In the midst of vibrant stalls offering spices, sweets, and various shades of imitation Labubus, actor Tonatiuh leisurely drinks a hibiscus-flavored beverage called agua fresca, at El Mercadito in Boyle Heights. This indoor market has been a significant part of Latino life and trade since it first opened its doors in the late 1960s.
Tonatiuh, an actor recognized by just one name, enjoys a hibiscus drink called agua fresca at El Mercadito market, which has been a vital part of Latino life and business since its establishment in the late 1960s. This market is filled with colorful stalls selling spices, candies, and imitation Labubus.)
Nearby, his aunt continues to manage the business she and Tonatiuh’s mother, an immigrant from Guanajuato, Mexico, started many years ago. “Mom was a hairdresser for a long time,” he says, dressed comfortably in a light blue button-up shirt. “That’s why I’m so talkative.
The school where he grew up, Our Lady of Lourdes, is nearby, as well as Hollenbeck Park, the location where he learned to ride a bicycle. To express that the streets of Boyle Heights, where he was born, significantly shaped his perspective on the world would be an understatement.
Over the past few months, Tonatiuh has found things to be extremely challenging, alluding to the aggressive ICE raids that have significantly impacted the city’s community. He describes these actions as brutal, likening them to a public relations strategy targeted against people with integrity who are hardworking taxpayers, supporting their families and operating businesses. In essence, they are individuals living the ideal of the American dream, despite sounding somewhat stereotypical.
Despite my career taking flight, starring alongside the legendary Jennifer Lopez and Diego Luna in Bill Condon’s adaptation of “Kiss of the Spider Woman,” I find myself still deeply rooted in these cherished places and people. The stage is set for me to make my mark on Hollywood starting October 10th, but my heart remains with the familiar faces and landscapes that have shaped me.
The reviews following the film’s premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January highly commended Tonatiuh’s acting debut, noting it as groundbreaking. His captivating performance was a compelling blend of emotionally moving, playfully rebellious, and technically masterful.
As a devoted cinephile, I found myself immersed in the captivating world of “Tonatiuh’s Performance,” where the protagonist, Luis Molina, a fervent gay inmate incarcerated amid Argentina’s tumultuous 1970s Dirty War, shares my passion for the silver screen. His ardor, particularly for the seductive escapism of films and the alluring enigma of fictional starlet Ingrid Luna (brilliantly portrayed by Lopez), resonated deeply with me.
Molina finds solace in imagining scenarios akin to old-school Hollywood musicals from the 1940s. In these fantasies, Tonatiuh portrays Kendall Nesbitt, a charming character, donning fancy tuxedos and showcasing his singing and dancing skills. The musical segments were filmed in New York City, but for the prison scenes featuring only Tonatiuh and Diego Luna as Valentin, a rugged revolutionary, the production team moved to Uruguay. According to Tonatiuh, it felt like creating two distinct films altogether.
To share a stage with Lopez, he spent a month practicing with dancers from Broadway prior to the filming. Reminiscing about their first encounter, he excitedly shares, “When I saw Jennifer for the first time, I thought, ‘Wow, that’s Jennifer Lopez! Can you believe it?'” He adds, “I must have gone down the wrong street, but here I am standing in front of her. How did this come to pass? What kind of life do I live?
It seems reasonable to assume that Tonatiuh’s mother believed he was meant for greatness, given his name which honors the brightest celestial body in the sky.
He says, “She had a vision while carrying me, where she saw herself in a field filled with golden orbs that transformed into the sun. Since the Aztec mythology associates Tonatiuh as the sun god, she awoke from her dream and decided, ‘I will name my child Tonatiuh.’
Raised amidst Latinos, his native name was not met with surprise. However, this changed as Tonatiuh encountered the pressures of assimilation. “As we relocated to West Covina,” he explains, “people attempted to force an anglicized identity upon me, and I acquiesced for a long time. Then I began questioning, ‘Why am I suppressing my own name to fit in?’ It’s such a foolish thing.” In simpler terms, as Tonatiuh grew up, he faced pressure to conform to an Anglo-American identity. He went along with it for many years, but eventually realized that denying his own native name to fit in was unnecessary and foolish.
