Meet Daniel Zovatto, the ‘Nicest Guy on the Planet’ Who Plays a Killer in Anna Kendrick’s Woman of the Hour (Exclusive)

Woman of the hour star Daniel Zovatto credits Blockbuster stores and Leonardo DiCaprio for sparking his interest in acting.

As a kid growing up in Costa Rica, “I just fell in love with movies,” says Zovatto, now 33. His father, a politician, shared his son’s passion for movies and rented videos from a now-defunct chain.

“I remember watching What’s Eating Gilbert Grape and then Basketball diariesand I wondered, who is this? Is this the same kid?” he says, referring to DiCaprio. “And my little kid brain, I didn’t calculate what it was, but my mom said, ‘This is acting.’ And I said, ‘Shit…’ Well, I want to do it.'”

At the same time, he grew up watching his mom, Sylvia Blanco, on her local talk show, “having a relationship with the camera,” he says.

Anna Kendrick and Daniel Zovatto in ‘Woman of the Hour’.

Leah Gallo/Netflix

“I just started being the annoying kid who was like, ‘Hey, let me act,'” he continues. “Let me go to lectures, let me go. But luckily I was able to go to New York. And then I went to the theater from there. And then, little by little, the opportunities started to happen.”

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He got roles in prime time shows like Revenge and Agents of SHIELDmovies like Lady Bird and acclaimed limited editions Station eleven.

Zovatto takes on its most challenging role yet Woman of the hourthe chilling true story of serial killer and rapist Rodney Alcala, who appeared in one episode Dating game In 1978, finally charming contestant Cheryl Bradshaw (Pitch Perfect star Anna Kendrick, who also directed the film) in choosing him over the other two bachelors.

Tony Hale, Anna Kendrick and Daniel Zovatto in ‘Woman of the Hour’.

Leah Gallo/Netflix

The role requires him to be both cute and menacing, often switching from one to the other on the fly. “It seemed like a really exciting, cool challenge to go and work with Anna, who had full confidence in me,” explains Zovatto.

Autumn Best, who plays one of Alcala’s potential victims, says Zovatto couldn’t be more different from the creepy character he plays.

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“Danny is just the nicest guy on the planet,” she says. “He is so friendly, warm and supportive.”

Best, who is making her film debut in Woman of the hourshe says Zovatto gave her a moving pep talk.

Daniel Zovatto stars in Netflix’s ‘Woman of the Hour.’

Sarah Krick

“He said, ‘I can tell you’re really nervous and I can tell you’ve got a little bit of impostor syndrome going into this, but you’re so talented and there’s no reason you should feel that way,'” Best recalls.

Although Zovatto himself has been acting professionally for 10 years, he feels as if he is “just beginning” his own career.

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“There are a lot of exciting things I want to do. I want to continue working with people who make me nervous,” he says.

The married dad would also like to do voice work on an animated family film so the eight-month-old daughter he shares with wife Tara Holt can enjoy what he’s doing (as it will be quite a few years before she can see Woman of the hour).

“I’ve always been a big Pixar guy. I love those movies. Toy Story, Monsters Inc. — I grew up watching them, he says. “It will be exciting to do movies for her one day.”

Woman of the hour now streaming on Netflix.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education