Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Country Comfort’s Ricardo Hurtado

Ricardo Hurtado is a multifaceted talent who’s captivating audiences with his uncanny ability to transform into a character. He’s starred in projects including School of Rock, Malibu Rescue, and Glitch Techs, and can next be seen in Netflix’s Country Comfort.

The family dramedy follows an aspiring young country singer (Katharine McPhee) who finds the band she’s been missing when she takes a job as a nanny for a musically talented family.

Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to chat with Ricardo about his career, Country Comfort, and more!

Career

PC: How did you discover your passion for acting?
Ricardo: I grew up in Georgia. I went to a private school there that had a music and theater department. I wanted to do sports and stuff, but I tried out and I wasn’t that great. I ended up going into theater. Classic, right? I ended up finding a lot of friends there. I felt very welcomed. I had a lot of fun.

The first musical that I did was Seussical. Ever since I did that one, I was like, “I love this. This is so much fun.” I actually never thought I would be an actor in the future. I didn’t actually plan on doing that. I just really liked musical theater. The next thing you know, I did a showcase event called Actors, Models, and Talent for Christ. Basically, you performed in front of management companies and agencies.

If anything, I was mainly doing music. I liked music more, but I went, I performed. I did some acting showcases as well. I got thirty-six callbacks from different management companies and agencies. One of them happened to be the Vice President of 20th Century Fox. His name was Christian Kaplan. He asked me to come out to LA for a week to meet with different companies. I didn’t have any credits or anything, so they were all willing to sign me because of his reputation; he’s very reputable. One of them was like, “Here’s an audition for this Nickelodeon show called School of Rock. Go try out for it.” It was my first audition and I ended up booking it. That’s what brought me out to LA. When I did School of Rock, that’s when I really fell in love with acting. I was like, “This is what I want to do for the rest of my life.”

PC: That actually might be the answer to this next question. Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Ricardo: Christian Kaplan had a big influence on my career. But you know what, I’d say there are two main people that have influenced my career. My parents have had an amazing influence on my career because they’re the ones that have kept me centered in God, which is the next person that has made my career even possible. I give all glory to God because without him I wouldn’t be where I am today. He’s opened all the doors. It’s crazy actually. There are so many stories in my career that I’ve experienced that it almost seems miraculous. For example, just the fact that Christian Kaplan was at that showcase event in Orlando. I mean, that’s just crazy. A lot of doors have opened up in my career. I’m very thankful to God. He’s made everything possible for me.

PC: You’ve had a lot of success already in your young career. When you look back, is there any particular moment that stands out to you?
Ricardo: I did a show called Malibu Rescue. Before I got Malibu Rescue, I did School of Rock, but between that there was a dry spell for a long time. I wasn’t booking anything. I was like, “I’m going to have to go back to Georgia because Los Angeles is really expensive. It’s hard to live out here, especially if you’re not working.” My parents and I prayed. We were like, “God, if you want me to stay out here, give us a sign that you want us to be here.” Not even two weeks later, I got an audition for Malibu Rescue. I ended up booking that role. That’s what kept us out here—that role. I feel like that was one of the most defining moments in my professional life.

Country Comfort

PC: That’s awesome. You’re currently starring on another Netflix show. Tell us about Country Comfort, your character, and what drew you to this project.
Ricardo: Country Comfort is such a funny show. It follows this aspiring music singer who wants to break into the industry. Her name is Bailey, and she’s played by Katharine McPhee. When her life gets turned upside down, both professionally and in her personal life, she ends up having to take this job as a nanny for the Haywood family.

I play the oldest son. His name is Tuck Haywood. He’s the cocky ladies’ man, but he has some deeper layers to him because what we find out in the show is that the family lost their mother. It’s a really beautiful story about how Bailey has a lot of problems in her life, and we have problems in our lives, but when we come together, we benefit from each other. We help each other through our problems. She’s like the mother figure that we haven’t had for however long.

It’s a beautiful story, and what really drew me to the project was that it’s a family-oriented show that has a musical aspect. I feel like the world right now needs good family content that kids and family can watch that’s clean and has quality humor. That’s what I love about it too.

We have Caryn Lucas and Peter Marc Jacobson as our executive producers. They’re veterans in the industry. They made so many great shows. Their quality of comedy is so good. And of course, I love the musical elements that the show has.

Like I was saying earlier, I did a Nickelodeon show called School of Rock, which has a lot of musical elements to it. I played the drums. I played Freddy, the drummer. But this time, I get to play the guitar and sing. I love shows that incorporate musical elements. I love music, so getting to act and do music at the same time, it’s the best of both worlds.

PC: Like you were saying, there are so many layers to Tuck. How did you prepare to step into his shoes?
Ricardo: I just wanted to make sure that when I portrayed the character it wasn’t all about the superficial part of him but also that you see those deeper layers to him and that he’s hurt by the loss of his mother. He almost puts on a different face to cope with it, to help him move past it, and to be the older brother and role model for his siblings. He wants to be a strong influence on his siblings. I wanted to show those aspects of Tuck.

PC: Like you were saying earlier, you’re an actor-musician. Do you think we’ll ever see you release your own original music?
Ricardo: I have two songs in the works, so hopefully I’ll be getting those out in the next couple of months. I love doing music. I do it as a hobby. I release stuff every now and then, but it’s a lot of fun. I really do enjoy music. It’s funny because that’s what I wanted to do first. That’s why I did that showcase and stuff, because I wanted to do music. But then, as I’ve done acting, I realized that I love acting. It’s cool because they’re both my passions and on Country Comfort I get to do both.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

Guilty pleasure TV show?
Ricardo: I’d say House Hunters, especially because I’m actually getting my real estate license right now. I love anything that has to do with real estate, flipping houses, and that stuff.

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Ricardo: I hate to admit it, but I think my guilty pleasure movie is To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. That’s a classic.

PC: Favorite book?
Ricardo: The Bible. I read it every day.

PC: Favorite play or musical?
Ricardo: Into the Woods. I got to do it at my old high school. It was my favorite musical. I loved that one.

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Ricardo: Maná. They’re a Mexican band. I think fans would be surprised because a lot of my fans don’t know that I’m actually Hispanic and that I speak Spanish. I listen to a lot of Spanish music.

PC: Who would play you in the story of your life?
Ricardo: Wow. That’s a good one. I’ve never been asked that one before. I know that I would want to play my dad in the story of his life.

To keep up with Ricardo, follow him on Twitter and Instagram. Watch Country Comfort on Netflix today.