IN CONVERSATION WITH GONZALO DÍEZ

interview by JANA LETONJA

Gonzalo Díez is a Spanish actor and model currently building a strong presence in television and film. He rose to prominence with a leading role in the global Prime Video series The Boarding School: Las Cumbres and later appeared in True Story. He is now filming the new Sony Pictures series Carlota for HBO Max and will make his feature film debut in José Mota’s Arriba Tutto, set for release in 2026. 

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You started acting at 13. What first inspired you to pursue this path? 

I remember watching The Hunger Games as a thirteen year old boy. Back at the time, the answer would have been, “Because I want to meet Jennifer Lawrence.” But as the years passed by, I guess what I really wanted is to be able to live different lives and experiences that only acting allows me to do. It’s something magic and really enriching that otherwise would be impossible. There’s also something about telling stories and being able to express myself in many different ways that really makes me happy. 

How did your early training shape the actor you are today? 

I begun at a little school in my hometown Madrid, called Primera Toma. The training method was “acting in front of camera” and there I began discovering this amazing world. I enjoyed it from the very fist second and since that moment, I never stopped learning and training. I studied at different schools and with different teachers, trying different methods and connecting with a lot of people. I strongly believe that as an actor you should never stop training and learning cause when the opportunity comes, you have to be ready. 

I really think the key point is that I always had so much fun training, with great teachers and classmates that made everything easy, and created a safe place for my young self. 

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What was your experience like performing at the Centro Dramático Nacional in Alicias Buscan Maravillas? 

It was a dream come true. I remember myself entering that theater for the first time, feeling goosebumps and thinking, “Wow, here’s where I want to be.” The play was an adaptation from Alice in Wonderland, and I had so much fun playing the role of “corre, ve y dile”. Seeing my family smiling in the audience made me really happy. They have always supported me and there I was, acting on a big stage in front of them. 

How did it feel to land a leading role in The Boarding School: Las Cumbres at just 18? 

I couldn’t believe it. I guess back then, it was something I never expected to happen to me. It was amazing being able to be on such a big show alongside great colleagues and directors. It was a beautiful chemistry between all the people involved in the show and that allowed me to have the courage and confidence to embrace the role I played. It was a full experience as I had to move to San Sebastián, in northern Spain, and live there for a few months. The cast became a family as we lived at the same country house. It’s something I will take with me forever. 

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What can you tell us about your character in the upcoming series Carlota? 

To be honest, I can’t tell you much about it as it’s top secret. Let’s just leave the hype until it’s out there. All I can say is that I’m really happy to be there on another international show with world class artists. I can’t wait for you to see it, I’m sure you will enjoy it. As an actor, this role was a challenging one for me and I really enjoyed the experience. 

How do you prepare for a role? Do you follow a specific method? 

First thing I do is read the script and see what feelings it gives me. Not only my role, but the whole story. I like being faithful to the script and try to find the real meaning behind what’s written, and let the script be the source of inspiration that guides me trough my role-building process, which is the second thing I normally do. I love creating background and context for my roles. That really helps me to embody them. If possible, I like practicing and exploring the scene with my colleagues to create synergies. 

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How has studying journalism influenced your acting career? 

It gave me opportunity to have an organized daily schedule, which is something you don’t usually get as an actor. Also, it opened my mind to other subjects that where interesting for me, such as writing, researching information. That are things that help me as an actor too. I got to know many different people there, with different interests and opinions, that expanded my relationship area. This year, I’ve been working as head press journalist for an artist management office and I really get to see the industry from another point of view, which helped me get to know how it works form the other side of the coin. 

What differences do you notice between working on a film set and a television series? 

The main differences I noticed in my experience is the timings. On a film set, you normally have more time to prepare a role and get to try things with the directors before you start filming. Everything is more relaxed during the filming process, which is a relief as an actor, not feeling the pressure of time. On the other hand, while filming television series, everything goes faster and you have to be really sharp and ready. It’s challenging sometimes so that is why you always have to be training. 

You’ve recently stepped into modeling. How does that compare to acting? 

Modeling and fashion have always been on my mind as something I wanted to try and finally last year, I decided to step in and see what it’s like. I’m really enjoying it. It’s quite similar to acting as you do a lot of castings and you get a lot of “Nos,” which is something I’m used to as an actor. It also gives me more confidence with the camera and on set. My favorite thing to do are runways. They are so much fun. For me, it’s like acting on stage. You get to the location of the show, go trough make up and clothing process while you start hearing the audience sitting out there. Goosebumps. While walking the first steps, it’s like you don’t even know how to walk, and you feel the adrenaline growing inside you, but after a second, there you g. It's amazing.

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What kind of characters challenge you the most? 

I think every actor loves characters who are far from their own personality and context, so you can really have a character preparation and esearch, which is something I really enjoy doing. You get to learn many different things, other cultures, points of view, new ways of dealing with life.

Is there a dream role or genre you’d love to explore in the future? 

I went to the cinema to watch ‘Hamnet’ the other day and it was close to a spiritual experience. So, I would say drama if you ask me today. I love crying while watching movies and the feeling of stepping out of the cinema with no words left and existential thoughts going through my mind is something wonderful that really inspires me to keep acting. 

To take on roles that are going through difficult situations is really enjoyable for me as an actor as I get to empathize with their problems and learn from them.

What keeps you grounded when you’re not on set? 

My family, friends, Bimba (my Spanish water dog), my psychologist. Having a strong and healthy environment really helps me feel down to earth. I just entered the world of meditation and I’m really enjoying it. As I said on previous question, working as a journalist has really helped me create a daily routine that keeps me focused on other stuff than just acting, which gives you a more amplified vision of life. 

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TEAM CREDITS

talent GONZALO DÍEZ
photography JUAN MIGUEL HERRERO
styling JUAN LUIS ASCANIO
makeup PAULA SOROA
PR ANGELA CARIDDI