John Leguizamo says Patrick Swayze and Wesley Snipes might have ‘wrecked their careers’ starring in “To Wong Foo”

With a profession that started over three a long time in the past, John Leguizamo continues to be one of many hardest-working abilities within the business. Apart from producing the Buena Vista Social Club, a brand new Broadway musical, writing a brand new play (The Other Americans), and constantly talking out for the Latino group and in opposition to President Trump, he now stars in Bob Trevino Likes It, taking up a a lot totally different position than he's performed earlier than.

"What was thrilling to me was to play this new sort of man in America," he tells Leisure Weekly. "He's a extra delicate, a [more] nurturing man. A person who's not afraid of being susceptible. That is the brand new masculinity that we have to put ahead and the perfect sort of masculinity."

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Directed by Tracie Laymon, Bob Trevino Likes It is loosely primarily based on the filmmaker's real-life story. Within the film, Laymon (performed by Barbie Ferreira) kinds an unlikely friendship with an web stranger who shares the identical identify as her estranged father. After coming throughout Leguizamo's Travino whereas looking on-line for her actual dad (performed by French Stewart), she discovers that this different Bob is a kinder, higher father determine than the person she had got down to discover.

"I simply love the message within the film, particularly in these occasions which are so tough and so divisive, and there's a lot lack of respect, particularly in America," Leguizamo says. "To indicate that first rate human beings are actually worthwhile individuals who respect one another, individuals who will attain out and do a sort act that has such a profound impact on one other individual, is one thing so missing in our tradition proper now. It's a really totally different position than I've ever carried out earlier than. I'm often doing the loopy man, the wild man, or the villain. This man's only a common dude, an everyday parental determine, a surrogate dad for the character of Lily within the film. And so I jumped on the probability. It was one thing very totally different and one thing a lot nearer to myself than normal."

The actor and author has by no means shied away from a problem — from taking up Shakespeare to bringing his personal life to the stage in one in all his many one-man Broadway reveals. Considered one of his first main film roles was To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar because the younger drag queen Chi Chi Rodriguez. It's a movie that he says nonetheless holds energy, even after 30 years.

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"Good films have that impact. Good films have endurance. And I'm glad that To Wong Foo continues to be round as a result of it has that. As a result of again when it got here out, it was very daring. It was very groundbreaking as a result of straight males weren’t enjoying these roles. You understand what I imply? They simply wouldn't; film stars wouldn't do this as a result of it will wreck their careers. And also you had Wesley Snipes on the prime of his motion profession. Patrick Swayze, prime of his romantic lead period. It was a courageous transfer and a good looking transfer, a daring transfer by each these guys. And I used to be an up-and-coming star, so I didn't have as a lot to lose."

Whereas a lot has modified since 1995, Leguizamo factors out that lots of the movie's themes are nonetheless sadly related. "It was about inclusivity," he says. "It was about respecting others. It was about respecting transgender folks. It was about respecting the LGBTQ+ group, and it was dignifying all of them. This hate in opposition to transgender folks is so ridiculous. And all this speak about transgender folks in sports activities. I imply, transgender persons are lower than one p.c of the inhabitants, and transgender folks going into sports activities are how many individuals within the nation? One out of 350 million folks? Loosen up folks; simply allow them to be and respect them. And we might deliver that again. Carry again respect to the transgender group."

Leguizamo has been advocating for illustration for years, notably for the Latino group. Whereas Latinos account for 20 p.c of the U.S. inhabitants and purchase almost 1 / 4 of all film tickets, onscreen illustration stays lower than 5 p.c. The Encanto star remembers when productions refused to solid a couple of Latino. In Bob Trevino, the movie's main stars, Leguizamo and Euphoria's Ferreira, are of Latino background.

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"It's superb!" he says excitedly. "Superb as a result of again within the day, there have been quotas and never constructive quotas, destructive quotas. I used to be alleged to be in a film, and I used to be speaking to a director, and swiftly, he solid one other Latino, and he mentioned, I'm sorry, I can't have two Latinos within the film. That's the issues that had been happening again within the '90s. So, to be in a film with one other Latino who’s a breakout star, this chick is a killer. I imply, it was the beginning of an ideal actress and you would see it. I used to be so glad to be part of it."

Nonetheless, Leguizamo makes clear that "Latino tales don't all the time must be nearly Latino tradition." He explains, "They’ll simply be about something as a result of everyone's the identical, actually. While you scratch beneath the floor of our pores and skin, we're the identical as everyone else. So, a lady who's on the lookout for a father determine and finds one in any individual she seems to be up on Fb after which turns into higher mates than her actual father. That's only a touching, lovely story that occurs to have two Latinos as your leads."

Bob Trevino Likes It is now in theaters.

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