Manuel Garcia-Rulfo opens up about his journey to Hollywood success [EXCLUSIVE]

Manuel, how do you feel about the success of Lincoln Lawyer and what’s coming up with Pedro Páramo?

What do you do to disconnect?

I almost always go to the ranch; we have a ranch in Jalisco. There, I’m with family, animals, we have a small lemon orchard, and I have fun planting trees or harvesting.

Speaking of Pedro Paramo, are you actually related to Juan Rulfo?

I understand that you got your acting streak from your grandfather, who also made films

I think so. He loved cinema. He was a fan of Charlie Chaplin, Westerns, Cantinflas, and the like. So, he’d show us lots of movies, and he made films as a hobby to entertain his kids, mainly, but he really put a lot of effort into it. He had his camera and his editing equipment, and you’d see him there editing the movies he made. He’d get my aunts and my dad to act. Later, he’d show them to us, his grandchildren, there on the ranch. So, I think he opened an important door for me into the world of cinema.

Do you remember those moments?

Yes, very much. I remember perfectly because it was, well, the house we had on the ranch. We didn’t have much money, and there was a white wall, but it was peeling and old. I remember he’d project onto that wall, and it had spots because of the peeling. I remember the sound. And then sometimes the power would go out because electricity didn’t reach that far. The machine would stop working, or the film would jam—it happened a lot... it would jam. So, yes, I remember it very well, and it had a big influence on me.

Among all of your grandfathers' grandkids and siblings were you the only one who inherited this artistic side?

Yes, well, some of the grandkids took up painting as a hobby. And they’re very talented. There are no writers. So, mainly, it’s just me.

I would say you have a bit of Juan Rulfo’s personality; he was also very humble, a good conversationalist, calm. Have people told you this?

Yes, a lot. I remember well my first Mexican movie I made, called 'La Última y Nos Vamos.' The director, Eva, is very good friends with Juan Carlos Rulfo’s son. I met Juan Carlos through family—though we’re distant relatives—but she’s very close to him. I remember when we were making the film, they would say, ‘Wow! All the Rulfos are the same. Speak up!’ You know? Because we’re a bit shy, and sometimes the words don’t come out. We don’t articulate the words well.

You were telling me that even in school you weren't engaged at all. Was this in behavior or performance?

No, in everything. In terms of behavior, it was like I was always daydreaming. I was in my own world. I was never a troublemaker. I just didn’t pay attention. I was creating worlds, and if I saw a movie, I’d get totally absorbed in it. So, no, I never really succeeded in school.

How many schools did you attend?

Oh, all of them. I went through all the schools in Guadalajara—from elementary to middle school. Even high school! They kicked me out of high school, too. I ended up finishing high school years later through open enrollment. No! I was a total mess.

I understand that at 12 years old, you came to the United States…

Well, they sent me to study English with a host family, an American family, for a year as an exchange.

And by then, had you already developed your artistic passion?

At what point do you think it hit you, when you said, ‘That’s it, I’ve found my calling’?

At first, I wanted to stick with photography, and then I became obsessed with cinema. I wanted to be a director, to create and direct movies. Then, in high school, I started acting; I joined the school’s theater classes, and I began performing, and I loved it. I felt very alive; I thought, ‘Oh, look! I like this,’ and I went for it, enjoying it more and more each time. Then I realized it was something I could do professionally and actually make a living from, and I thought, ‘Alright, this is the path I’ll take,’ and that was it.

And at that moment, did your family support you in pursuing the arts, becoming an actor?

It wasn’t ideal for them. My dad and others didn’t want it; they always thought I’d become a dentist. My grandfather was a dentist, my father is a dentist; we’re a long line of dentists. So, they assumed I’d go that way. In the arts, even though my grandmother was a recognized artist in Guadalajara and painted, they know it’s a tough profession, and almost no one makes a living from it. So, they worried, but in the end, they supported me.

How did the offer for Pedro Paramo come to you? And what did you think?

What stands out the most to you, what detail or trait of Pedro Paramo do you like the most?

What’s the difference between playing this character, Pedro Paramo, and one of the roles you play in Hollywood? How would you compare them?

Well, it’s just a bit more personal. Because it was like, ‘It’s Pedro Paramo!’ I mean, I had to be in this film. Obviously, my family told me, ‘For God’s sake, don’t mess this up!’ It was really special. I think all the actors were fully present, everyone very excited. It was a beautiful collective effort to bring something so special to Mexicans and be a part of it.

You’re telling me that Pedro Páramo, your character, does everything out of spite, heartbreak, madness, and all that, but in the end, it didn’t work out for him. In real life, do you think you’re the opposite of him? Would you consider yourself lucky in love?

Yes, I do. Thank God. Honestly, yes. From childhood, and in everything, yes. There’s a lot of love in my life, thank God.

We’re now on the third season of Lincoln Lawyer. Tell us a bit about it…

How do you keep your character from losing his edge?

How do you handle fame?

I head to the ranch! (laughs). No, honestly, it doesn’t keep me up at night. I know it’s a profession where there’s a lot of… not lies, but it’s a world that’s very… You know what? I don’t take it too seriously. I do my job, and whether people like it or not is up to them. Some people say, ‘How cool,’ and yes, it’s nice to be recognized, for people to come up and say, ‘I saw your work today, it was great.’ But it’s not a big deal…

You don’t seem to take on the role of being famous…

Exactly, I don’t put on that character or live in that world. Some people act like the camera is on them all the time, even on the street. I see them—sometimes friends—and I think, ‘Relax, man, you’re with me. You don’t have to put on a show.’ Some people really get caught up in that. No, I don’t.

I was reading an interesting fact about you that I think defines your personality. You don’t like celebrating your birthdays—why?

No, I’ve never celebrated it. Since I was very young, never. Attention is hard for me. I once broke up with a girlfriend because she threw me a surprise party, and it caused me a lot of anxiety.

Did you get mad?

If you had to share a message with people based on your own experience as an artist or some advice for the new generations, what would it be?

What would I tell them? Well, I’d tell them to read a poem by Charles Bukowski called Roll the Dice (laughs). Because it talks a lot about becoming obsessed with a career, with a job, and giving it your all. And once you’ve done that, letting it go and starting to enjoy it. That’s when the hard part begins because it also has this line about ‘Find what you love and let it kill you.’ Yes, read that poem, because it inspires me a lot. I love it; it’s the best.