interview by JANA LETONJA
With magnetic screen presence, remarkable versatility, and an unwavering commitment to authentic storytelling, Ismael Cruz Córdova has established himself as one of the most compelling actors of his generation. Born in Puerto Rico, he has built an impressive international career, sharing the screen with some of Hollywood’s most celebrated talents while challenging traditional expectations of representation in the entertainment industry. His groundbreaking portrayal of the Silvan elf Arondir in Prime Video’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power has brought him global recognition, and he returns for the highly anticipated third season, which premiered November 11. He also stars alongside Dakota Johnson, Anne Hathaway, and Josh Hartnett in the psychological thriller Verity, adapted from Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel. Beyond his performances, Ismael embodies a powerful combination of confidence, individuality, and contemporary elegance, making him a compelling figure at the intersection of cinema, fashion, and culture.
Your journey from Puerto Rico to major international film and television productions has been extraordinary. Looking back, what were the defining moments that shaped your ambitions and your belief in yourself as an actor?
I've always been incredibly artistic. I didn't know what that meant because it was just me and what I liked. I always wanted to be an artist. I always sketched. I was extremely observant and sensitive, and all of that good stuff. But I grew up in a very poor area, in a very poor town, and that wasn't well received. There was no support for it.
So I started trying to find what I could do to leave. Not leave and forget, but leave and explore, and let people know that people like me were also artists. That we could do that, too, and show people like ourselves. It was about showing both my culture and people outside it what we could be. From there, I started exploring so many different types of art until I finally found acting. I found acting when I was 14, at a school where I got a sports scholarship for swimming, and it completely changed my life.
pin and rings AGMES
earrings MARIE LICHTENBERG
shirt, pants, shoes, jacket and coat DOLCE & GABBANA
belt DEHANCHE
You’ve built a career portraying characters across very different genres and worlds. What attracts you to a particular role, and what qualities make a character impossible for you to resist?
Each script does something different. I have the most scattered, maybe disorganized, method of acting because I'm not really thinking about whom I'd like to play from a physical standpoint. I begin with the walking, the shapes, how they move, how they dress, how they talk, all that external stuff that helps you reach the emotions. That's physical-based acting, if you will.
But I like to read the script, and there's a moment when you feel like the character is looking back at you. It's a mutual recognition. It's like when you're walking down the street and lock eyes with someone, and it feels so familiar, sometimes sexy, sometimes romantic. There's something there, maybe a soulmate you'll never see again.
That's how it feels when you find a role that feels like yours. It's not so much, “Oh, I understand it.” It's that the character looks back at you and understands you. That's how I explain it. And that makes it impossible to get out of your mind. It's almost like love at first sight.
But beyond that, I love “losers”. I love people who have had so many things happen to them, or been dealt such a difficult hand, that they're supposed to lose. The worst deck of cards. Most people, in one way or another, can be losers or are losers. There's so much in life that's hard, and I like to see that. I like to explore it. I want to know how people, how characters, continue to hope every day, even with how hard the world is right now, or how hard their own world is. What is the wish? There's something there. And in that, I also love villains.
shirt and coat HYKE
ring and necklace MARIE LICHTENBERG
shoes JOHN LOBB
trousers DRIES VAN NOTEN
Playing Arondir in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power has become one of the defining roles of your career. What has this character meant to you personally, and how has your relationship with him evolved over the course of the series?
It's been a beautiful opportunity for me as a human being. I had a dream as a child, and I fulfilled it. I had a dream to be enough. I loved The Lord of the Rings. When I first saw it, I bought my own little DVD with money I made washing cars and doing whatever I could just to see it. And it changed my perception of what I could do with my life, because it wasn't just a film. It also had a lot of behind-the-scenes material, and it was the first time I saw how movies were made.
When you're a little boy from the mountains in Puerto Rico, you don't know how to make a movie. You don't know what's behind any of it. You don't know there are all these people who design, make, and build things. When I saw that, it exploded in my mind. Then I wanted to be an elf, and 20-something years later, I did it.
Not only that, I got to play the first elf of my kind, a very different elf. I got to create the movement for the show. I got to do all my stunts. And I've reached so many people across the globe who love this character. I had just arrived at my hotel in London, and there were all these people waiting for autographs and pictures. I always forget how important this character has been. He's given me so much.
Dreams come true, and I've been able to reach the hearts of people I've always cared about: people who've been discarded, people who feel out of place, people who feel they're on the margins. I meet them all the time, and they say, “You're our favorite elf because you represent the ones who aren't the norm.” It's really changed my life, and I feel extremely proud of what I've done.
At first, I had to create this role. I had to meet him. He's very stoic, serious, and sometimes hard, and there's so much pain. As I continued with the role, I was able to go deeper into his sadness, his longing, his love, the decisions he has to make over time, his loyalty, and his honor. I put a lot of myself into him, and those values are reflected in my own life.
