In the last few years, Mexican directors have dominated at the Academy Awards. At the last five Oscars, four Mexicans have won the best director award. And with that, we’ve seen more Mexican talent – namely Alfonso Cuarón, Guillermo del Toro, and Alejandro Iñárritu – on the red carpet. This year, with Roma – Cuarón’s Mexico City-set film inspired by his childhood – nominated for several awards, there are several actors from Mexico invited to the show, and perhaps no one is happier about it than Diego Luna, who on Sunday recalled how unwelcome he felt the first time he went to the prestigious awards.
“I’m really happy to be here this year,” Luna told Variety on the red carpet. “I’m hearing Spanish all around, which is lovely. I’m seeing family members, you know, like people I grew up working with. I remember the first time I did this, I didn’t know anyone, I was with Gael [García Bernal]. No one wanted to interview us. It was like, they had to push for someone to actually spend three minutes asking us whatever, and things are changing.”
Today, people definitely want to chat with Diego about his role in If Beale Street Could Talk and about his fellow Mexicans.