In the realm of entertainment, I found little willingness to embrace me entirely. Those guiding me would often advise, “Play along.” The challenges I faced due to my appearance were already immense, they’d say. And in response, I’d question, “Are we going to alter my name to Albert?
Regarding his surname, Elizarraraz, he admitted it could be challenging for those only fluent in English. “Even my first name is hard enough,” Tonatiuh states. “I don’t think they’re prepared for the second one.
Gradually, he became more drawn towards the idea of using only one name, or a mononym. He mused, “Are there any other ‘Tonatiuh’ figures in the field?” Upon checking with the Screen Actors Guild, he discovered that he was the sole bearer of this unique name.
As a child enamored with drama, Tonatiuh recalls the impactful experience of watching “Titanic” on VHS by James Cameron. However, it wasn’t until attending a live stage production of “Wicked” as a teenager – at his friend’s mother’s invitation – that acting captivated him.
He mentions his preference for stories that are engaging and thought-provoking. ‘Wicked’ delves into the topic of segregation in America, albeit symbolically, similar to ‘Animal Farm.’ These works are not only appealing and entertaining, but also carry profound messages. It’s the underlying themes that capture his interest the most.
Even though he was passionate about acting and narrative crafting, it appeared that a traditional career path in politics might be his destiny. Upon graduating from high school, Tonatiuh had received acceptances from various universities for the study of political science.
He expresses a deep and firm resistance towards injustice, sharing that he has personal experience with bullying and often served as his mother’s translator and legal representative due to being the child of immigrants. In his thoughts, he felt that he could make the greatest impact by pursuing a career as a lawyer or politician.
As a passionate admirer looking back, I’d like to express my gratitude to the English teacher who steered Tonatiuh towards his genuine calling – acting. Every morning, his mother braved traffic from West Covina to the South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa before work, offering Tonatiuh the priceless opportunity for a comprehensive acting education.
As a grateful son, I can’t help but feel I must have somehow deserved this extraordinary love. She is so selflessly caring, always striving for my happiness above all else. Such a devoted parent she has been to me.
After completing formal education at USC, Tonatiuh continued to feel unsure about finding his own niche. He got involved with local L.A. theatre groups and simultaneously auditioned for television and movie roles.
He notes that the most challenging aspect of acting lies in the audition process, finding it awkward. However, once the character and scene are established, and the lines become tools for direction, acting becomes an enjoyable experience for him.
Entertainment & Arts
Tanya Saracho discovered Tonatiuh when she watched him perform in a stage production. Impressed by his talent, she extended an invitation for him to join the cast of “Vida,” a series set in his hometown of Boyle Heights, where he played Marcos, a highly educated, queer character with strong academic background.
Through their expressive and politically vocal work, Tonatiuh’s portfolio has been significantly influenced. “Vida” tackled the issue of gentrification, while the 2022 ABC series “Promised Land” focused on undocumented characters who gained power due to wealth accumulation. Now, “Kiss of the Spider Woman” delves into authoritarianism from a queer perspective.
He expresses that his role serves a significant purpose beyond mere amusement, and he emphasizes that his success wasn’t due to nepotism but rather the support and chances provided by others who believed in him.
He points out that his work is about more than just entertainment; it holds a greater significance. He clarifies that he didn’t gain his position through nepotism, but rather through being fortunate enough to have people believe in him and offer him opportunities.
According to director Condon, producer Ben Affleck was instrumental in allowing him to cast a talented, less-known actor for “Spider Woman”. As Condon, an Oscar winner for “Gods and Monsters” (1998), remembers, Affleck said, “I understand how crucial this is,” and thus eliminated any concerns about casting a lesser-known performer from the start.
