Prince Jackson is hoping his cousin, Jaafar Jackson, receives awards recognition for his portrayal of the late Michael Jackson in the biographical film Michael.
Speaking about Jaafar's performance, Prince praised the dedication and discipline his cousin brought to the demanding role, saying he hopes awards-season voters recognise the work behind the performance.
Jaafar, the son of Michael Jackson's brother Jermaine Jackson, made his acting debut by portraying his uncle in the Antoine Fuqua-directed film.
For Prince, watching Jaafar transform into Michael was particularly emotional. The two grew up together at Hayvenhurst, the Jackson family home in California, and Prince has described the experience of making a major film about his father with his cousin as one of the greatest experiences of his life.
Prince is not simply a member of Michael Jackson's family commenting from the sidelines. He served as an executive producer on Michael and was involved in the film's development.
He previously explained that the project was intended to give audiences a deeper understanding of his father's journey, including the work and circumstances that shaped Michael's rise from a young performer with the Jackson 5 to one of the world's biggest entertainers.
The hope for awards recognition comes as Jaafar's performance has already received several honours.
He won Outstanding Performance and Best Newcomer at the 2026 National Film Awards UK, while the film's producers, including Prince Jackson, were recognised with the Best Producer award.
Jaafar has also been selected for further recognition during the 2026 awards season, including an Actor Award from the Critics Choice Association's Celebration of Black Cinema & Television.
The growing recognition is significant because Michael marks Jaafar's first major acting role.
Taking on the role of Michael Jackson was an enormous challenge. Jaafar was not simply portraying a famous musician; he was portraying a member of his own family whose life and career have remained under intense public scrutiny.
Prince previously recalled the emotional moment he first saw Jaafar in costume as his father, explaining that the resemblance brought back powerful memories.
His hope for awards recognition is therefore about more than trophies. It is also recognition of the preparation, responsibility and emotional weight involved in bringing Michael Jackson to the screen.
For Jaafar, the awards-season conversation represents another milestone in a journey that began with the extraordinary challenge of portraying one of the most recognisable entertainers in history.
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