Manolo Cardona
“I’m incredibly proud to present this Latino show to the rest of the world.”
Manolo Cardona has come a long way since “Beverly Hills Chihuahua.” The Colombian actor had a recurring stint on Netflix’s “Narcos” and has now returned to the streamer headlining one of its hottest Spanish-language series: “¿Quién Mató a Sara?” (“Who Killed Sara?”). There, he plays Álex Guzmán, an ex-convict, a hacker extraordinaire and the titular character’s brother. He is by no means a stranger to being a leading man, having starred in San Sebastian International Film Festival-, Sundance Film Festivaland Goya Award-winning Spanish-language and indie flicks, as well as playing notorious playiation, boy Porfirio Rubirosa and Jesus on TV back to back. But this is the first time Cardona has entered the global stage, front and center, in a series that millions are viewing — and whose May second-season drop they are eagerly awaiting.
• What did you think of your character and how he handles grief when you first read the script? I found him to be a fascinating and multifaceted character — and many of those facets evolve or come forth over different stages of his life in the show. I think that is what makes the dramatic arc of the character compelling. [Creator] José Ignacio Valenzuela is incredible at writing multidimensional characters who go through dramatic mood shifts along the way of finding out what happened to Sara.
• This series challenges the idea of justice, and how you get it. Do you consider Alex to be a vigilante hero? I looked for certain subtleties to humanize him so that people would feel empathy for him amid the significant pain he has gone through while also carrying out this grand mission. I can’t judge the character because, obviously, I have to interpret him in the best way and accompany him on his journey. But if you’re asking me, Manolo Cardona, well, I believe in forgiveness, reconcilempathy and love. But, we’re talking about Álex Guzmán, who is completely blinded by his quest to deal with his problems by finding what he thinks is justice.
• How, if at all, has your perception of Alex changed from Season 1 to Season 2? As a young man, Álex is charismatic, good-natured, innocent and has a good vibe. But, after what happens to his sister and the aftermath, he has this whole personality change and practically becomes another person. We first meet Álex when he is preoccupied with finding out what happened to Sara and detaching himself from the Lazcano family. In the second season, there’s an interesting turn because Álex finds out things he didn’t know before, information he didn’t have in the first season, and it is going to alter quite a bit what he thought his motivations were and how he is going to start reentering society.
• What do you think about the surge of interest and demand for Spanish-language content in the United States? I feel very honored, happy and proud. We hope that the show parts the seas, so to speak, for Latin American content. Breaking these barriers is only achievable through a platform like Netflix because it reaches so many people worldwide. And if it goes viral, and if lots of people are connecting to it, then it’s a testament to how good a Latin American series can be. Hopefully, “Who Killed Sara?” is one of many that permeates the global market. So I’m incredibly proud to present this Latino show to the rest of the world.