Twenty years ago, I embarked on a quest reminiscent of Condon’s Molina/Kendall’s extensive search for the perfect Effie in his movie adaptation of “Dreamgirls,” a role later made iconic by singer Jennifer Hudson. In this case, it was my own diligent pursuit.
According to Condon, there were numerous actors from cities such as South America, Central America, Mexico, Spain, New York, Los Angeles, London, and more. However, despite the large number, the pool of viable options was relatively small, with only a few truly credible choices available.
In my observation, among all contenders, it was Tonatiuh who truly stood out during his self-recorded tryout. Director Condon was in search of an individual capable of convincingly portraying a charismatic character amid the raw authenticity of a prison film, yet also embodying the larger-than-life presence synonymous with Hollywood musical stardom. Remarkably, Tonatiuh effortlessly embodied both roles, making him a perfect fit for the diverse demands of this project.
According to Condon, “Tona’s face is exceptionally open, radiant, and beautiful.” He further adds, “His eyes draw you in, creating an inviting aura.” There’s a lot of humor associated with camp, which isn’t typically natural for someone from Tona’s generation. However, Tona has an innate talent for it. Yet, what truly stands out is the depth of emotion that he can express.
In a fascinating turn of events, Tonatiuh took on the challenging role of portraying two intricate characters in a single film. He explains that his mission was to infuse modern perspectives on queer identity into a historical production.
Speaking about it, Tonatiuh expressed that receiving this role felt incredibly unique since I don’t believe Hollywood often offers chances to portray complex characters for individuals like myself. When Hollywood trusts and invests in Latin talent, treating us as regular people, there is immense value gained. Let’s provide compelling stories instead of categorizing us as a specific genre.
Although they talked about Molina’s frame of mind and the historical background, Tonatiuh enjoyed a great deal of artistic liberty since he didn’t face close scrutiny.
He mentions that there was a sense of playfulness and enchantment, as he was the least recognized individual among the cast. Many people were focused on others rather than him, but his anonymity may not endure for much longer.
During the entirety of the filming process, Tonatiuh found that “Kiss of the Spider Woman” resonated deeply with his personal ambitions, not just those of his characters. “At one point during the song ‘Where You Are,’ Jennifer looked at me and sang, ‘Close your eyes and you’ll become a movie star. Why must you stay where you are?’ In an odd yet compelling way, that sentiment seems to be coming true.
Tonatiuh arranged for his mom and stepdad to travel to New York City so they could see “Where You Are,” an impressive musical performance with nearly 70 performers on stage. When Lopez and Tonatiuh danced together, his mother was deeply impressed.
Tonatiuh humorously comments that she aspires to emulate Kris Jenner’s role as a ‘momager.’ He adds, ‘In these challenging times for the Latinx community, it brings me immense joy to represent and offer a sense of pride by showcasing her in this light.’
Though his mother hasn’t had a chance to watch the completed movie yet, he hopes she can do so for the first time at the forthcoming premiere. He expresses that he wants her to enjoy the whole red-carpet experience as well.
With tears in his eyes, Tonatiuh reflects on a deeply emotional moment shared with Luna’s Valentin, who was an unexpected love interest for Molina, that appeared to him as though the world of films and his real life were communicating directly.
When I told Valentin, ‘The movie is nearly finishing and I don’t want it to end,’ it was heart-breaking for me, as I suddenly understood that the film truly was about to conclude and I didn’t want it to. His response was so poignant – he wept profusely, as if he had lost his dearest love. For me, this emotional outburst – though artificial – felt incredibly genuine.
After wrapping up “Kiss of the Spider Woman,” I’ve had the privilege to be part of Jeremy O. Harris’ play “Spirit of the People” and Ryan Murphy’s upcoming series “American Love Story.” For my next venture, I’m eager to embark on a fresh journey.
He expresses his desire to diverge significantly from Molina’s approach, explaining, “I yearn for a unique transformation each time I appear on screen, as I enjoy embracing the role of a shape-shifter.
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2025-08-20 13:34