will bring that same sense of joy and happiness to the audiences that watch is what makes me get up every day.

I have to admit, I've never had cognac. But Rémy Martin sounds like an intimidating liquor. What's your pitch to someone who has never tried it?

Ha! We need to change that! My biggest tip is: don't overcomplicate it and pick an amazing quality cognac like Rémy Martin. I tend to reach for their 1738 Accord Royal. It's velvety smooth and has a more oak-forward flavor profile. Start with a cocktail like The Rémy Espresso or The Rémy Sidecar, and then try it on its own as you get more familiar with the profile and expand throughout the portfolio. Rémy Martin's XO expression is something special. They call it the icon for a reason!

Sold! How did the Rémy Martin partnership come together?

I'm very intentional about the things I choose to be a part of because I want them to reflect what actually matters to me. Culture, arts -- and film especially -- are areas I'm deeply passionate about, so coming together with Rémy Martin in Cannes, where these genres all collide, felt like a moment worth celebrating.

Life moves fast, and it's easy to move toward the next opportunity without pausing to acknowledge the journey or the people who've been standing beside us through every chapter. That idea of slowing down, reflecting, and sharing those moments with your community really spoke to me, which is why this partnership felt like such a natural fit.

What does a celebration look like for Jay Ellis?

For me, celebration doesn't have to be extravagant. Some of the best moments happen over a great meal, good conversation, and a glass of Rémy Martin 1738 Accord Royal shared with people I care about. I've found those quieter moments are usually the most meaningful. That's one of the things I connect with through Rémy Martin, because it's really about making time to enjoy those moments, instead of rushing past them.

I love to travel, so when Rémy Martin invited me to join them at Cannes this year, it was an immediate 'yes.' And, no lie, enjoying The Rémy Espresso cocktail while sailing the French Riviera with my wife [Nina Senicar] and a few friends was the perfect way to kick off the summer and celebrate some recent milestones.

But if I'm being honest, some of the celebrations that stay with me the most are the simple ones. This job takes me to a lot of incredible places, but it also means spending a lot of time away from home. So when everyone's finally in the same place, whether it's family or close friends, there's something really special about sitting down together, sharing a meal, raising a glass, and just being present. I'm looking forward to more moments like that this summer while I'm traveling before I start filming The Rookie: North.

When brands approach you about partnerships, how do you filter those decisions?

I'm selective, for sure. It always has to feel like a natural extension of my interests and things I genuinely enjoy. I ask myself: Does the brand reflect how I actually live? Does it represent something I genuinely believe in? Does talking about it feel natural? And are they doing good work in the world?

That's what stood out about Rémy Martin. The partnership isn't asking me to become someone else. It's simply giving me another way to talk about things that already matter to me, like film, arts, and toasting milestone moments with their cognacs, which I've been a longtime fan of.

When you step back and look at your career path -- from where you started, landing your breakout role on Insecure, to where you're at now -- how do you reflect?

I definitely have felt proud of every production I've been a part of, from a billion-dollar film to fan-favorite, award-winning TV shows to Off-Broadway theater. I don't have any regrets, for sure, and everything I've done has both challenged me and resonated with an audience, which is why I chose this path. So I feel content but want to tell more stories. Honestly, I don't know if I really look back much at all, though. I think I want to do that when I'm older, and the only thing they call me for is to play the grandpa who dies halfway through every movie."

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jul 8, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

2026 The Arena Group Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved.

This story was originally published July 8, 2026 at 4:30 AM.