It goes back to what I said before about that mutual recognition with a character. My life has made this character better, and his world has made me better. We've matured quite a bit together. Throughout the show, you can see that in some instances I'm more serious, but in others I'm calmer and can let things go. That reflects the seven years I've been doing the show by this point.
jacket and shorts HENRIK VIBSKOV
jewellery ROSE & SEAN and NICKHO REY
The third season promises another emotionally intense chapter for Arondir, including a particularly heartbreaking moment. Without revealing any spoilers, how did you prepare for this part of his journey, and what made it especially challenging to portray?
At that moment in my life, I was going through some difficult times. My father had just been diagnosed with cancer. I knew these moments were going to happen in the story, and I'd also lost someone very dear to me, one of the great loves of my life. All of that happened within a span of about four months. I'd also lost my sister a long time ago, and I came back to the preciousness of life, the preciousness of the moment, and the preciousness of having played a role like this.
I infused all of that into him, without giving too much away. I was able to get deeply in touch with my own humanity, my courage, and my absolute vulnerability. I could crumble openly and allow myself to be weak. I reached the purest parts of myself. Everything I was doing allowed me to connect with my purest form of being and feeling. I became almost like a little kid, completely present. From there, I was able to access everything I needed for those difficult moments.
Your casting as Arondir represented an important moment for diversity within the fantasy genre. Looking back at the conversations surrounding the character, what has this experience taught you about representation, visibility, and the responsibility that can come with breaking new ground?
It's been the joy of my life to represent people through this character, to break boundaries in the fantasy genre, and to carry this torch. However, it was also very difficult, incredibly challenging. I like to be open about it because I'm not a victim in any way, shape, or form, but it's good for people to know that we do suffer for these characters. We feel the weight of what they mean. What happens socially around us as actors does have an impact. The opposition was very hard, and at one point it affected my emotional health.
But I knew it would happen because I live in this world, on Earth. I've experienced that kind of thing many times in society. I fought for the role, I wanted the role, and I knew there would be backlash. I felt I was the right person to take it on, and I'm very happy that I did. Because, as we were talking about earlier, the love people have given me, the intensity of the conversations, the level of support, to see little kids dressed as you for Halloween, wow! Parents send me these pictures as if I were their cousin or something. They say, “This is the first time my kid can dress as an elf from The Lord of the Rings who looks like him.”
It's so special. No change comes without opposition, and often pain, sadness, and loneliness. That's something pioneers throughout history will always talk about. It is lonely in a certain way, but for me, I have everyone with me. I carry everyone with me, and that makes it all worth it. I would do it again.
I know it wasn't the first time, and it won't be the last time, that I go for a role people have something to say about. But I sincerely do not care. I do not care about people's opinions regarding where I am or am not allowed to exist, and how.
jacket and trousers KIDSUPER
earrings MARIE LICHTENBERG
ring AGMES
shoes HENRIK VIBSKOV
You’re also appearing in Verity, adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling psychological thriller. What initially attracted you to the project, and what intrigued you most about its dark and psychologically complex world?
It was an offer I got from the director. When it came, I didn't know what it was about yet. I just saw an email that said Dakota Johnson, Anne Hathaway, Josh Hartnett, Michael Showalter, so I thought, “Oh, that's great. I want to do it.”
Then I was doing something else when they announced it, and I found out through my sister, who called me hysterically excited. She was like, “Oh my God, you're going to do...” I had no idea the book was so famous, that it was such a phenomenon. That's when I realized it was something big.
I had her help me prepare for the role. I said, “Okay, since you've read it, help me.” The thing is, once you start, when you see it, you'll understand. It's twist after twist after twist. Even by the end, you're still thinking, “What?” You doubt yourself over and over again. I'm very happy I did it. I didn't see the film until the premiere, and I was still thinking, “Oh my God, what's going to happen?” Even though I'd read the script.
What attracted me was the cast. It's such a wonderful cast, and we had a fantastic time. They were so generous. I really enjoyed my time with Dakota and doing scenes with her, and with Josh as well. Michael Showalter is an incredible director. He really gave me free rein to express myself. And Anne Hathaway, what can I say? She's everywhere because she should be.
You have a striking presence both on screen and in fashion. How would you describe your personal style, and what role does clothing play in expressing your personality, heritage, and individuality?
I've always tried things. I just try stuff on, and I love the happy accidents. You try one thing, then pull out another. A lot happens when you don't have clean laundry and have to put outfits together with whatever's left. Then suddenly you leave the house and people comment on what you're wearing.
I've always experimented, even as a kid, and it almost never went well because it was different. I didn't want to dress like anybody else. I put prints with prints, flashy patterns together, and I was always being made fun of. But whatever.
Today, I'm a little more organized in my style. For example, for this premiere and press tour, I've been using Clark Gable as a major reference. I've been watching a lot of older movies, looking at the cuts, the shoulders, the tailoring, high-waisted pleated pants, things I'm not super used to, but with a period feel. So I've taken my style in that direction. A few press tours ago, I was wearing Thom Browne long skirts, custom corsets, and a bunch of hardware.
