Um, Pedro, when you first were introduced to this character of Alex, this very multifaceted char- guy, um, what was your r- reaction and, um, yeah, when reading the script?

My, my, my first reaction, um, was...

Let's see.

[laughs] I actually put music on so that I would...

So to, to, to read the script.

And, um, and, and, uh, I can't say that I'd be surprised that the story structure had, um, uh, uh, it w- proposed kind of like a challenge to the reader, and, and, uh, a challenge in a, in a, in a good way, you know? Um, and so it was feeling more like a puzzle that, that, that I was asked to put together, and it had...

And I was so, I was more in relationship to the story that Tony was, um, uh, telling, and its really, really unusual structure, and how unusual it was to kind of, uh, read something that, um, wasn't...

[laughs]

Did you Studio 54?

I didn't leave Long Island.

[laughs] But very quickly, I, I found this freedom.

This freedom to just not be shy, not be scared.

Alcohol just opened up, uh, all the doors, you know? Everything was possible.

So alcohol worked.

But, you know, I was the binger, you know? I was a weekend drinker, you know.

Uh-huh

Yeah.

I love the term emotional regulation.

Um, that's, that's what he does.

Um, so much of The Mandalorian creed, I think, is, uh, inspired by, um, uh, the way of the warrior, the way of the samurai.

Mm.

And so I think that, um, while it's impressive, the, the steadiness and the protectiveness that, that Din Djarin has, I think in private he must have to, he must be able to go and cry his eyes out somewhere.

Well, you're like-

The Harrison Ford character in Working Girl is a bit messier I think, but definitely a perfect model as far as the kind of, um, trinity that Working Girl is and, and that it takes place.

I think I was channeling the spirit of that kind of a movie for all of us just in my, like imagination.

Yeah.

Love is really a high-stakes game, and so I love that played out in a movie, especially if its visual authorship is under someone like Celine Song, and that's something that really, really deserves to be seen on the big screen.

[laughs]

I think that if I were to go, I could probably ask, um...

I could pr- I could, I could try to call somebody.

Um, and, and, and they would maybe, maybe...

I'm not actually really sure-

Yeah.

And a huge, huge nerd moment.

I think, um, I, it, the, uh, the cupeth run over.

Who were you telling this to, just kids on the playground?

I g- I thought...

I don't even remember, but there was like, my sister was at her friend's house and, and, and her friend's parents were gathering around the TV to watch Twin Peaks.

'Cause they were like, "We're, we're, we're waiting for your brother." And she's like, "What are you talking about?"

I'm in.

I'm, I'm, I'm, uh, I'm a fan of movies.

I've been a fan my whole life.

I'm more of a fan than I am an actor, but this is pushing it.

Yeah

... and you're just like, "Is this gonna happen? [laughs] Is this gonna happen? Am I gonna see this movie?" And we got the tickets finally, and I remember just staring up at the poster and thinking, "I'm gonna see it.

It's happening.

Today, it's happening." And then it was that adventure.

I love the Ewoks.

[laughs]

How much time is there? I, I, I, I, I remember I took a phone call, and we were all at, uh, what we call base camp.

And it's this sort of, like, big empty lot, right? And I, and I, and, and, and [laughs] friends were in my trailer, and I took, and I went outside, and there really wasn't anywhere to sit.

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[laughs]

...

How would you describe yourself back then? You were a deeply feeling child, but what did these worlds provide for you? 'Cause, you know, they're entertaining for everyone else, but it sounds like there was another step for you where you felt immersed in them.

Well, I think being moved, you feel very alive.

You feel very inspired, you know, and in school, in a way, by incredible storytelling, incredible performances, incredible literature, you know? So the process around The Color Purple is very interesting because we had cable TV and Whoopi Goldberg-...

had a televised show that had been transferred to Broadway, and then shot for television for HBO.

It was just called Whoopi.

He gave you up?

... and then they went looking- looking for my parents and- and, you know, and so they- they had to, you know, go into hiding and- and find a way to, um, survive.

There are a lot of details that kind of go into it, that- that create like such a fascinating story.

... and here we are, glorious wide screen.

Nazis.

And it was just, like, I don't know- Aim for the neck ... nice to support the young.

[laughs] I was like, "You go get them kids.

You kick their asses.

You go get those Nazis." I miss this movie so much.

I miss its themes in defending the underdog and telling those kids- [singing]

Um-

How would you describe yourself back then? You were a deeply feeling child, but what did these worlds provide for you? 'Cause you know, they're entertaining for everyone else, but it sounds like there was another step for you where you felt immersed in them.

Well, I think being moved, you feel very alive.

You feel very inspired, you know? And in school, in a way, by incredible storytelling, incredible performances, incredible literature, you know? So the process around The Color Purple is very interesting because we had cable TV-...

and Whoopi Goldberg had a televised show that had been transferred to Broadway, and then shot for television for HBO.

It was just called Whoopi.

He gave you-

... and then they went looking, looking for my parents, and, and, you know, and so they, they had to, you know, go into hiding and, and find a way to, um, survive.

There are a lot of details that kinda go into it, that, that create m- like, such a fascinating story, the, the, the, the odd circumstance of my father f- finding out that someone was in the lobby asking for his name and, and a patient that kind of, like, interrupted, um, the moment where the officer wanted to, um...

... or did people call you up when they found out you're gonna be on there?

For the first couple of weeks, I didn't talk to anybody 'cause I wasn't willing to think about it beyond my capacity of facing the reality that it was gonna happen.

And then once there was an announcement and, um, and it was out there, then I started to, I talked to friends that had been on it.

But right before I got into, like, the, my first sort of, like, Monday night meeting with, uh, with the cast and the writers and Lorne Michaels, I was talking to Aubrey Plaza, who had just hosted and had slayed.

And she took me through this process, and she was just like, "Just go with it.

Monday's this, Tuesday's that.

Wednesday starts to ramp up, and it starts to turn into this, da-da-da.

Did you clock that for yourself?