10 THINGS – Adrián Núñez

Tell us a bit about yourself Adrian and how you got started in the entertainment industry. 

I was born and raised in Puerto Rico, and also lived in St. Thomas (U.S. Virgin Islands) as a kid. My parents are Cuban and I’m the middle of three kids. I love horses and kiwis. What else? I guess I’m a bit of a weirdo. Aren’t we all though? I think most people would say I’m really high energy, sociable and extroverted, which is true. But at the same time, as I’ve gotten to know myself more, I realized that I’m also an introvert. I need my time alone to recharge and realign.

That said, I’m an island kid, so I love being out in nature. I love being barefoot and have been known to hug a tree here and there. Oh yeah, I love the ocean! I can’t be away from it for too long or else I start getting a bit sad because I’m part Scorpio and whatever we feel, we really feel. So now, I know to keep that balance and harmony in my life. I love Love.

With respect to the business, I sort of pushed my way in by offering to give one of my best friend a ride to a commercial audition back home in Puerto Rico back when we were in high school. It was for Coke and I didn’t get it. Then a month later, I was home in bed the day after a surgery and my mom walks in with a sort of confused face saying “Someone’s on the phone asking for you…something about a commercial shoot?” – they had cast me, ironically, for a Pepsi commercial off of that tape.

Needless to say, my excitement caused some sharp pain. It was so worth it though, I was so happy. I convinced my mom to let me do it even though I was still recovering. Those 12 hours on set were some of the absolute most exciting hours of my life up to then. Being on set there at 16 years old, I had SO much fun – I just knew deep down at that point this was what I really wanted to do, but I kept it to myself for 5 more years.

Adrian Nunez in REGARD Magazine from Yucatan on Netflix

What was your first acting role?

I was THE Gingerbread Man in the highly acclaimed Antilles School 1st grade Christmas Rap Musical, “The Gingerbread Man”. That was a very exciting time for me as well. 

What is the best and worst part of being an actor?

The Best? Being on set, co-creating with a group of other passionate child-adults who love to play. The Worst? Auditions. Need I say more?

Adrian Nunez in REGARD Magazine from Yucatan on Netflix

 

What was the best advice you’ve ever received?

I was in one of many slumps along the way, one of the earlier ones. I was always super dedicated, focused and hardworking in school and sports. I was always used to getting results for my work, progressing and achieving my goals rather quickly. Acting really kicked my ass though. I felt like it nearly killed my spirit to the point where I would barely socialize or take any time to unwind and have fun, because it felt like I hadn’t earned it.

I became a bit depressed and I remember talking to my dad on the phone, even though he wasn’t a big fan of my pursuing this career back then. He told me that this was going to be a long road and that I was going to need to learn to create balance in my life and to not forget to have fun and enjoy life along the way. Boy was he right. It took some years to truly understand that and get a real grasp of it. It’s so true though. Turns out it’s really all been about the process and who I’ve had the chance to grow into, in order to reach my goals and have that balance and have joy back in my life. Gracias papa!! 

Adrian Nunez in REGARD Magazine from Yucatan on Netflix

Tell us about your upcoming Netflix film “Yucatan,” and your role as Brendon?

Oh wow, where do I even start?! It’s been an incredibly amazing adventure…insane! I know it’ll always stand out as one of the most beautiful moments of my career and life. I often would literally stop on set, look around and think to myself…ok, sometimes out loud too…I’d be like “Am I really getting paid to do this?”

I play Brendon. He’s actually one of the most unique and layered characters I’ve had the privilege to play because he’s definitely whacky and funny, but he’s also got a very interesting turn. He has this depth to him. It really allowed me to explore and play so many different levels and sides of one same person, plus I got to dance in the film too, which I love and always wanted to do! 

Brendon’s a dancer on a cruise ship, who also happens to be a con artist. He’s energetic, fun loving and carefree, but you don’t wanna mess with him. He’s truthful, loud and has sass for days haha. But you know, he also has this deeper side to him. He has a big tender heart and he’s smarter than he seems. He knows what’s truly important in life and he’s at that point where he just wants to have that no matter how it looks. He just wants to be happy, give love and be loved.

