“Acapulco” is now on Apple TV+ and it’s so much fun to watch! Did you have as much fun while filming it? 
Yes, and I feel that it shows on screen. I was part of a cast that motivated each other daily to create freely and to always have fun while doing it. Filming “Acapulco” was a liberating and exhilarating experience.
On the other hand, this first season of the show was shot in Puerto Vallarta during the pandemic. We were essentially in a bubble. People were rarely able to come in or out. We basically lived where we worked, and even though it may sound convenient, it could feel a little heavy at times.
My favorite thing about getting to film abroad is the fact that we get to fully immerse ourselves in the culture of the country where we are working. Unfortunately, due to the circumstances, we missed out on doing that this time around. Hopefully we’ll get a chance to do it all over again soon, under different conditions.
 
What were your initial thoughts on the show and on Hector when you first read the script?
It was one of those rare moments where the audition came in, I read the script and right away I knew I had to play Hector. I understood the guy deep in my bones from the get-go. The fact that “Acapulco” is a comedy also hooked me in since the beginning. I’ve been keen on doing a comedy since I can remember. I’ve always felt very comfortable in that world but due to my track record, people tend to think of me as a “dramatic” actor. I’d never had the chance to explore a big comedic role until Hector came along. The challenge for me was to ground such a high concept, over-the-top character while making sure it still had a certain pop on screen. 
 
You portray Hector with many little details such as his body language, the way he speaks, etc. Were these details your addition to the character? 
Every single character I portray emanates from me, so I guess you can say those details were my addition. But it always comes from the script first and I had a very solid groundwork to build upon. The script brought Hector out of me, I just lent him my voice and my body.
 
In spite of his annoying actions at times, you made Hector very likable. Was it difficult to walk through these 2 sides of him?
No, not really. Where there’s light, there’s darkness and you can’t have one without the other. As an actor, I’m interested in voicing characters that are complex and multilayered. My focus was never on playing a likable or dislikable character but on playing Hector in all his notes and variations. For me, it was a matter of infusing the character with a specific point of view for every moment he was a part of.
 
Besides the fun, romance, and light atmosphere of it, “Acapulco” is mainly about dreaming big and having the motivation to realize those dreams. What’s the main message you’d like the viewer to take from it?
Well, what you just said is pretty on point. “Acapulco” is a success story; its theme is universal. I hope that it triggers audiences to view Hispanics and our stories in a different light. There’s so much diversity that comes along with the term “Hispanic” that isn’t yet understood. We come in many shapes & forms, and “Acapulco” does a good job at showcasing the Hispanic experience to its fullest.
 
The story happens in a place where you have to live up to a certain image and to people’s expectations in order to keep your job, which applies on many other domains. At what point do you think a person should say “no” and choose to be true to themselves? 
I used to have a hard time saying “no” to people because I wanted everyone to love me. Through the years I learned that there’s a sense of empowerment that comes with saying “no.” You establish your boundaries with the people around you and create limits with your outside world. “No” comes with self-control and self-awareness. People change, things change, but we should always stay true to ourselves and never sacrifice who we are. We are the only thing we’ve got after all.
 
I feel like we haven’t discovered everything about Hector yet. What’s coming next for him?
There’s a lot in store coming for Hector that I am very excited about, but I can’t tell you. Apple would kill me! You’re going to have to wait and see…
 
Since the show is on Apple TV+, viewers from all over the world have the ability to watch it at the same time. How important is it for you to have this access to multinational audiences?
Being part of a streaming platform with such a big international presence like Apple TV+, transforms the narrative of the story from local to global. It also gives audiences across the world the chance to better understand the cultural context of the story. There is an immense amount of value in vouching for content that is honest, and that pretends nothing else other than just telling it as it is and showing it as it looks. “Acapulco” does that; it’s authentic and truthful to the world it represents.
 
What kind of projects would you like be part of after “Acapulco”? 
I am moved by stories, so any story that hits me in the guts I’m in! I do have to say, I’d like to keep doing more comedy.
 
Who would be your dream co-star?
Anthony Hopkins and Will Smith are the actors that made me want to become an actor. Anything they’re on, sign me up! I’d be a “tree” in any of their projects.
 
Who was your very first celebrity crush? 
Scarlett Johansson, ever since I saw her in the “Horse Whisperer.”
 
Were acting and making music always your dream?
I always wanted to tell stories - that’s why I consider myself a storyteller more than an actor or a musician - and the most exciting way for me to do that has always been through music and acting. I also think acting and music walk hand-in-hand, parallel with each other. To me, acting is music: just like in a tune, there are beats, cadences, silences, and harmonies in a scene. That’s why I believe that every actor is a musician but not every musician is actor (I hope my musician friends don’t kill me after reading this).
 
Are you working on new music? Or focusing on acting currently?
I’m surrounded by musicians daily and I’m always writing, coming up with melodies, lyrics… Right now, those ideas don’t go pass the voice app on my phone, but who knows what can happen one day. I guess right now, life is making me focus more on acting and writing. I am currently pitching a couple of ideas and trying to get a script turned into a movie.

When was the first time you thought to yourself “I made it”?
The moment I was able to pay my own rent! I don’t even know what “making it” really means anymore. Do we ever make it? Do we want to fully make it? I’m very happy where I’m at right now. I love being an actor because you never stop learning. I want to keep learning and growing as an actor but also as a person. I want to be a better son, brother, friend, and boyfriend. I’m very content living in the present, in the unknown, as I figure it out. This, right here and now, is the fun part.

What’s your favorite meal / dessert? 
Tiramisú.

Do you have any guilty pleasure? 
I mean, I love me some reggaeton music on a Saturday night.
 
What’s your biggest goal right now?
I want to be of service to others. For instance, I work in an industry that is a mirror of our society. What it projects can help people see themselves, and it has a profound level of influence. There are good intentioned people in my industry making poor choices because they lack the language, cultural context, or education. There are other people, however, that are much better versed in the subject matter and have the language to be brought into the conversation. I’d like to think that I can be one of those people (and there are so many deserving and qualified people out there). My upbringing, education, and cultural background could come into play, as well as my job as an actor/writer. I have the luxury of language around something everyone wants to talk about. I’d love to lend my language, and maybe it can help people see eye to eye a bit more.

This story is featured in Glamoholic Magazine's "Next Big Thing" Issue (#40). You can order your copy HERE.