AS TOLD TO BC PIRES

My name is Taofik Lucas-Walker and I play the part of Jesus Christ in the play version of the movie, The Thorn.

I love the name my mom gave me, more so its meaning. Taofik means “blessing, good luck” in Arabic, and that definitely describes my life.

I come from a small family, just my dad, Gerard Walker, my mom Joanne Lucas-Walker and my sister Laela Lucas-Walker.

Laela is four years younger than me.

I am currently single.

My parents are Trinidadian, but I was born in Washington, DC, in Georgetown, in 1998.

My dad is from St Joseph and mom, Port of Spain. I go to both places when I go to Trinidad. But I grew up in the city and I love the city.

So in Trinidad, I’m from Port of Spain.

I was interested in football and drama from a very young age. Soccer was always at the forefront. I lived it, I breathed it. I wanted to go pro and make a living doing it.

But at the same time, doing little acting classes just for fun throughout. In my high school acting class in sophomore year, the teacher told me, “Drop the soccer now! You can go very far with acting!”

I didn’t listen to him.

I haven’t been to Trinidad in four or five years, since I was playing with the TT U-20 national team. I was on the same team with Jabari Mitchell and Noel Powder.

[caption id="attachment_1006520" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Taofik Lucas-Walker played football with the Trinidad and Tobago Under-20 national team. -[/caption]

Trinidad gave me the opportunity to try out. And things ended up working out.

I love the US and DC, where I’m from. But I’m kind of glad to have gone with Trinidad, because my family is from there. Playing for TT meant a lot more to me.

I was raised Catholic but – nothing against the Catholic religion – went into a non-denominational church, just Christian, just the Bible.

Gaining that relationship with God has allowed me to connect with anybody. No matter where they’re from, what colour, background. Even if you believe in God or not.

It’s allowed me to progress as a person. And a person of God.

What the Devil meant for harm, God will turn for good. God has been able to heal me from illness and heartbreak. I end up getting opportunities from a door that was closed!

God is in control. I’ve seen it in my life and other people’s lives. And I know it happens on a global aspect.

I’m now on a ten-city tour in the US.

The Thorn has presented itself into my life. I didn’t chase it, it came to me! I believe all these opportunities that have come to me are blessings from God.

Every single time I’ve tried to control the outcome of things in my life, it would never work. Now I’m faith-driven. I know that the doors that will open will only come from God.

The transition from soccer to modelling and acting was one of those things.

I went into high school head high as a varsity starter.

My mentor, Chris Levy, pulls me into his office and tells me straight up I had to be more than just a soccer player.

In another world, I may have been a full-on actor. In Denmark, I