When Jamaican dancehall artiste Shenseea released the music video for her single titled Run in July, it featured the singer getting revenge on an ex played by Trinidad born US-based actor Darrius Marcellin.
For Marcellin, 35, the role was just the latest highlight in an acting career he has been meticulously building over the last six years.
Marcellin told Newsday, “When last I checked, that video had over 5,000,000 views on YouTube.
“I remember my agent called and told me that there’s an artiste by the name of Shenseea who wanted me to be the lead role in her music video.
“I said, 'If she’s from the Caribbean, best believe I am going to do it.'”
When the music video was filmed in May, Marcellin worked with Christian Breslauer, who is best known for creating music videos for artistes like The Weeknd, Lil Nas X, Marshmello, Doja Cat, Roddy Ricch, Jonas Brothers and Bebe Rexha.
“To get to work with Christian and see how he shoots was just really cool, because he was so laid back. He commended my ability to understand what the concept was and execute it with not having to do (many) takes. Working with Shen was really cool, and she is a really cool girl.
"Since then, a lot of different Caribbean outlets have reached out to see if I was willing to work on different things.”
The experience reminded Marcellin that his risky decision in 2017 to trade his comfortable life in New York for an uncertain one in Los Angeles was paying off.
Born and raised in San Juan, Marcellin went to St Mary’s College, Port of Spain, where he played Intercol football. At times, heplayed matches against the likes of Kenwyne Jones and Julius James.
[caption id="attachment_928854" align="alignnone" width="819"] Apart from TV shows and movies, Darrius Marcellin has also appeared in numerous Off Broadway shows. - Darrius Marcellin[/caption]
“I always had very big dreams. As a young kid I would always imagine myself entertaining or being on the big stage. I was always looking to create what we would call 'content' today.
“I just remember as a little boy I would imagine myself in Madison Square Garden and stuff like that.”
But little did Marcellin know that a sports scholarship he would get in 2015, for playing football at St Mary’s, would bring him closer to this dream.
“I had many scholarship offers, but I always wanted to go to New York, because my mom lived there. I chose St Francis College in New York, which was the only Division One School closest to the city.
"I started business management studies at the college in 2006, because I always had an entrepreneurship mindset. Yes, I had dreams of playing professional soccer, but business was something that was a natural skillset.”
In college, Marcellin would experiment with creating a business of his own and in 2017 he created an entertainment company called TTR Group in 2007 with his friend Troy Gordon.
While the company was a blend of his love for business and entertainment, it was also a way to earn a living.
“At the time, in 2006/2007, professional soccer pl