The role clothing has always played for me is very poetic. It goes back to what we were talking about earlier. I'm fascinated by being human. I'm fascinated by our personalities and by the fact that we think we have one, but we have so many. Clothing lets you express all of that. When you're a shy kid, like I was, you're able to say something before you even open your mouth. I find that very poetic, and I still use it day to day.
coat GUCCI
shirt COMME DES GARCONS
ring and bracelet MARIE LICHTENBERG
socks FALKE
shoes DOLCE & GABBANA
You’ve spoken through your work and career choices about the importance of creating opportunities for underrepresented voices. Why is that important to you and what progress do you believe the entertainment industry has made so far?
It's important to me because if somebody else hadn't cared about that, I wouldn't be here with you. The work of others has helped me find a space to be here today, and my work can help other people do the same. I feel responsible for that.
I don't like this intense, overwhelming hyper-individuality people have, this idea that “I don't owe anyone anything” or “I can do this on my own.” I feel extremely responsible for what I can achieve and what I can do for others. I was born and raised with very few opportunities. My family didn't have many opportunities, not even to go to school. I was the first to pursue higher education and graduate from college, and among the first in parts of my family to be fully literate.
I saw so many people around me who were more talented than I am, more talented than so many people I know, but they couldn't even dream of having those opportunities. So it's my responsibility, my joy, and my calling to help those brilliant minds have opportunities to come and play, because we need them. We need those voices in this landscape. We need more than one type of voice, one type of face, or one type of experience. That's extremely important. It feels like the calling of my heart. Life is very strange and mysterious, and if you don't have purpose, it's very hard to go day by day. This feels like a purpose to me.
I want to see those movies. I want to see underrepresented stories, faces, and abilities. I want to see more movies about Indigenous women. I want to see more movies about people who use wheelchairs. It's fascinating, and it's enriching. It's not just about social justice, it's also about enriching our understanding of life. If you see a movie about a woman who uses a wheelchair, how she goes through her days and finds love, there's something real there. Something that I know will teach someone something. So it goes beyond ethnicity and color. There are so many underrepresented stories, and I'm one of the people who wants that to change.
With an increasingly demanding international career, how do you stay connected to your Puerto Rican roots and maintain a sense of balance, perspective, and personal identity away from the spotlight?
I try to stay connected to my culture as much as I can. I go to Puerto Rico whenever possible. I spend all my Christmases there. I have a little apartment and some land there, and I invest in my country quite a bit. I try to go back and give talks, and when I'm away, I surround myself with my culture at home. I follow so many Instagram pages about what's happening in my country. I'm politically and socially involved as well, and food is another way I stay connected.
To maintain balance in my life, I like to make other kinds of art. I like being in nature, going to museums, designing things, and making sculptures. I'm always doing something with my hands. I don't really think of myself as a famous person, which my dad gets mad at me for. He says, “You need to think about it because you walk through life and go to places that maybe you shouldn't go.” He worries that I might put myself in danger.
But I don't think about it much. I don't think it's something you should dwell on, because it gets into your head and makes you feel different from everybody else. I might be doing a premiere for The Rings of Power, and the next day you'll see me worrying about the specific tiles I want to put in my bathroom. I'm very happy to continue being a regular person in that sense. Above all, I'm an artist. When you identify as an artist first, the whole thing about fame and celebrity becomes less important. I'm always thinking about art, and that really keeps me grounded.
jewellery NICKHO REY
vest, trousers and shoes EMPORIO ARMANI
What can you share with us about your upcoming projects?
Well, I just finished a film called Porto Rico, directed by René Pérez Joglar, who is also a huge cultural figure for us in the urban and hip-hop world. It stars Benito Antonio Martínez, also known as Bad Bunny. I just wrapped it, after filming in the Dominican Republic for two months.
It was absolutely one of the best experiences of my life and career. To be able to make a Hollywood-scale film with Caribbean people—Puerto Rican, Cuban, Dominican, and other Latino talent—telling one of our stories, and to have at least one of us in every position of power, was incredible.
We were also able to recover part of our history. So much of Puerto Rico's history has been kept from us, and now we have an opportunity to revive it. It was done in such a beautiful way, with an incredible crew, including people with Academy Award experience, and an incredible cast. I can't say much about the project itself, but I think it's going to be a moment of renaissance for Puerto Rican and Caribbean cinema. You need to watch it, I believe that comes out next year.
For the holidays, there's another project called Don't Ever Wonder. I think that comes out either now or around January. It's going to be on Netflix, with Nia Long.
I also have a short film called The 65th, which has been doing incredibly well at festivals. It won at the Newport Beach Film Festival and the Austin Film Festival, two important Oscar-qualifying festivals. And I've been developing my own personal projects, too. You'll see me writing and directing very soon as well.
earring and necklace MARIE LICHTENBERG
ring AGMES
blazer BOSS
TEAM CREDITS:
talent ISMAEL CRUZ CÓRDOVA
photography MAX TARDIO
creative direction RYAN LUCCA
styling NATA BOCHA
grooming ALEXA HERNANDEZ at THE WALL GROUP
styling assistance ALINA ALIFIRUK
editor TIMI LETONJA
editorial director and interview JANA LETONJA
cover design ARTHUR ROELOFFZEN
