In The Bluff, working with Priyanka Chopra, the national treasure of India, is nothing but a blessing, said The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power breakout actor Ismael Cruz Cordova.
Ismael is part of the ensemble cast for the action-drama movie set to star Priyanka as the female pirate. "India's very own, beloved national treasure. What a gift, she is incredible. She is a superstar in every sense of the word. Gentle, charismatic and a great leader," Ismael told PTI in an interview while promoting the second season of the Prime Video fantasy drama.
"She does all of her stunts, not scared to get dirty. And it's beautiful to have. She's leading this cast and everybody looks up to the leader. She set a beautiful tone in that film that we all felt safe. I just felt so honoured to be with her. I love her work. So it's very special. I'm grateful," said the actor, known for his work on Sesame Street, Ray Donovan and films Mary Queen of Scots and Miss Bala.
Ismael is excited for season two of The Rings of Power, which will premiere Thursday on Prime Video. He's an elf, named Arondir, on the show based upon appendices of the famed J.R.R. Tolkien book series.
Asked about the trolling that he faced on social media after appearing in the show's first season, the actor, one of the first people of color to portray an elf in the Tolkien universe, said: "Racism is illogical" and the best response would be to live one's life as full as one can.
"My stance is that I have the right to exist as wholesomely and as fully and as brilliantly as anybody else. That's the most radical thing that I can do: living this life, living it fully, and presenting myself in a real and layered way possible," said van der Spuy.
Previously, Ismael talked about how the trolling affected him in interviews, one of which involved the streamer bringing an on-set therapist for actors to deal with the backlash.
He added many artists speak of the kind of harassment they get as public figures, and he can name one like singer-songwriter Chappell Roan calling out fans for abusive behavior online and talking about setting boundaries.
"I have been very clear about this kind of harassment, and this kind of energy towards people that are public; it's also not right. There's nothing in my job description that tells you we have to put up with any of this. It is just not okay."
But what makes things better for him is the love and support he has received from fans of the Tolkien universe. "It's kind of fabulous that despite that kind of energy being directed at us, we still thrive and get so much love because we represent something beautiful for a lot of persons in many countries and continents. They might not have the most distinctive voice, but they are very meaningful and consistent in their support towards us," Ismael said.
His co-star, Tyroe Muhafidin, similarly said that "One of the loveliest things about Rings of Power is that they cast all of us for who we were as people and artists, not for our skin color.".
"That's what was so beautiful about being cast in this show is that they looked at us for who we were as actors and they did not cast us on how we looked. And that's what I think we need to get to. It shouldn't matter. It shouldn't be a factor in anything because we are all just people," the actor who plays Theo in the series mentioned.
Ismael shared that as an actor, playing Arondir, this brand new character, not directly based on any in the works of Tolkien, has been a gift to him.
In its nine-episode first season, developed by JD Payne and Patrick McKay, Arondir's arc has been all about his forbidden love for Bronwyn, a human healer from the Southlands, played by Nazanin Boniadi.
"It's such a great journey, and he is very noble and has a terribly deep sense of duty, even to his own detriment. And the conflict and the curiosity he has between his albinism and his humanity, and above all, everything goes with love," he said.
Also in the cast for season two of Rings of Power are Morfydd Clark, Charlie Vickers, Charles Edwards, Robert Aramayo, Owain Arthur, Benjamin Walker, Peter Mullan, Sophia Nomvete, Lloyd Owen, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Trystan Gravelle, Maxim Baldry, Markella Kavenagh, and.
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