Santiago Cabrera: The Versatile Star Talks ‘Land of Women’ and Hollywood Journey
Whether you loved him in the mystical lands of Camelot in Merlin, the futuristic fantasy realm of the year 2399 in Star Trek: Picard, or the coastal town of Monterey, California in Big Little Lies, Santiago Cabrera has captivated audiences for years with his versatility in performance. Navigating through TV, film, and stage effortlessly, the Chilean-born star has had a steady rise in Hollywood, bringing a unique blend of authenticity and undeniable charisma.
With his most recent project Land of Women, Cabrera shines as Amat, a character who embodies both strength and vulnerability. The show, as the actor describes it himself, is “fun and light and set in a world that you want to inhabit with characters you enjoy watching,” making it perfect as your next summer watch. He chameleons into every character like they’re custom suits made just for him, and makes you wonder why you haven’t seen him in more! He’s an artist whose continued brilliance and inspiration we eagerly anticipate.
Coat by Brooks Brothers
Shirt by KYLE’LYK
Pants by Christopher Korey
You star in Land of Women alongside Eva Longoria, now streaming on Apple TV+. What drew you to this project specifically?
I loved the team behind it, (Bambú, Ramón Campos, Eva, Apple), and the idea of collaborating with Eva who I already knew and loved as a person was appealing to me. Carmen Maura was of course a huge draw; I’ve been a fan of hers for a very long time. When I read the scripts, I really enjoyed them and immediately connected with the character of Amat. So I was in.
And what is it about a script in general that draws you in?
-Is it a world I want to be in?
-Do I like the character? Is it someone I’d like to play?
-Have I played this before? I want it to be a new challenge. Something different.
Left:
BLK Denim — Top plus Pant
Right:
Coat by KYLE’LYK
T-shirt by Calvin Klein
Pants by KYLE’LYK
Cordan Lace Up, Link: https://magnanni.com/cordan#color=72 by Magnanni
Although filled with humor and levity, Land of Women also deals with heavier topics ranging from marital betrayal and lies to the realities of being trans in a small town. Is there a particular moment in the show that has stuck with you since filming wrapped?
When doing anything, I feel you have to have something to say. Be relevant to what’s going on in the world and in society. Be able to reflect a reality that’s out there, and I think this show does that. I do love that it’s a fun romp - like an elevated rom com in a way. There’s enough depressing stories out there with scary scenarios about the end of the world and post-apocalyptic futures, etc. In today’s climate, sometimes you just need an antidote, and Land of Women is that. It’s fun and light and set in a world that you want to inhabit with characters you enjoy watching.
If you were escaping all your troubles like Gala and her family, where would you go, and what would a day in the life look like?
I’d go somewhere in the Mediterranean where there’s good food and weather. Or, the South of Chile, which is as remote as I could get if I really wanted to escape– depends how much trouble I was in, lol. The two options being beautiful parts of the world. In both cases, I’d be close to the water, in nature, and I’d make sure that I have my family with me and a guitar to keep me entertained.
You attended two colleges on soccer scholarships and even played semi-pro professional soccer in London– what was it about acting that made you decide to focus on that path instead?
Acting just inspired me in a way that I hadn’t been before. I love football (soccer) till this day. It’s my favorite game in the world, but as I discovered acting (doing a play and then going to drama school for 3 years), and began to fall in love with it, I dropped soccer without missing a beat. In acting, I’d found what I was looking for. It was like things finally fell into place for me. I found something I could be so passionate about, and that felt right for me. What my life had been till that point made sense suddenly. I was never thinking about the end game and where it would all go. It was more, I love this, and I really want to do it. Also, by that point, I had no plan B.
Heroes, where you played Isaac Mendez, was your breakthrough role. Does seeing all the support and positive reactions to your projects still feel the same as it did all those years ago?
Yes, Heroes did put me on the map in a way. But I was only in that first season and after that continued to audition and test for roles in the same way I was before. It never really felt like a major breakthrough, or that it all changed after that. It definitely made people more aware of me during the period it was on, but I’ve felt very blessed that it’s all been a pretty consistent rise career wise. I’ve never had that huge game changer type of role, where everything is different from that point onwards. I’d welcome it if it came, but up till now, they’ve all contributed for me to be where I am today. I’d say Merlin is a show I get recognized for a lot, more than Heroes, and people don’t put Heroes together until I tell them I was on that. The Musketeers, Big Little Lies, Star Trek, The Flight Attendant, even Salvation (Che internationally) are things I get approached for quite a bit. And now I’m starting to feel Land of Women. You can tell people are watching and enjoying it, which is great. I love the support– that never goes away. If anything, you value it more, as the majority of projects that you do don’t reach many people or have that level of success. It’s just the nature of the business. Most of the time, projects get lost in the ether. You really want to reach an audience and it’s special when you see that it’s resonating.
Being a child of a diplomat, and having to move around a lot growing up and having to meet new people, do you think that that had any impact on the way you approach your roles and how you understand your characters? Does the location or setting of a project influence your performance?