The film is this beautiful, colorful, and heartwarming adventure! It blends so many genres paying tribute to the classics of American cinema. It’s so fun! It’s packed with whacky moments and characters that, our beyond amazing writer/director, Daniel, allowed us to have loads of fun and play so freely with, while also finding so much truth and humanity in. He was so great about studying all sides of these questionable characters, without judging them, he did this beautifully. 

It’s just a beautiful movie to watch. Oh my god, the scenery. We were on location in Spain, Brazil, Tenerife, México and we shot on an actual cruise ship crossing the Atlantic and in the Mediterranean for 3 weeks. There’s so much variety and so many beautiful shots! The musical numbers add so much life and color! And the music, so good too!! And the performances, what can I say, my cast mates are all amazing. 

It’s a comedy that has so much more, a powerful message and many heartfelt moments. It’s hard to sum it all up because it’s such a unique film. Anyway, I guess you’re just gonna have to watch it and see for yourself 😉

Are you and your character Brendon anything alike?

I mean, I guess there will always be my essence, somehow, blended into every character I play, and there’s actually a lot in Brendon that we don’t share. But, I really got to let my playful, sassy, weird, festive and loud side come out and play through him for sure. And, I also got to dance in the project, which is part of my roots. I never took any lessons or anything, but it’s something I just have always enjoyed a lot. In elementary school, I would be the one kid dancing with all the girls in my class, and their moms, haha. I always hoped I’d get to, one day, do combine it with acting. So this was a blast for me.

Adrian Nunez in REGARD Magazine from Yucatan on Netflix

How was it working alongside a very talented cast and what has been your most memorable experience from the set so far?

It was incredible. It was kind of like working and being in grad school at the same time. But also just being in recess playing and running all over the place too, haha. It was amazing, for lack of better words, a true gift. And just everyone on the team…we were all locked up in a cruise ship for 3 weeks, 24/7. We were bound to either bond or throw someone overboard. Fortunately, it was the first. It felt like a long field trip with a bunch of grownup-kids. I made some friends for life. A true blessing.

Shooting one of the scenes in Yucatán, it’s one of the cons we do. Three of us were literally hanging upside down for the whole scene, so we split it in two days. It was painful and literally nauseating, but it was so much fun that we really didn’t care. Our director was more worried about us, than we were. Oh and a bonus one, in paying tribute to American classics, one of the scenes I got to shoot was like that iconic shot in Titanic at the front of the ship. Except, I don’t know about Leo and Kate, but we were actually out in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. It was so cold and so beautiful!! Plus, I got to be “Latin Leo” for a moment – epic!

What other projects you have been part of?

My first film was “30 Days With My Brother”, an indie drama that hit theaters in 2016. It was an unexpected and very welcomed surprise to be the lead in my first movie and to have it go to theaters. It was in English and the character was so different to mine in Yucatán. He was dark, brooding and troubled, but also had a kind heart that came out later in the story. It’s on iTunes in case you wanna check it out 😉 And then, the pilot episode of a series called Falling for Angels that I’m also proud of. 

Adrian Nunez in REGARD Magazine from Yucatan on Netflix

Who is your favorite Actor/Actress? And why?

It’s so hard to pick favorites with so much talent out there! Robin Williams was always very inspiring to me though – his ability to be both a comedic genius AND also play some of the most truthful and beautifully raw aspects of humanity of his characters in dramas. He was a beautiful artist. 

Where do you see yourself in five years?

Wow, in a very different place, that’s for sure. I’m currently developing an app that goes hand in hand with a couple of other projects I have going in the holistic/conscious living and well being industry. I also practice Sound Healing and perform SoundBaths. I’m tying all of that together and getting a non-profit going to bring yoga, sound healing, and meditation to artists, underserved communities, and hopefully prisons too. It’s a huge project that I’m so excited to be working on and really enjoying.

Instagram: @Adrian_Nunez

Facebook: Adrián Núñez

Photos: David Gerry / Shandrew PR