Manu Rios on ‘Elite’ Fame, Playing a Doctor in New Series ‘Breathless’

Manu Rios made his approach to Mexico final month to attend the Platino Awards, held for the third time in 11 years on the Gran Tlachco Theater at Xcaret Park in Riviera Maya. Rios, a breakout star from the steamy Netflix sequence Elite, was amongst a protracted listing of boldfaced names to make the trek to the starry present which honors the perfect in Ibero-American content material throughout movie and tv.

Forward of the ceremony, at which J.A. Bayona’s Society of the Snow swept by successful six trophies together with greatest movie, The Hollywood Reporter sat down with Rios to speak about life after Elite, assembly real-life docs for his forthcoming medical drama Breathless and why he’s contemplating a transfer to Los Angeles — at the least a short lived one.

You’re no stranger to award reveals. You had been nominated for just a few breakthrough awards after the success of Netflix’s Elite. How did Elite change your life?

It modified my life in so some ways. I grew up a lot as an individual. I used to be 21 after I began, 20 once we began rehearsals. I used to be actually, actually younger and I met the good individuals. I discovered a lot as an actor. Then my life went slightly bit loopy. It opened so many doorways for me. … I bought to journey to so many locations [with] wonderful alternatives. It was a extremely cool section of my life.

What’s the perfect half about the place you might be proper now, and probably the most difficult half?

The perfect half is that it opened so many alternatives and I’ve gotten to fulfill the good individuals. I’ve made so many friendships. The perfect half is doing my job and [continuing to work]. Essentially the most difficult half is simply being uncovered. It was slightly bit bizarre at first. I didn’t perceive all the things that was happening, however I’m grateful that I’ve a very nice household. I’ve a very nice group of pals, and I simply hold them so near me. That helped me loads to maintain my mindset and concentrate on what’s actually essential, which is my profession as actor, and helps me to not get tremendous distracted by the noise.

Whenever you go to Los Angeles, what’s your impression of the town and the way has it been to navigate?

It’s positively completely different than Spain, so it was slightly difficult at first for me to adapt and perceive the best way individuals work together with one another. But it surely’s attention-grabbing and I’m actually fascinated by it. … I’ve met so many cool individuals. Each time that I am going to L.A., I really feel an increasing number of snug to the purpose that I’m now considering of transferring there for just a few months. That might be good. That’s sooner or later. It’s within the works.

Your subsequent undertaking is the TV sequence Breathless. Seeing you in scrubs can be a brand new expertise in your followers. Are you able to speak about your character and your expertise on the present?

I can’t say a lot as a result of they’re going to kill me if I do, however it was such a unique expertise for me as an actor. Simply stepping into the mindset of a resident and being in a hospital is absolutely, actually powerful. I feel it’s going to be a extremely cool present. We speak about actually essential subjects. I feel individuals are going to consider the significance of docs and [how hard they work every day]. We’re going to provide visibility to essential stuff, and the solid is wonderful. So many wonderful actors and actresses that I’ve admired since I used to be a child.

Did you spend any time with docs?

Yeah. [Our characters] need to do surgical procedures and all of that. It’s so difficult and we needed to verify we had been doing it as realistically as a lot as we may. Clearly there was consultants that had been serving to us and stuff, however I discovered loads. It’s so powerful, so mentally draining.

I went to Las Vegas lately for the Netflix Slam with Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz. I noticed you had been there, too. Being from Spain, how onerous was that for you in selecting find out how to root for since they’re each Spanish superstars?

I didn’t care who gained, truthfully. It appeared like it will be Nadal, who’s a legend taking part in one other legend from the brand new technology. I used to be comfortable that [Carlos] gained, however I’d’ve been pleased with something. It was actually, actually shut. It was my first time watching a tennis match in my life. It’s unimaginable. They don’t really feel actual. It looks like they’re a unique sort of species. It’s loopy.

Interview edited for size and readability.