‘Jaws’ star couldn’t get in water ‘for years’ after film
6 year old actor Jay Mello took on the role of Jena Brody in the beloved 1975 classic, 'Jaws'
6 year old actor Jay Mello took on the role of Jena Brody in the beloved 1975 classic, Jaws as the son of Martin Brody.
About the animatronic sharks, he remarked in an interview to People, "I do remember the first time I saw it. It was just the head part of the shark. I kind of questioned Shari Rhodes, who was the casting director. I said, 'Where's the rest of the shark?'”
He explained that there were three sharks in actuality, "one that went right to left, one that went left to right and another on a crane that could be tilted."
"I worked with the marine biologists to get the shark to look exactly like a Great White — but bigger," the child star added.
"I didn't go back into the water for like two years after the movie was made," Mello admitted.
About watching himself in the film, he remarked, "It was strange to see myself on screen. I didn't get to see the whole thing because my mom and dad kept ducking my head under the seats."
On how he got casted, he recalled, "My older brothers Tom and John were actually the ones auditioning. I had a habit of copying people. So when Steven Spielberg was interviewing them, I was copying him as he gave direction. When the interview was over, he said, 'You boys can go, we’re done. But the youngest can stay.'”
