Rhenzy Feliz on “The Penguin” and His Next Chapter
Rhenzy Feliz has proven his versatility as an actor, with wildly different heavy hitters “Encanto” and “The Penguin” both under his belt at just twenty-seven years old. The native New Yorker brought the original character of Victor Aguilar to life in HBO’s Batman spinoff series “The Penguin,” working alongside Colin Farrell to create a heartbreaking picture of companionship, crime, and loss. Below, he discusses the journey that was filming “The Penguin,” while also touching on previous projects and those coming soon (hint hint, Josh O’Connor and “The Mastermind”), displaying his raw talent and adaptability through it all.
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Your role in “The Penguin” was unique in the sense that you had no comic source material off of which to base your performance. How did you approach preparing for the role of Victor?
So much of it lies in the writing. And in that 3rd episode you get to learn so much about Victor through what happens to him. You take that and then the incredible help that was Marc Winski, my dialect coach, and we were able to dive into the childhood of someone who grows up with a stutter. Marc has an incredible insight and one we wouldn't have gotten to explore had he not been so open about his own life and experiences as someone who has a stutter as well.
You and Farrell form an interesting duo on-screen (well… for a while). Did you two do anything off-screen to help cultivate this dynamic?
I think chemistry is either something that's there or it isn't. We get to see Victor and Oz meet on camera. So when Colin and I are doing those scenes we've genuinely only known each other about a week or so. As the show goes on they grow a bond of sorts and it mirrors in a way the growing bond he and I had. When you spend 16 hours a day on set together you get to know someone. You get more comfortable. So as you see Victor and Oz's relationship grow, so was mine and Colin’s.
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Do you have a favorite memory from your time filming “The Penguin?”
From the incredible sets they'd build. Like the 8th episode explosion which covered an entire NY city block, or the 5th episode reveal of Crown Point and what it's turned into since the flood which was another 6-7 blocks in Yonkers. Or just getting to come to work everyday and work with Colin and Didi or even on days I'd finish early and stick around just to watch some of Cristin's scenes it really is hard to pick just one. The work everyone did on this show from the cast to the crew to the incredible feats the producers were able to pull off, everyday felt like a dream.
The dark, gritty aura of the show must have been quite a change from working on “Encanto.” How do you mentally reset between projects?
Thankfully some time had passed between me actually shooting “Encanto” and shooting “Penguin.” I had about a month to prep for the shoot of “Penguin” so getting to dive into that world and just how much pain Victor was coming off the back of dealing with helped immerse me into this darker, grimier Gotham. Far aways from the sunny days of the “Encanto.”
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What was the biggest difference between “The Penguin” and your projects with Disney and Marvel?
Just how dark and twisted we were willing to go. It's a very different universe than the one Matt has created. So getting to really dive into the underbelly, into what it takes to make it in a place like Gotham was very interesting and honestly something I had been wanting to explore for a while.
Speaking of “Runaways,” how does it feel to join the ranks of the Marvel Cinematic Universe?
It's pretty great! So cool getting to be a small part of something so massive. Although I'm hoping it's not the only entry I'm given an opportunity to have.
Can you let us in on any details about “The Mastermind?”
Tough because I don't know what I'm allowed to say but Josh O’Connor is one of the kindest human beings and the role is very different to anything I've gotten to play before.
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How does filming a show compare to a film? Do you feel any greater pressure to convey the truth of a character when you only have a few hours versus an entire season?
On a tv show it takes about 2 1/2 months and then you really start to get into this rhythm. You really get what's going on and you build this trust overtime with yourself in understanding the character. Naturally of course. You've gotten this time to live and breathe as them, without getting too pretentious. On a movie that's normally around the time it ends if not sooner. So yeah, I guess there is a stronger pressure to find the essence quickly. To be comfortable in it as soon as possible. You don't have the luxury of time.
In your recent projects, have there been any chances to take creative freedom? If so, can you share an example?
Yeah. I've been lucky to work with creatives who allow me to take a certain ownership of the character. So in the “Penguin” for example, so much of the stutter like when and how much and all the secondary behaviours like how he moved and the physicality of trying to push the words out was all left to me and Marc. We would meet throughout the week multiple times and work on it until we found something that was honest to me and how my body worked.
Is there any specific song, food, etc. that takes you back to filming each project?
I was listening to a lot of the soundtrack to Howl's Moving Castle at the time. Don't ask me why. I still haven't seen the movie, I'm ashamed to admit. But there's something about those first 6 songs that would bring me to this place of neutrality before starting the work day. Just get me out of whatever was happening in Rhenzy land and bring me closer to where it was I needed to be. It was the number 1 album on my "Spotify wrapped" that year.
What do you do to unwind and transition out of your character and back to Rhenzy after a long day on set?
Haven't figured that one out yet. Good shower helps, sleep, then we're right back into it the next day. I love it.
CREW CREDITS:
Talent: Rhenzy Feliz
PhotoBook Editor-In-Chief: Alison Hernon
PhotoBook Creative Director + Photographer: Mike Ruiz
Fashion Stylist + Producer: Alison Hernon at Exclusive Artists
Groomer: Joelis Vallejo
Photography Assistant: Dani Sax
Fashion Stylist Intern: Mariliet Vin-kab + Amelia Evans
Tearsheets by Daniel López, Art Director, PhotoBook Magazine
Interview by Logan Dutra, Contributor, PhotoBook Magazine
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