If there is something that Ezekiel Pacheco isn’t lacking in, its confidence. Over the last five years, the Mexican actor has landed small roles on TV series like Grey’s Anatomy and On My Block, but for him, his aspirations are limitless.
“I have no doubt in my mind that one day I’m going to be very successful,” Pacheco, 27, told Remezcla during a recent interview. “One day, I’m going to be one of the best actors in the world.”
Pacheco steps into the cinematic spotlight in a big way with his latest film, At the Gates. In the thriller, Pacheco plays Nico, the 17-year-old son of a Salvadorian housekeeper named Ana (Vanessa Benavente). When U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers come asking questions at the home of Ana’s employer, she and Nico are forced to hide out in the family’s basement.
“The script was one of the best I’ve ever read,” Pacheco said. “Our people don’t really get scripts that are profound and different from the typical stereotypes. It’s a beautiful script that doesn’t just resonate with our people, but people around the world.”
At the Gates also resonated with Pacheco on a very personal level. Born in the small town of Ayutla de los Libres in the southern part of Mexico, Pacheco was brought to the United States when he was only 11 months old. In 2012, Pacheco, who was 14 years old at the time, learned that then-President Barack Obama’s immigration policy known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) would allow him to stay in the U.S. without fear of deportation.
“It’s very nice to play a character who is so close to my heart,” Pacheco said. “I know what it’s like to suffer like that. I wanted to pay homage to all the DACA recipients who are struggling with this issue. I wanted to bring truth to it.”
Pacheco, who is the first DACA recipient to lead a major Hollywood film, didn’t think of acting as a profession until he was 19. He enjoyed watching movies starring actors like Al Pacino, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Denzel Washington, but Hollywood seemed like a fantasy. He grew up helping his parents run the family business, a snack shop in south L.A. called J.K. Ice Cream & Snack Shop. He still works there on the weekends.
“I’m looking forward to the day I get to retire my parents and buy them a house,” Pacheco said. “I’m really blessed to have such a gift as an actor. Through that, I’ll be able to help my parents out financially. I’m very grateful for my parents and all their strength and for all the lessons they’ve taught me. I owe them a lot.”
Until that day comes, Pacheco is doing everything he can to see that his career trajectory continues upward. He hopes a film like At the Gates leads to bigger projects, but also highlights those undocumented immigrants in the U.S. who are here to pursue a better life.
“I hope it helps those who see the film empathize with our people,” he said. “We have a lot of good people here like my parents and myself who work really hard and just want to contribute to this country.”
At the Gates, starring Ezekiel Pacheco, is currently streaming on the Roku Channel.
