IN CONVERSATION WITH DANIEL ZOVATTO

interview by JANA LETONJA

Actor Daniel Zovatto is the co-lead opposite Anna Kendrick in her directorial debut ‘Woman of the Hour’, which was released theatrically on 11th October, following by being available on Netflix starting 18th October.

Daniel you play the role of Rodney Alcala in Anna Kendrick’s directorial debut ‘Woman of the hour’. What drew you to this complex character, and how did you prepare to portray such a notorious real-life figure?

Having Anna reaching out to me and saying that she wanted me to jump on board in her first film directing and be a part of it, I thought she was crazy and I told her there were a lot of people who could do it. She insisted, so I said ok. Then it was just going down the path of figuring out who Rodney is. A lot of the information was the old Rodney, not the one we are focusing on. What really opened the doors for me were the photographs that he left behind in a locker room, which the police released to find his victims, many of whom are still missing. In the photographs, you could see he was able to make them comfortable, let their guard down and capture who they were as a person. That gave me enough clues into who he was as a person and how he moved around the world.

The film will soon be available on Netflix. How do you feel about the film and filming?

I’m really proud of the film. I always knew Anna was really passionate about the film and the subject matter, so I knew that I was in good hands.

You’ve worked in a variety of genres, from horror in ‘It Follows’ to drama in ‘Station 11’ and ‘Penny Dreadful: City of Angels’. How do you approach such diverse roles, and do you have a favorite genre to work in?

I’ve always been a fan of horror, but I like anything that lets me work with interesting people and subject matters. It always starts with the character and the team, and then we build out from there.

You’ve recently starred alongside Russell Crowe in ‘The Pope’s Exorcist’. What was it like working with such a seasoned actor, and how did it influence your performance?

It was the coolest experience to work with someone I have always looked up to, whose work I have followed. I got to spend a good amount of time around him and be around his energy, and learn from his process. I loved it.

Your breakout role in ‘It Follows’ was a game-changer for you. Looking back, how did that role shape the trajectory of your career?

That was the first time I ever went to a film festival, and it brought me to LA. It really kickstarted everything. I just remember the attention to detail that David had on every shot. I had never seen someone with such care for the work before.

Having been involved in TV series like ‘Fear the Walking Dead’ and ‘Here and Now’, what differences do you notice between working on television series versus feature films?

Television is a lot more cooks in the kitchen and in my experience, in film, I’ve worked with directors that have a lot more of a singular approach. Film feels a little more intimate.

Coming from Costa Rica and now living in Los Angeles, how has your background and cultural identity influenced your acting and the types of roles you choose?

I think if you come from anywhere around the world, you have different perspectives and ways of seeing life. Costa Rica was an amazing place to grow up. There are a lot of qualities that I miss that I want to show my daughter. There’s an appreciation of world and life balance, and that’s something that I strive for even now. 

What type of roles or stories are you hoping to pursue next? Are there any dream projects or genres you haven’t explored yet?

There is a lot I haven’t explored yet because I’m in the beginning of it all. I’m still really excited. I like to let things flow and see what comes my way. Something I’m interested in doing more of is playing real-life people. It’s interesting. Rodney was my first experience doing that and I really enjoyed it.

When you are not filming, how do you enjoy spending your days off?

I spend as much time as I can with my family. We have a baby, who is standing in her crib now and yelling. She’s cute. Every day is something new.

What can you share with us about your other exciting upcoming projects?

I’m about to go film a surfing thriller with Kevin Costner in Hawai’i. He co-wrote the film and it’s a major passion project for him. I can’t wait to spend time learning to surf better, and have so much time engrossing myself in that experience.

photographer SARAH KRICK