Cristo Fernández is an actor best known for his role as Dani Rojas in the Apple TV+ comedy Ted Lasso. He is also appearing in this season of the Apple TV+ series Acapulco. In Acapulco, Fernández portrays Gustavo, an artist and community activist who shares scenes with Eugenio Derbez’s Maximo.
Fernández sat down with Latina Media Co to discuss his role as Gustavo and the opportunity to act both in English and Spanish.
Gustavo is a deeply emotional artist, to the point where it can seem a bit extreme. “I believe he is quite in tune with his emotions. He’s a deeply passionate man,” Fernández said, sharing how much fun it was to take on such an eccentric character.
“The most essential lesson I’ve learned is that sometimes talking things out is necessary to figure out what’s going on. What should I do? Why am I doing this? You can only understand these things if you articulate them,” he continued, “I guess that is one of the things I appreciate about Acapulco. Maximo is often pondering and reminding himself. He continuously expresses his ideas, regardless of the subject. In doing so, he considers his thoughts and takes action. Current decisions, whether good or bad, will be made by him and us. Gustavo’s position is likely similar.”
Gustavo also desires Maximo’s approval to date his daughter. He wants to prove that he is deserving of his trust. “He thanks Maximo for involving him in the new initiative to rehabilitate Las Colinas at this time. But he wants to do it right. He wants to impress Maximo,” shared the Mexican star. “That is why, when we watch season four, we’ll see if he does it successfully or completely fails.”
One of Acapulco’s virtues is that it is authentically Mexican – with Spanish spoken throughout and having filmed in Jalisco, both of which help convey the characters’ daily life. Fernández, from Guadalajara, Jalisco, was thrilled to work in his home country after living in England for so long.
“I was a fan of Acapulco before joining the show. I watched the first two seasons and found them to be both funny and sad,” he said. “Most importantly, I love it because it’s a multicultural show. It is bilingual. Acapulco is a wonderful example of how to build something unique while remaining faithful to the location, while still keeping the heart, and speaking in English when necessary and Spanish, because we are in Mexico. This is how we communicate in both English and Spanish.”
The show even has a personal significance to Fernández, who shared, “I adore Acapulco, and it will always have a particular place in my heart since, as many people are unaware, the first professional set where my parents saw me perform was in Acapulco. The reason is that we shot at Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, which is close to my birthplace of Guadalajara. My parents were able to travel and visit, which meant a lot to me.”
Cristo Fernández, like Eugenio, understands the feeling of being torn between two realities. He, too, is Mexican but has found himself working in a mostly English environment while attempting to maintain his genuine self. He explained why this character is even more relatable: “Never forget who you are or where you’ve come from. I say this based on my experience. I was born and raised in Guadalajara, Mexico. I discovered the United Kingdom before the United States. And, whether I’m a brilliant actor, a bad actor, or somewhere in between, constantly embracing my culture has given me new opportunities,” he said. “When I was there, I adored the UK. I love it. However, the weather isn’t great. The cuisine is not very spectacular. But I always say gracias with my tequila and bring a Mexican vibe with my music.”
Fans can see Cristo Fernández as Gustavo in Alcapulco, currently streaming on Apple TV+ with new episodes airing every Wednesday.
