In the recent feature film release of Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado, Acston Luca Porto plays Sonny alongside Samantha Lorraine as Dora, Jacob Rodriguez as Diego and Mariana Garzón Toro as Naiya, and alongside some of his fellow cast members, Acston attended the Los Angeles premiere in June and the 2025 Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards. Acston will be playing Jake Kennedy in the upcoming Netflix crime thriller The Whisper Man alongside Robert De Niro, Michelle Monaghan, Michael Keaton and Adam Scott, and he is currently filming his first horror film as Marco in The Revenge of La Llorona, with his real-life sister Avie playing his on-screen sister in the film. Further roles for Acston have been playing Gabriel in Ho Ho Heist and Alex in the short film The Rise of SuperMouth, which marked his short film debut. We caught up with Acston about playing Sonny in the recent release of Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado, his upcoming project The Whisper Man and filming Ho Ho Heist and The Rise of SuperMouth.

How would you describe your character Sonny in the recent feature film Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado, which was released on Paramount+ and Nickelodeon in July?

Sonny is such a funny and adventurous character! He’s Naiya’s younger brother and goes on this wild adventure with his sister, Dora, and Diego. He has tons of energy and always wants to help, even if he’s not sure how. I like to think of him as the comic relief when things get serious – he’s goofy, brave, and proves that being the youngest doesn’t mean you can’t make a big difference!

What was it like finding out you’d booked the role of Sonny and you’d be part of a film based on the Dora the Explorer franchise?

When I found out, I literally jumped up and down! I couldn’t stop smiling. It felt like a dream to be part of the Dora the Explorer world. I really felt in my heart that I was meant to play Sonny – like God opened that door for me – and I’m so thankful.

What was Sonny like to play and how did you prepare for taking on the character?

Honestly, playing Sonny came pretty naturally because I relate to him a lot. I love adventures and exploring new places, just like him! I watched a bunch of Dora the Explorer episodes to get into that classic explorer vibe, and then I just let loose and had fun with it.

What was it like working with your fellow lead cast members – Samantha Lorraine (Dora Márquez), Jacob Rodriguez (Diego Márquez) and Mariana Garzón Toro (your on-screen sister Naiya)?

It was an absolute blast! I love those three so much. Sam is hilarious and always makes everyone laugh. Jacob is super chill and fun to hang out with, and Mariana is so supportive – she always had my back during scenes. They made my first film one of the best experiences of my life!

Did you have any favourite scenes to film Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado?

Yes! The vine chamber scene was awesome – we all had to wear harnesses, and Jacob was swinging from vines like a real-life jungle hero. I also loved the bone chamber scene where we almost got crushed and had to jump into a pit of skulls. It was crazy fun to film! Oh and the tram scene was so EPIC! I couldn’t stop laughing between takes watching Jacob pretend to be knocked out from the blow dart I shot at him. Oops!

What are some of your favourite memories from your time on set of Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado and filming as Sonny?

Shooting at Hacienda Nápoles was amazing – we even got to go on the water slides there. I loved goofing around with Sam and Jacob between takes, making up secret handshakes, singing Linger by The Cranberries, and dancing around. We also hung out off set – bowling, playing soccer, going to dinner, swimming, and even doing self-tapes together. I made friends for life on that movie.

How did you find the experience attending the Los Angeles premiere in June, and how did you feel watching the film for the first time?

It was incredible! I was so excited to see everyone again and to finally watch what we all worked so hard on. I thought the movie turned out amazing – and not just because I’m in it!

Alongside Samantha, Jacob and Mariana, you were a guest at the 2025 Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards, what was this like?

That was such a blast! Walking the orange carpet was unreal. I did a bunch of fun interviews and got to talk about Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado. I was a little nervous at first, but once I got there, the energy was so fun and chill. Having Sam, Jacob, and Mariana there made it even better.

It has been announced that you will be playing Jake Kennedy in the upcoming Netflix crime thriller film The Whisper Man, is there anything you can you tell us about this?

It’s such an intense and emotional movie. Jake goes through some really tough stuff, and the role definitely pushed me as an actor. Working with director James Ashcroft was incredible – he’s such a great teacher. I can’t wait for people to see it!

The cast includes Robert De Niro, Michelle Monaghan, Michael Keaton and your on-screen father Adam Scott, what was it like meeting the rest of the cast?

It was amazing! Everyone was so kind and professional. On my first day, Mr. De Niro left a handwritten note and some gifts in my trailer – that was the coolest thing ever. Adam Scott and I hung out at an indoor golf and arcade place before filming, which helped us build a real father-son bond for our scenes. I also got to work with Owen Teague – he’s seriously one of the coolest and most dedicated actors I’ve ever met.

How was it filming the Ho Ho Heist short film as Gabriel, which was part of The Santa Stories collection?

That one was really special. Gabriel just wants to be with his dad for Christmas, and I totally get that because Christmas is all about family for me too. It had a lot of heart.

What do you remember most from playing Alex in the short film The Rise of SuperMouth?

That was my first project other than commercials, so it was a big deal for me! It was also my first time working with a green screen, which was super cool – I felt like I was in a real superhero movie. I learned so much about how movies are made… and I also learned not to eat too much candy at crafty because that’s how you end up with cavities – which is literally what SuperMouth is about!

How did you get into acting and was it always something you wanted to do?

My mom got my brother into acting first, and I thought it looked really fun. Once I started, I loved it right away! I booked some commercials, and I knew this is what I wanted to do.

What are some of your favourite films and TV shows to watch?

I love Avatar: The Last Airbender, The Thundermans, and Blue Lock. I like funny shows and ones with cool powers. My favourite characters are Uncle Iroh, Max, and Nagi Seishiro!

What do you like to do when you’re not acting?

I love playing video games like Roblox and Rocket League, playing basketball and soccer, and hanging out with my family. We travel a lot too – some of my favourite places are Japan, Curaçao, French Polynesia, and Australia.

Apart from The Whisper Man, do you have any projects coming up that you can share and what are you hoping the next few months bring?

Right now, I’m filming The Revenge of La Llorona in New York – my first horror movie! I play Marco, and it’s been such a fun and spooky challenge. The best part is my sister, Avie Porto, plays my sister in the film too, so we get to work together every day.

In the next few months, I just hope to keep doing awesome roles that challenge me and help me grow as an actor – and meet more amazing people who love acting as much as I do!

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