IN CONVERSATION WITH LEONARDO NAM

interview by JANA LETONJA

Over the past two decades, Leonardo Nam, the Argentine-born, Australian-raised actor has become known for bringing warmth, intelligence, and emotional depth to every role, whether in prestige television, blockbuster franchises, or independent films. From his fan-favorite performance as Felix Lutz in HBO’s Westworld to memorable turns in Origin, Marvel’s Werewolf by Night, Yes Day, and The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, he has consistently proven himself to be one of Hollywood’s most versatile performers. This summer, he returns as the beloved Maddox Hatter in Disney’s highly anticipated Descendants: Wicked Wonderland, the latest chapter in the global franchise phenomenon. At the same time, he is embarking on a new creative journey as the founder of Good On Ya Productions, a production company focused on globally minded, character-driven storytelling. As his career continues to evolve both in front of and behind the camera, Leonardo remains a compelling voice on creativity, representation, family, and the future of entertainment.

You’re returning as Maddox Hatter. What excited you most about stepping back into this world?

Getting the chance to explore another side of Maddox was incredibly exciting. One of the things I love most about the Descendants universe is that it keeps expanding in unexpected ways. Every time you step back into it, there are new corners to discover, new relationships to explore, and new layers to uncover. And honestly, who doesn’t want to play a Disney villain? That’s iconic.

Maddox is such a fun character because he’s so different from who people know me to be in real life. As an actor, that’s the dream, to step into someone completely different and find the truth inside them.

This film also pushed me in ways I didn’t expect. I got to sing and dance, which was both thrilling and terrifying. Singing is probably one of the most nerve-racking things I’ve ever done professionally, but I love stretching myself as an artist. The idea that somewhere in the Disney universe people will hear a Maddox Hatter song and that’s my voice is pretty surreal. Those are the moments that remind you why you became an actor in the first place.

As the Descendants universe continues to grow, what’s been the most rewarding part of being part of such a global franchise?

The most rewarding part is knowing that these stories become part of people’s lives. You see how much these characters mean to audiences around the world and how they spark imagination, creativity, and connection. That’s a privilege as a storyteller.

As a father of nine-year-old twin boys, it’s especially meaningful. For the first time, my kids and their friends can watch something I’ve worked on that feels like it’s made for them. Seeing their excitement and being able to share that experience with them is incredibly special.

I think every actor hopes to be part of stories that live beyond the screen. Descendants has become one of those worlds, and I’m grateful to be part of it.

Without giving away spoilers, what can audiences expect from Maddox in this new chapter?

Let’s just say that when you start playing with the fabric of time, everything changes. Audiences are going to discover a very different Wonderland and a very different situation for Maddox. His relationship with Red evolves in some unexpected ways, and I think fans will be surprised by where he ends up and the role he ultimately plays in the story. The Wonderland audiences’ return to isn’t quite the Wonderland they remember, and that’s where things get really interesting.

Wonderland is one of Disney’s most imaginative settings. What was it like revisiting that world?

It was pure fun. The production designers, costume department, visual effects artists, and our director created a world that feels both familiar and completely new. Everywhere you look, there’s imagination, color, creativity, and detail.

What I love is that the film honors what the Wonderland audiences know while continuing to expand it. There’s something magical about walking onto a set and feeling like you’ve stepped inside a dream.

As actors, we spend our lives pretending. Every once in a while, you step into a world that makes pretending easy. Wonderland is one of those places.

Your career spans prestige dramas, family entertainment, science fiction, horror, and superhero projects. What attracts you to such a wide variety of roles?

I’ve always been curious. I’ve never been interested in staying in one lane because every genre asks something different of you.

Prestige dramas challenge you emotionally. Science fiction allows you to explore big questions about humanity and the future. Horror lets you confront our deepest fears. Family entertainment gives you the opportunity to connect with audiences across generations.

At the end of the day, I’m drawn to stories that reveal something true about what it means to be human. Whether it’s a Disney musical, a science-fiction series, a horror film, or a character drama, I’m always looking for the humanity underneath. That’s the common thread for me.

Many audiences still remember your performance as Felix in Westworld. Looking back, what does that role mean to you today?

I’m incredibly grateful that people continue to connect with Felix and with Westworld. What’s remarkable is how relevant those conversations feel today. The show was asking questions about artificial intelligence, consciousness, and humanity long before those topics became part of our everyday lives.

What I loved about Felix was his heart. In a world filled with technology and philosophical questions, he represented empathy and compassion. He chose connection. I think that’s why the character continues to resonate. No matter how advanced technology becomes, people will always be searching for human connection. In many ways, that’s what great storytelling is about too.

Your career includes everything from The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants to Fast & Furious, Marvel, Westworld, and now Disney’s Descendants. What have you learned about longevity in this industry?

I’ve learned that longevity comes from being willing to evolve. The goal isn’t to stay the same. The goal is to stay curious.

