Maya Jama, the presenter of ITV's 'Love Island', has shared her definition of a gentleman, emphasizing the importance of treating women well and having one's life in order. Jama, 32, recently made her acting debut as Aisha in the second season of Guy Ritchie's Netflix crime drama, 'The Gentlemen', which premiered on Thursday.
While discussing her role and the concept of a gentleman during promotional activities for the series, Jama reflected on the evolving meaning of the term. "What is a gentleman nowadays?" she pondered. "I don't know because I suppose the first thing that comes into your mind is like someone that opens the door and is polite and says pleases and thank yous." She expanded on this, stating, "But now, I suppose it's just a decent, well-mannered man that has their stuff under control, but knows how to treat a woman and their family and everybody in their life." She also humorously added that a gentleman "wears a nice suit most of the time."
Jama's comments come after her split from Manchester City footballer Ruben Dias in May. The couple ended their 18-month relationship four months after moving in together. Following their separation, both Jama and Dias removed traces of each other from their social media profiles. Sources indicated that the relationship concluded because it had "run its course," with both individuals prioritizing their demanding careers.
Jama's acting debut in 'The Gentlemen' has been a significant career development. She attended the series premiere on Wednesday night, dressed in a custom leather gown. In the series, her character Aisha is introduced early in the first episode. Aisha is described by another character, Susie, as a "clever girl who looks after herself and others." Aisha has relocated to the Middle East for work and has gained access to royal circles, attending a shooting weekend with Prince Amir.
Maya Jama's character Aisha meets Eddie and Susie at Halstead Manor, where she introduces them to Prince Amir bin Abdullah al-Hadidi, suggesting the prince could be a valuable business contact. Jama adopted a south London accent for the role, a noticeable departure from her usual presenting voice.
Kaya Scodelario, Jama's co-star in 'The Gentlemen', recently shared that she messaged Jama to prepare her for her acting debut. Scodelario, 34, advised Jama via direct message to "be on her toes and trust the process," acknowledging the intimidation of stepping into a new career field, particularly for someone from a working-class background. Scodelario, who also identifies as being from a working-class background, expressed her desire to support Jama, stating, "I just wanted her to know that I'm a girls' girl."
Jama herself has spoken about feeling like a minority in the acting industry as a working-class individual, noting that at industry events, she may be one of the few with a similar background. She pursued acting as a long-held dream, auditioning for 'The Gentlemen' last year and securing the role within two weeks. She worked with a drama coach to prepare, expressing to Variety magazine, "I never want to do something and be s*** at it." Jama views 'The Gentlemen' as a "safe entrance point" into acting.