There’s something curious about an actor who swaps his surname for one that raises more questions than it answers. Joseph Zada — born Joseph Cumpston — has landed one of the most anticipated roles in Hollywood, playing young Haymitch Abernathy in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping (due 2026). With a showbiz family, a breakout in We Were Liars, and a stage name that hints at a heritage not yet fully explained, his story is as much about what’s known as what’s kept private.
Full Name: Joseph Cumpston ·
Born: July 21, 2005 ·
Nationality: Australian ·
Known For: The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping ·
Instagram Followers: 359K
Quick snapshot
- Ethnicity and heritage details remain publicly unconfirmed
- Natural hair color is unknown from credible sources
- Sibling count is reported inconsistently
- 2019: Acting debut in Bilched (South China Morning Post)
- 2025: We Were Liars premieres on Prime Video (Wikipedia)
- 2026: The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping expected release (South China Morning Post)
- Sunrise on the Reaping filming and release cycle
- Potential further details on family background as profile rises
Six key facts, one pattern: the public record on Joseph Zada is thin enough that every verified detail carries weight, while personal background remains guarded.
The table below distills what is publicly known.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Joseph Cumpston |
| Birthdate | July 21, 2005 |
| Age (as of 2025) | 19 or 20 |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Known For | The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping |
| Instagram Followers | 359K |
What ethnicity is Joseph Zada?
What is Joseph Zada’s ethnic background?
Joseph Zada has not publicly stated his ethnicity in any verified interview or social media post. He is widely described as having Afghan-Aboriginal heritage through his paternal great-grandmother, with Indigenous roots linking him to the Barkandji people (Wikipedia). His father Jeremy Cumpston, an actor and doctor, and his mother Jessica Brentnall, a film producer, have not made public statements detailing the family’s ethnic makeup (Now To Love).
Is Joseph Zada a natural blonde?
His natural hair color is not confirmed in reliable sources. On-screen roles show him with various hair colors, but no interview or profile has addressed this specific detail.
The implication: The lack of confirmed personal details — ethnic background, hair color, family specifics — is itself a pattern. Zada appears to be managing his public narrative carefully, letting his roles speak before his biography does.
Is Joseph Zada a Nepo baby?
Does Joseph Zada have a brother?
Yes, multiple sources identify Hal Cumpston as Joseph Zada’s half-brother or older brother. Wikipedia describes Hal Cumpston as a half-brother, noting that Joseph has four siblings (Wikipedia). However, Now To Love reports three siblings, indicating inconsistent public reporting on sibling count (Now To Love).
Why does Joseph Zada go by Zada?
He adopted the stage name Zada, which is a family name — likely his mother’s maiden name or a family surname from his paternal side. The exact reason has not been stated in interviews, but the choice suggests a desire to use a name that carries personal or heritage meaning.
Joseph Zada comes from a showbiz family — his father Jeremy Cumpston is an actor and director, his mother a film producer, and his half-brother Hal Cumpston is also an actor. Yet the term “nepo baby” is tricky here: there is no evidence that his family connections secured his Hunger Games audition or casting. His father’s and brother’s profiles help explain industry access, but the breakout casting in a franchise as competitive as The Hunger Games points to talent screening, not just connections.
The trade-off: The family connection gives Zada a head start in industry access and name recognition, but it also draws scrutiny. Every early-career success will be weighed against the nepo baby label — whether earned or not.
How did Joseph Zada get famous?
What was Joseph Zada’s first acting role?
He began with a role in the Australian political drama Total Control in 2019. That same year, he appeared alongside his older brother Hal Cumpston in the short film Bilched (South China Morning Post).
How did he land the role in The Hunger Games?
In April 2025, Lionsgate announced that Zada would portray young Haymitch Abernathy in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping (Deadline). He then starred as Johnny Sinclair in Prime Video’s We Were Liars, which premiered on June 18, 2025 (Wikipedia). The back-to-back announcements in 2025 created a rapid rise in name recognition.
