How did you prepare for your role as Ryder in “Into the Badlands”?Physically, we had very intense training for six weeks. We learned martial arts, wushu, and more, six hours a day, five days a week. That was the key, and then, for the acting part, we had a lot of rehearsals with director David Dobkin. He gave us a chance to analyze these characters: where they came from, their darkness, their need to survive, and so on.
What do you like most and hate most about your character?
I don't hate anything about him, but Ryder is very impulsive; he doesn't think things through before acting. I don't like that about him because it gets him into trouble. However, on the other hand, I also like that about him because it reflects his ambition, his desire to impress others, and it allows him to grow as a person. So, his ambition is both a good and a bad thing.
You also play the guitar. Is music another passion of yours besides acting?
It's actually something I learned while I was in New Orleans filming "Into the Badlands." Since you're filming for five months in an unfamiliar location, I always prefer to have a hobby to entertain myself with. I learned that while we were shooting the series. So, every time I pick up the guitar, it takes me back to when we were just starting to film "Into the Badlands."
You're an Arsenal fan. Do you admire any Argentinian soccer players?
Of course, the best player in the world, Leo Messi. I'm a huge soccer fan and was lucky enough to have met him. During the World Cup, I was working that summer, and every night, I watched Argentina make their way to the final.
