In May, Andrew Diaz’s most recent project The Last of Us was released, in which he played Young Joel in Series 2, with the series starring Pedro Pascal as Joel, who he previously met on the set of We Can Be Heroes. Andrew had his first major acting role as Facemaker in the Netflix superhero film We Can Be Heroes – the standalone and legacy sequel to The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl, which was directed by Robert Rodriguez and released in 2020. A further project for Andrew saw him be in the cast of the independent short film Fleur, which was written and directed by his friend Marco Delgado, and Andrew attended the film’s premiere at the Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival in March this year. We chatted to Andrew about playing Young Joel in Series 2 of The Last of Us, playing Facemaker in We Can Be Heroes and having the film as his first major acting project.
How much did you know about The Last of Us before booking your role of Young Joel in the recent release of Series 2 and was there anything that drew you to the show?
Before the role came my way, I hadn’t played the game, but I watched and loved Season 1 of the show. As a movie buff and binge-watcher, HBO Max content never fails to reward me with good storytelling that feels authentic and grounded. As soon as I knew I had the opportunity to play Young Joel, I knew I had to do him justice.
As we saw throughout Season 1, Joel has quite the complex journey. Being able to step into the shoes of a character audiences already love and add my own layers and creative take to Joel’s teen backstory, was challenging but gratifying.
Surviving the COVID pandemic and seeing how quickly the virus spread globally, definitely made the show’s concept relevant and I knew right away I would become a fan.
Did you get the opportunity to meet Pedro Pascal while filming and how was it playing the younger version of his character?
I met Pedro on the set of Robert Rodriguez’s feature for the 2019 filming of We Can Be Heroes, when I played Facemaker, but the stars didn’t align for us to be on set simultaneously on this project. Playing Young Joel was unique because I knew I wanted to live up to the fans’ expectations and the character Pedro had already created. It was an exciting challenge that I embraced and I’m proud of the finished product.
How did you prepare for playing Young Joel and what was it like reading the script?
I felt like I was able to distill the preparation and simplify the process for myself because I felt I already had a lot of characteristics similar to Pedro’s and Joel’s. Trusting that made the work an enjoyable process where I was able to collaborate with Neil Druckmann and deliver for the fans.
After reading the script, I focused on bringing Joel’s backstory to life, envisioning the events that led up to the conversation with his father. Making that real for myself and substituting situations in my life that I could relate to made all the difference.
How did you find the experience on set of The Last of Us and how did you feel when your episode was released in May?
My experience on set went as smooth as I could have hoped. The moment I stepped onto set, I knew Neil trusted what I brought and I was able to immerse myself in Joel’s world.
The hardest part as an actor is when things are out of your control, and you can only wait to see your finished product and the director’s take. The wait from the end of filming to the show’s release was well worth it. Neil had told me after we wrapped that I would be proud of the work we did, and I can definitely say that I am.
We understand you were part of the independent short film Fleur (written and directed by Marco Delgado), which premiered at the Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival in March, can you tell us about the film and what was it like to work on?
Fleur is a story about picking up the pieces of a broken heart as illustrated by a man’s renewed zest for living as he reflects on the impact his partner had on his life.
My friend Marco is a young director who told me he was working on a project for school and he asked me to be a part of it. I loved the script and was excited to create this life for a character that is dealing with a pain that I’ve never really experienced. The filming process was awesome, collaborating with friends that share the same passion as me, I couldn’t ask for more.
How was it seeing the film come together and what was it like attending the premiere at the Regal LA Live Theatre?
Fleur’s premiere at the Regal LA Live Theatre was a great event and I was able to mingle with fellow professionals in the industry, which is always exciting. Watching the finished product on the big screen along with seeing and hearing the audience’s approval is something everyone involved in the project can appreciate. I think we shared a beautiful story that packed powerful impact in its short film format.
Do you remember what it was like finding out you’d booked the role of Facemaker in the Netflix superhero film We Can Be Heroes and what do you feel you learnt from having this as your first major acting project?
I hadn’t been acting very long when the We Can Be Heroes audition was presented to me. I still had a youthful innocence to my performances that I think was perfect for this project.
I read for multiple different roles and I kept getting called back so I had a good feeling they were liking what I was bringing. For every character I read for, I worked on chaperoning something new and unique to each one. That was probably one of the main things I think I took away from the experience; be different.
What was Facemaker like to play and how was it filming for the Sharkboy and Lavagirl franchise?
Landing the role of Facemaker and working on a feature film, directed by Robert Rodriguez, as my first professional job was a blessing. As I began to delve into the script, I started to see the many agendas that Facemaker had going on behind the scenes. Embodying some of his mischievous tendencies added a fun twist to his character arc that I think translated masterfully.
What are some of your favourite memories from your time filming for We Can Be Heroes as Facemaker and being directed by Robert Rodriguez?
The experience was a blast and the memories are endless. Our director, Robert Rodriguez, always brought the best out of me and showed that he both trusted me and liked the life I gave this character that he created. This allowed me to continue diving deeper into the role and have fun.
How did you get into acting and was it always something you wanted to do professionally?
My interest in acting was seriously ignited when I moved to Los Angeles in 2017. Being around the studios and seeing the world of film and television first hand and up close, I feel it was inevitable for me to find my way to stage and screen.
I was also raised to never shy away from the cameras and spotlight. Whether that be doing an interview for the local news, or simply jumping into centre frame during a group picture with family or friends, it seems like I was always ready.
Do you have any favourite films and TV shows to watch?
As an actor, part of your job is to watch films and television so I’m constantly on the lookout for something new to watch and I’m sure my favourites will forever be a moving target. A partial list of recent watch faves include The Last of Us (of course), Scarface, Taxi Driver, Good Will Hunting, Game of Thrones and Breaking Bad, to name a few. I’m also currently enjoying Succession, it’s brilliant.
What do you enjoy doing away from acting?
I try to spend my time doing as many things as I can get my hands on or get invited to try. I’m an avid mixed martial artist, mainly training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and boxing. I’ve been committed since I was eight, it’s addicting. I’ve also been learning how to play the electric guitar, which I picked up during the pandemic. Also over the pandemic, I learned how to ride horses and do small jumps. It’s crazy cool to be in control of so large an animal. I’m a huge dog guy. I have a Belgian Malinois and another Belgian Shepherd that can be a handful, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. And, of course, I’m a teenager so I love video games too. In addition to all this, I follow professional football, baseball and basketball. Oh, and I recently got my first set of golf clubs and I’m working on developing a good golf game.
Have you been given any advice over your career so far that has stuck with you?
The main advice that has stuck with me is just be different. I know I’ve mentioned it before but life is short and we only get one chance. So I strive to always have fun in my work and go against the grain. If I’m not having fun, then I’m doing something wrong.
Do you have a favourite aspect of being part of the acting industry?
The artistic freedom that comes with being an actor is something I’ll always appreciate. Being able to step into many different shoes and tell stories with my own unique voice and artistic expression, is not something everybody gets the chance to do. Artists have power, and if we don’t give up and always stand up for what we believe in, we can be heard.
What are you hoping the next few months bring for your career and do you have any upcoming projects that you can tell us about?
Coming off the pandemic and the strikes, I’m hoping everybody can be treated fairly and we can continue to work towards a place of normalcy in the industry. The name of the game for me is to audition and continue to perfect the craft, so when my next opportunity comes, I know I’ll be ready.
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