I’d say it had a huge impact on me becoming an actor. I was a very shy kid, and was moving from one new country to another, new schools all the time, new cultures. I was terrified every time. It felt safer to try and blend in, so my defense mechanism was to camouflage myself with the crowd. I’d adopt whatever accent or language necessary so that I didn’t stand out or attract any attention. In a way, it became a preparation for what I do now, but I didn’t figure that out until much later. If there’s some nice rocks around or trees, you can get a really nice seat or shade between takes. That can help.
Suit by Brooks Brothers
Trench by Oak + Fort
Shirt by BLK Denim
Cordan Lace Up, Link: https://magnanni.com/cordan#color=72 by Magnanni
There is very often more to human beings than just being good or bad. When you have a character like Jorge Sanchez in The Cleaning Lady, who is positioned as a villain, how do you bring that human aspect to them and make the audience empathize with their story?
I never judge the characters I’m playing. I look for a way in and I want to see things from their perspective. In a way, I try to empathize with them and with their reality. Hopefully, that’ll then translate to the audience as truthful. In the case of Jorge Sanchez, I saw him as someone who grew up surrounded by violence. That’s the only world he knows. I never saw him as a bad guy, as evil, because he doesn’t see himself as such. He’s ambitious, yes. He wants to do well for his family, protect them, grow his business, and the cartel happens to be the world and business he’s in. He doesn’t know anything else.
Whether working on a drama or comedy, is there a different way you prepare for a role depending on the genre?
Not really. Every job dictates and informs some way of approaching it, but you don’t really know what it will be like until you arrive on set that first day. It’s never going to be what you imagined. For me, the preparation serves so I don’t have to think about the character once I get to that stage. Then you’re free to adapt, adjust, change things, play off other actors, and overcome obstacles. I’m very much a preparer and I have a method so to speak, of how to build a character. I love it and it’s a real journey of discovery for me. Ultimately, it frees me up for when I’m doing it. A lot of actors that I admire are people who make it look really easy. It looks like they’re just having fun. I dare to guess that behind that, there’s a great deal of preparation into making it look so easy.
You often use your platform to talk about social and political issues– why do you think it’s important for people who have a large reach and influence to use their platforms to talk about things beyond just their own lives?
I think right now the most important thing is to make sure that we are all agreeing on what is real. What is the truth? If we do, then we can argue all we want. I try to connect with people so that we can have a conversation and not just accuse each other of being evil and whatnot. We need to be able to understand each other again, so then it’s ok to disagree, but at least based on being in the same reality. The truth is the truth, and it is out there. I do feel it’s important for people to be informed. Read and watch the NEWS. By that, I mean real news, not opinion tv. And vary your sources. Can’t stick to the same outlets all the time. There’s some really important journalism going on out there, and I admire the people that work tirelessly to remain neutral and give us the facts.
Shirt: Flamingo Linen and Cotton Knitted Cardigan with Polo Collar, Hidden Snap Closure
Trousers: Flamingo Cotton and Linen Knitted Trousers,
Wide Leg, Snap Closure, Side and Back Pockets by ZEGNA
Scarf: Flamingo Pure Silk Knitted Bandana by ZEGNA
Shoes: Off White Deerskin Triple Stitch Sneakers by ZEGNA
Trench by KYLE’LYK
Latinx representation in film and TV still has a ways to go, and is often approached with preconceived ideas. Does this affect the roles you choose, and do you find that the industry is becoming more open to writing more well-rounded roles for Latinx characters?
There is an incredibly wide and varied range of what it means to be Latin American. I think we can open it up more. I always try to find it in the roles I play. A way of breaking barriers, cutting through whatever preconceived ideas there might be. I play a European Spaniard in Land of Women. Eva is from Texas, of Mexican and Spanish heritage and plays the daughter of Carmen Maura who is from Madrid. Victoria is Mexican, playing with their daughter and granddaughter. That’s progress. The important thing is to continue to see a wider range of representation, and I could see a trend where we are going in that direction. There’s definitely a conscious effort from the industry to bring more diversity to our screens which is very positive. But if we’re honest, Latinx is way behind the pecking order today. Especially for leading roles.
How was your experience shooting with PhotoBook? Are photoshoots just another part of the job, or a fun way to switch things up?
They’re a fun way to switch things up for sure. It’s a chance to collaborate with talented people, have fun wearing some funky outfits, and promote the work that you’re doing outside the shoot. Also, it’s a new way to connect with an audience and the fans that support what you do. I had a great time!
Instagram: @santiagoc
CREW CREDITS:
Talent: Santiago Cabrera
PhotoBook Editor-In-Chief: Alison Hernon
PhotoBook Creative Director + Photographer: Mike Ruiz
Fashion Stylist: Alison Hernon at Exclusive Artists
Groomer: Erin Anderson for Exclusive Artists using LUMIFY and Redken
Fashion Stylist Interns: Atėnė Asakavičiūtė. Romi Bachar
Tearsheets by Daniel López, Art Director, PhotoBook Magazine
Interview by Caroline Nycek, Contributor, PhotoBook Magazine
RELATED STORIES
