Interview by Roman Portnoy
Photography by Ryan West
Styling by Daniela Romero
Grooming by Annette Chaisson
Daniel Zovatto is a Costa Rican and American film and television actor. Since 2012, he has starred in films of the horror genre, Beneath, It Follows, and Don’t Breathe, as well as the romantic comedy Laggies. You can catch him next in his new movie ‘Woman of the Hour’, marking Anna Kendrick’s directorial debut, streaming now on Netflix.
Hello Daniel, thank you for joining us today. You star in the movie “Woman of the Hour” which premieres this month in theatres and on Netflix. Can you tell us about the character you play and what attracted you to this role?
Rodney Alcala was an infamous serial killer. He’s kind of a dream role to play, because he’s someone who lived in between the lines and was able to change his personality to make his victims comfortable – so comfortable that they allowed him to photograph them in very intimate settings. For an actor, being able to get inside that mindset is really interesting.
What were some of the most challenging emotional scenes for you while playing Rodney? How did you prepare for them?
The preparation came with understanding Rodney entirely. Or as closely as I could. Where he was coming from in each moment. Since it spans across a decade of his killing spree. With every victim it was a different version of him. He was never the same. That was the idea, and the challenge, it was exciting to me.
Your co-star, Anna Kendrick, is also making her directorial debut in this movie. Tell us about your experience working with her and what kind of influence she had on your character?
Anna was great to work with. She was so precise and prepared in the way that she approached her role as director. She made me feel really comfortable and proud because she put so much trust in me. That’s a really great thing to feel from your director. She really killed it on this project – she should be very proud.
What did you learn from working alongside Anna that you will carry into future projects?
I was just really impressed with her confidence and attention to detail, jumping into this new role.
Going back to the start of your career. What inspired you to pursue acting, and how did you begin your journey?
Loving movies. My mother also worked in front of the camera. She had her own tv show, she was the tv host of shows down in Costa Rica. She’s a huge part of me doing this. But I loved movies, and I remember when it clicked that I wanted to go down this path.
Which role has been the most challenging for you, and why?
This one. I’ve been lucky and been able to play many different characters. This one takes the prize, though. I’m looking forward to other challenging opportunities like this.
You’ve worked in horror, drama, and thriller genres. How do you approach different genres, and do you have a favorite?
I do have a love of horror projects. That’s pretty evident from my resume. But I also loved working in the biopic realm. Playing real-life people, Rodney being my first, was something I really enjoyed and would like to do more of.
Who are some actors or directors that have had a significant influence on your career?
I feel like cinema is so expansive and you get inspired by so many different films, shorts, documentaries. It’s endless. I do think as a child and what made me want to do this? Movies like What’s Eating Gilbert Grape and Basketball Diaries. I grew up watching Sopranos, Band of Brothers. A lot of Argentinian movies, Nueve Reinas. Anything Ricardo Darin did, I watched. Mexican films like Y Tu Mama También. Amores Perros. Seeing Spanish films. All these were very important films to me, at an early age when it seemed like a far away dream.
If you could film anywhere in the world, where would it be and what kind of project would you want to do?
I would love to shoot in Tokyo. Japan is one of my favorite countries. The food, the culture, not only Tokyo but Osaka also. Make an action movie or a thriller. That city is a character in itself. Actually any genre, I’m in to do it. The country is amazing. Love Japan.
When you’re not acting, what do you enjoy doing to unwind?
I don’t know if it’s “unwinding,” but it makes me really happy to play with my newborn daughter. She’s definitely the best thing to come home to.
What’s a fun or surprising fact about you that fans might not know?
I paint? Haha I like art a lot, I wanted to be Picasso when I was a kid.
Lastly, if you had to have a personal catchphrase, what would it be?
Wow. That’s hard. Catchphrases are tough. I’ll go actually… go with one that I, like most ticos, it’s engraved in our vocabulary. It’s, who we are – PURA VIDA!
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