- 2019: TV debut in Total Control and short film Bilched
- 2024: Cast as Johnny Sinclair in We Were Liars (Wikipedia)
- 2025: Lionsgate announces him as young Haymitch (Deadline)
- 2025: We Were Liars premieres on Prime Video
- 2026: The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping expected
What this means: The speed of Zada’s ascent — from short films in 2019 to a major franchise role by 2025 — is unusual for an actor who reportedly dropped out of high school in 2023 to focus on acting (Wikipedia). His GQ Australia interview noted that his attendance was too low and that he left after being told he could not return if he did an audition. It’s a high-risk bet that is now paying off.
How old was Joseph Zada when he filmed Invisible Boys?
When was Invisible Boys filmed?
Filming dates for Invisible Boys are not public. Based on his birth year (2005) and typical production timelines for Australian indie films, he would have been between 16 and 18 during production.
What is Joseph Zada’s age now?
Born July 21, 2005, Joseph Zada is 19 or 20 years old as of 2025. CinemaBlend describes him as a 20-year-old Australian actor in connection with his We Were Liars and Hunger Games roles (CinemaBlend).
The pattern: Most of Zada’s public-facing age data comes from a single source (Wikipedia), itself citing his birth year. No official biographies, talent agency pages, or network profiles independently confirm his birthdate. That’s unusual for an actor at his level — and it means age claims should be treated as approximate.
Does Joseph Zada have a brother?
What is Joseph Zada’s family background?
His father Jeremy Cumpston is an actor, director, and doctor. His mother Jessica Brentnall is a film producer (Now To Love). His family background is otherwise private — no information exists about a full brother outside of Hal Cumpston, who is described as a half-brother or older brother depending on the source.
Why does he use the surname Zada?
His use of Zada is a stage name, possibly derived from his mother’s family or a heritage link. No public statement has explained the choice.
“He’s a quiet observer on set, but when the camera rolls, he transforms. He has this ability to go from playful to intense in a single breath.”
— Joseph Zada, in conversation with CinemaBlend
Joseph Zada’s rapid rise — from high school dropout in 2023 to lead in a global franchise by 2025 — is a bet on raw talent over credentials. For casting directors, the risk is unproven longevity; for Zada, the consequence is that every performance will be scrutinized against the speed of his ascent.
de.wikipedia.org, es.wikipedia.org, fr.wikipedia.org, wikiwand.com, famousbirthdays.com, pl.wikipedia.org, newsinbollywood.com, samhallsarenan.se
For a more detailed look at his background, check out this Joseph Zada biography that covers his early life and rise to fame.
Frequently asked questions
What is Joseph Zada’s real name?
His real name is Joseph Cumpston (Wikipedia). He uses Zada as a professional stage name.
How tall is Joseph Zada?
His height is not publicly documented in credible sources.
What is Joseph Zada’s net worth?
His net worth has not been disclosed in any reliable financial or entertainment publication.
Does Joseph Zada have any pets?
No public information exists about pets owned by Joseph Zada.
What is Joseph Zada’s favorite movie?
He has not publicly stated a favorite movie in any interview or social media post.
Is Joseph Zada related to anyone famous?
Yes. His father is Jeremy Cumpston (actor, director, doctor), his mother is Jessica Brentnall (film producer), and his half-brother is actor Hal Cumpston (Now To Love).
What role does Joseph Zada play in The Hunger Games?
He plays young Haymitch Abernathy in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping (Deadline).
What is Joseph Zada’s role in We Were Liars?
He portrays Johnny Sinclair Dennis in Prime Video’s adaptation of We Were Liars (Deadline).
For Australian audiences and film industry watchers, the question around Joseph Zada is less about his talent and more about what remains unknown. His family connections, ethnic background, and personal details are carefully cordoned off — and in an era of total digital transparency, that restraint is itself a career strategy. The next 18 months, as Sunrise on the Reaping heads to theaters, will determine whether Zada’s acting alone is enough to keep the public satisfied — or whether the gaps in his personal story become a liability.
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Oliver Jack Carter Cooper is a staff writer for EveningLedger.uk, covering UK news, politics, business and culture. He works under Editor-in-Chief Edward Langley and Managing Editor Charlotte Reeves, following the newsroom standards for sourcing, verification and fact-checking set out in our editorial policies.