Shirt- Tom Ford, Polka-dot Suit- Paisley and Grey
Talent: Leonardo Nam
Photography, Creative Direction, and Production by: Mike Ruiz
Editor-in-Chief: Dimitri Vorontsov
Stylist: Sky JT Naval
Groomer: Ozzie Gutierrez
Journalist: Lola Jarzemsky
Location: Los Angeles, California
Suit- Ocean Rebel
Leonardo Nam is an Argentine-Australian actor. He is most well known for his award winning acting playing Felix in HBO Original Series, Westworld. Leonardo is also known for his recent performances in Maggie, Pacific Rim: The Black, Swimming with Sharks, Close Enough, Phobias, The Perfect Score, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Fast & Furious: Tokyo Drift and many others.
How did you get your start in acting?
Around 12 years old I got the acting bug and performed with a high school drama club that I started called Cauldron, and then at 19 years old, I moved to New York City to study drama. I couldn’t wait to study drama in New York City, and I got plugged into the theatre world pretty quickly. One audition led to another, and next thing I knew I was in my first theatre production of Hamlet. Soon after, I landed my first Hollywood studio film for Paramount Studios called The Perfect Score where I played a high school kid who was misunderstood and fell in with a group of students, played by Chris Evans and Scarlett Johansson who steal the SAT test answers. That led to other studio films like The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants franchise and the Fast and Furious franchise, before working on shows like Maggie and Westworld.
Suit- Ocean Rebel
What was your experience like when filming Westworld?
Controlled chaos, dream job and a thrilling fantasy all rolled into one. Controlled chaos, because it was such a massive production with so many moving parts, you almost didn’t know what location you were on until the day before. Dream job, because you were surrounded by everyone at the top of their game, from actors, to producers, writers, set, costume, art, production etc., and a thrilling fantasy because of the subject matter. I loved the conversations we had on set because of the subject of the show. I made many great friends from that show.
How did you prepare for the role of Felix Lutz?
I started listening to opera as a way to prep for Felix. I never listened to opera before, but for some reason, I felt that Felix did. I needed to find something that felt out of this world and deeply compassionate and opera is what fit.
Who has been your favorite director to work with so far?
In television, I really enjoyed working with Jonah Nolan on the pilot of Westworld. It was incredible to be directed by someone with the vision for the world Felix lived in. In films, I just worked with an incredible director named Kate Tseng, who directed me in the Sundance and Tribeca Film festival darling, Marvelous and the Blackhole. Kate and I quickly found a shorthand way of working that felt organic and powerful.
You’ve acted in many Sci-Fi projects, would you say this is one of your favorite genres?
I love Sci-Fi because it offers you an interesting set up to talk about emotions and ideas that would otherwise probably be uncomfortable. Plus, I love entering worlds that ask fundamental questions about the decisions humankind makes. It asks the audience to reflect on society in present time while watching the film. It adds a layer of tension to the viewer, which is always powerful in making an audience feel something.
Top- Perla, Suit- Paisley and Grey, Shoes- Maison Margiela
What genre of film would you like to venture further into? Why?
I think an action-adventure-thriller is just my speed right now. The industry is changing rapidly and having diverse faces as the lead character in major movie franchises are now seen as elevating a project. I’ve played the supporting roles and I’m ready to shoulder the leading man role.
You received a Bachelor degree in Architecture at the University of New South Wales, at what point did you realize you wanted to pursue acting instead?
At the end of my first year in Architecture School, I asked myself if I was happy. I wasn’t. I knew that I had to try something else. You can’t live life to make someone else happy. You have to make choices that make yourself happy. If you make choices that align with your passion, you fulfill your passion and purpose. I decided, when I moved to New York City, to pursue my dream of acting professionally. I never wanted to live with the question “What if I pursued my passion?”, I wanted to live with “I am living my dream”. To regret not trying something in life because you are afraid to do it, is a life wasted. I never wanted to live like that, so I went for it. I didn’t know anyone; I didn’t have a clear pathway that another actor or person that looked like me had. I just had a clear connection to myself and the passion I knew I had for acting. That’s all you need. Intentions, create thoughts, that create words, that create actions, that create your life.
Top- Perla, Suit- Paisley and Grey, Shoes- Maison Margiela
Tell us about your character, Dave, from the Hulu Original show Maggie. What does your process of connecting to one of your characters look like?
The show Maggie is about dating in your 20’s and 30’s told through a group of friends in LA, and my character, Dave, and his wife Amy, play as the foil to the single friends in the group. Dave is a Burning Man-loving, Happy-Go-Lucky guy that just wants to love and be loved, who also happens to be super rich. It’s great to play someone who is so smitten with love because it feels great to be in love, doesn’t it! So, I found a way to remind myself that Dave is always seeking to connect with love by creating a wristband that I thought he made as a promise to his wife. No one else knew about it, just me and the costume designer Pam Chilton. I knew by doing that I would always be reminded to feel Dave’s love of love, and by doing so it helped me connect to Dave’s spirit. You never know what’s gonna connect you to your character, and only through process and experience do you find that.
Shirt- Tom Ford, Polka-dot Suit- Paisley and Grey
Phobias seems darker than many other projects you’ve worked on, what was the experience of filming like?
It’s always exciting to dig into a new world, and Phobias asks the audience, “what are you secretly afraid of?” Sometimes working on a darker film is a fun world to enter because you jump right into the scariest corners of your mind, but it’s all pretend. It was somewhat therapeutic to release my fears through the process of acting.
Tee shirt- Calvin Klein, Suit jacket- Paisley and Grey , Pants – Theory, Shoes- Calvin Klein
What kind of LGBTQ stories would you like to see on television?
I haven’t seen a story yet with a hero that is gay, complex, and compelling that is grappling with starting a family, or has a family. I’d like to see more stories that weave a family with gay parents into the storyline.
What would you tell your younger self, if you could?
Create the work you want to be in. I wish I had produced projects earlier. You will see that every bit of effort you make will come back in spades.
Top- Perla, Suit- Paisley and Grey, Shoes- Maison Margiela
What project are you most proud of? Why?
I’m most proud of the next project I’m producing called A Vintage Crime. It’s about one of the largest wine heists and the players involved are driving up the fine wine industry. This new age of streaming has allowed an explosion of stories, and I’m so grateful to be surfing this epic wave.
What are your goals for the next few years?
Leading man roles in major movie franchises is the next goal I have set. I’ve also started a production company producing powerful stories on TV and film that speak to a global audience.