The industry changes. Audiences change. We change. The actor I am today is very different from the actor who started more than twenty-five years ago, and that’s exactly how it should be.

I’ve literally grown up in front of the camera. I started my career playing teenagers. Today I’m playing fathers. Every stage of life brings new experiences, new perspectives, and new stories to tell. What keeps me excited is continuing to challenge myself. Whether that’s singing in Descendants, exploring the future of humanity in Westworld, stepping into horror with Love Is the Monster, or building projects as a producer, I never want to stop growing.

For me, longevity isn’t about holding on to who you were. It’s about continuing to grow into who you’re becoming.

You’re now expanding into producing with your production company, Good On Ya Productions. What inspired you to launch your own company?

After spending twenty-five years helping bring other people’s stories to life, I became excited by the idea of helping create stories from the ground up. I’ve had a front-row seat to incredible writers, directors, producers, and actors throughout my career. Over time, I started seeing stories that I wanted to help champion myself. That’s what inspired me to launch my production company, Good On Ya Productions.

In Australia, “Good on ya” is a phrase of encouragement. It’s a way of saying, “I’ve got your back.” That’s the spirit of the company. I want to champion storytellers, support great ideas, and help create opportunities for voices that deserve to be heard. 

What kinds of stories are you most interested in championing as a producer?

I’m especially drawn to stories about identity, belonging, and connection. We live in a world where people are increasingly navigating multiple cultures, languages, perspectives, and communities. Those experiences create incredibly rich stories.

I’m interested in projects that live in those in-between spaces, the places where cultures meet, where identities overlap, and where people are trying to figure out where they belong. At the same time, the stories still have to be deeply human. Audiences connect to truth. They connect to love, family, loss, ambition, hope, and resilience. Those emotions are universal. The more specific a story becomes, the more universal it often feels.

As someone born in Argentina to Korean parents and raised in Australia, how has your multicultural background shaped the way you approach storytelling?

I’ve spent my whole life living between cultures. I was born in Argentina, raised in Australia, have Korean heritage, and built my career in America. For a long time, I thought that made me unusual. What I’ve come to realize is that more and more people have stories like that.

We live in a world where identities are layered. People move across borders, build families across cultures, and create lives that don’t fit neatly into a single category. That experience has shaped the way I approach storytelling. I’m interested in the contradictions, complexities, and nuances that make people who they are.

As an actor, I’m always searching for the truth of a character. As a producer, I’m looking for stories that reflect the world we actually live in today. I’ve spent my whole life bridging different worlds. Storytelling feels like a natural extension of that. At its best, storytelling reminds us that we’re far more alike than we are different. That’s something I believe now more than ever.

How important is it for you to tell stories that reflect a broader range of cultural experiences and perspectives?

It’s incredibly important because the world has changed. For generations, stories often came from a relatively narrow set of perspectives. Today, audiences are looking for stories that reflect the reality of the world around them.

That doesn’t mean every story needs to be about culture. It means we should be open to the richness and diversity of human experience. People want to see themselves reflected on screen. They want to see their families, their communities, their struggles, and their dreams represented authentically.

What excites me is that we’re living through a moment where more voices are getting the opportunity to tell their stories. I think that’s good for audiences, good for artists, and ultimately good for storytelling itself.

You’re balancing acting, producing, fatherhood, and entrepreneurship. How has becoming a parent influenced your perspective on success and creativity?

The moment you become a parent, your definition of success changes. Of course I still care about the work. I love acting. I love producing. I love creating. But becoming a father gave me a different perspective on what actually matters.

At the end of the day, you want your children to be healthy, happy, and fulfilled. You realize very quickly that the things connecting us are far more powerful than the things dividing us. Fatherhood has made me more empathetic. It’s made me more patient. It’s made me more grateful. It’s also made me more intentional about the stories I want to tell and the legacy I want to leave behind.

As you enter this next chapter, what excites you most about the future, both professionally and personally?

What excites me most is the opportunity to create. For the last twenty-five years, I’ve had the privilege of helping bring other people’s stories to life. I’ve played incredible characters, worked with amazing filmmakers, and been part of projects that have connected with audiences around the world. Now, for the first time in my career, I’m not only helping build characters, I’m helping build worlds. That’s incredibly exciting to me.

As an actor, I’ll always love the challenge of transformation. One year I can be in a Disney musical like Descendants: Wicked Wonderland. The next I can be in a psychological horror film like Love Is the Monster. I love that range. I love that sense of discovery. But producing has opened up an entirely new creative avenue. It’s given me the opportunity to champion stories from the very beginning, support new voices, and help build projects that might not otherwise find their way into the world.

Professionally, I’m excited about building the next generation of iconic stories and characters. Personally, I’m excited about continuing to grow, learn, and stay curious. I feel like I’m entering a new chapter where all the parts of my life—actor, producer, entrepreneur, husband, and father—are finally informing one another. And honestly, that feels like the most creative and fulfilling chapter yet.

TEAM CREDITS:

photography TIMOTHY FERNANDEZ