Orlando Pineda, a Colombian actor, is famous for his upcoming role in the Netflix original “Griselda” starring Sofia Vergara. Though he started acting in high school in school productions, he became interested in professional acting after watching the 1992 film “Chaplin” with Robert Downey Jr. Pineda then moved to the United States where he graduated with a BFA in acting from New York Film Academy in 2016. Soon, he transitioned from commercials to booking television shows and films. He starred in the 2019 Sundance-winning docu-thriller “The Infiltrators,” which followed undocumented kids detained by the U.S. Border Patrol. He has made numerous appearances and cameos on shows such as “Narcos Mexico” and “Fake It ‘Till You Make It.” He also is the recipient of the Best Ensemble award of the Panama Film Festival for his work on the movie “Your Iron Lady.” He was also cast in the anticipated Netflix series ‘Griselda,” inspired by the story of notorious drug lord Griselda Blanco, and he plays one of Blanco’s sons. In 2023, Pineda was deemed “One to Watch for” in 2024 by Ouch!

How did you become interested in acting and theater from such a young age?
As a person who often moved from one city to another due to my dad’s job (General in Colombia’s military), I always found my safe place in theater and the characters I played. It was my way of being myself without getting bullied or judged, so I developed a gratitude and love for acting.

Why did you move to Hollywood?
That is one of those things in life that just happened. I was helping my friend find a college or university in the United States, so he asked me if I would go with him to a college fair in Bogota, to what I said “no, what a drag.” After asking me for half a day I went with him and I found the college I eventually went to in Los Angeles, while he didn’t find anything. Then I told my parents, expecting opposition, and to my surprise their answer was “are you going to be happy there? If so, let’s do it” and the rest is history.

What made you want to audition for the role of Dixon Blanco in Griselda?
As an actor in Los Angeles, you audition for absolutely everything you can get your hands on, but when I got that audition I felt an instant connection. The description was “male, Colombian, 18 years old, overprotective of his mom, he is the reflection of all the culture around Griselda and what her life has caused” I focused on portraying a son who loves his mother beyond anything and is willing to go the distance to protect her from absolutely everything, I fell for this character and I got his way of thinking almost immediately.

Your father has an interesting connection with the real Griselda Blanco. How did you find out about that story?
I’ve always known, It’s one of those stories that are always spoken about at home. My dad is a hero in my eyes and to many Colombians. In the 90s he dealt with the Cali Cartel taking one of his bosses in custody and eventually he was extradited to the United States. The Cali Cartel were the people responsible for Griselda’s death. So, in a way my dad was a great source of info for my character’s development process.

What has been the most rewarding moment in your career so far?
Definitely booking this project. It was as if all the “no’s” and sacrifices lead me to this. It is my first recurring role in a huge production working with actors and filmmakers who have decades of experience and careers that I look up to. Getting to learn from people like Andres Baiz (director), Sofia Vergara, Alberto Guerra, Christian Tappan, is an incomparable experience.

How do you handle rejection during auditions? What advice would you give to newcomers?
Rejection is the toughest thing you’ll face as an actor. I personally don’t allow myself to doubt when I go to auditions. I like to learn my material so well I don’t hesitate, and I always give it my all and have fun, so if I hear “no” it is not because of me, it just wasn’t meant to be. My advice would be the most prepared, hardest working person in the audition room, and enjoy that you get to act, so if they tell you “no” you know it had nothing to do with you.

What about Robert Downey Jr’s performance as Charlie Chaplin inspired you to pursue Hollywood?
I’ve always been inspired by superheroes. The superpowers, the heroism, the outfits, everything. But when I watched him as Chaplin when I was 14 years old I felt like I didn’t need a cape or superpowers to inspire the way he inspired me in that movie. The essence of a person, the light that can shine through someone’s eyes, the charisma, all of that, I understood watching that movie, he was absolutely brilliant. And then I decided, I want to do that for a living, I want to inspire.

Which actors do you most admire?
Robert Downey Jr., Gael Garcia Bernal, Meryl Streep, Oscar Isaac, Christian Bale, Kate Blanchet, just to name a few. I admire actors who are 100% dedicated to their craft. They love what they do to a point of perfectionism and naturality that you can’t see the line between fiction and reality, real story tellers.

Alongside the American film industry, would you like to work on Latin American productions?
Absolutely, I am Latino, and I want to tell the stories of my people as well, here in the United States, Latin America, or wherever I am called.

What kind of role would you love to play next?
I would like something challenging as an actor. A character who requires my undivided attention, that changes my understanding of human behavior. Or an action superhero or a spy would be fun too.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve received so far?
“We ain’t doing open heart surgery, so do the work but make sure to have fun, enjoy, and let go.” I used to be obsessed with trying to control my “journey of the scene” and hearing that advice from an actor whom I looked up to change my mind. Now I make sure to be ready, and when they say “action,” I let go, and have fun. A new world of creativity and magic was unlocked for me.

Social Media.
Instagram: @orlandopineda_

CREW CREDITS:
PhotoBook Editor-In-Chief: Alison Hernon
PhotoBook Creative Director: Mike Ruiz @mikeruiz.one
Photographer: Manolo Alzamora
Talent: Orlando Pineda
Tearsheets by Daniel López, Art Director, PhotoBook Magazine
RADAR Created by Ayoka Lucas