Michael Mando on Craft and Expression

INTERVIEW IRVIN RIVERA | EDITOR: CLARA SEELY-KATZ

Michael Mando plays Nacho, a kind-hearted fan favorite on the ever-popular "Better Call Saul." As his character evolved, we got to see more and more of Mando's skill, and the care and work he puts into his acting. He promises adventure, challenge, and emotion in his work, and boy does he deliver.

Now that "Better Call Saul" has come to an end after 6-award winning years, Mando is looking forward to what is next in his life and career. Whatever he does, whether it be music or taking on more iconic roles, we are sure we will be seeing a lot more of Mando very soon.

How are you? What's keeping you busy nowadays?

I’m doing great, thanks for asking. Looking into genre Cinema; maybe an action-drama thriller or a sci-fi.

Congratulations on Better Call Saul’s 6th Season!

What can you say about Nacho Varga’s story this season?

Thank you! It's been an exhilarating journey. To be able to be a part of the "Breaking Bad" universe, and be given the responsibility to play a character "Breaking Good" has been a dream.

How has Nacho evolved throughout the seasons of the show?

He is the antithesis of the Gangster archetype. Though he rises to the top of the ranks, he trades it all to do the right thing and save his father.

If your character could have its own soundtrack, what would it be and why?

Maybe "Wild Horses" by the Rolling Stones. To me, the song is the beautiful result of transcending pain and suffering.

What’s the best part about playing his character throughout the years?

I was given the task to express a lot with very few words. It's the essence of the craft boiled down to its purest form: the state of being – a lot of western anti-heroes are like that. It was an invaluable and unique opportunity.

Talk about the challenges and the highs that you experienced during filming this season.

Peter Gould had told me they would require a Tour De Force performance: physical, emotional, and psychological with undertones of spirituality. And he was right!

How did you manage to rise above the challenges?

I love the craft. The grander the task, the more immersed I get.

What’s the proudest moment of your career?

That I always looked for the humanity in my characters and challenged the archetypes.

Everyone's process is different and each has a unique approach to things. Can you walk us through your creative process whenever you go and film a scene?

I've learned to involve the crew and be responsive. It's so much easier to make something great when everyone feels included in what's being expressed.

What’s your dream project?

I love genre cinema. Sci-fi, Action-Drama thrillers… stories that speak about the triumph of the human soul despite the inevitable ending that awaits us.

You have an impressive acting resume under your belt. Out of all the roles that you’ve played, is there any role/character that resonated with you the most and why?

Thank you! I think it’s always the one I am working on now – or the last one. In this case, Nacho. His inner life has informed me a lot about what I find important.

Aside from acting, what else keeps you busy?

I love music. It’s a hobby that sometimes takes more time than I’d like to admit.

Share with us a valuable lesson that you've learned in your career that you always carry with you.

Be the leader you are seeking and treat others the way you wish you were treated coming up.

If you were a book, what book would you be and whyThe first part of my life was "Mon Bel Oranger" by José Mauro de Vasconcelos (translated from Portuguese to French). Then maybe The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. They both reveal that mysterious beauty I've chased my whole life… I'm still figuring out the third chapter I'm living in right now.