Exclusive Interview: Dorian Giordano Talks Disney’s ‘World’s Best,’ Channeling His Personal Experiences into His Performance, and More

Dorian Giordano is a rising star well on his way to becoming one of the world’s best. In his young career, he has amassed credits, including roles in Reacher, 13: The Musical, and Reindeer Games Homecoming. Earlier this year, he landed a lead role in Disney’s World’s Best.

In World’s Best, twelve-year-old mathematics genius Prem Patel (Magnus), navigating the tumultuous hardships of adolescence, discovers that his recently deceased father was a famous rapper. Immediately, he sets out to pursue a career as a rap superstar. While his actions may seem reckless and the fastest way to lose everything, Prem, empowered by imaginative hip-hop music-fueled fantasies where he performs with his father (Ambudkar), is determined to find out if hip-hop truly runs in his DNA. As his father always used to say, ‘the world’s best never rest.’

Pop Culturalist was fortunate to speak with Dorian about World’s Best, how he channeled his own personal experiences into his performance, and more!

PC: How did you discover your passion for acting and storytelling?
Dorian: I accidentally stumbled into acting, to be honest. I originally had my sights set on becoming a professional freestyle BMX rider. However, fate took a different turn when I booked a commercial for Nerf as a BMX kid performing bike tricks, and the producer advised my mom to get me an agent. Fast forward seven years, and here I am starring in a Disney movie! It’s amazing how life unfolds in unexpected ways sometimes.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Dorian: Well, to be honest, I believe Eli Roth has had the most influence on my career. Initially, I had planned to attend university for engineering. However, things took a sudden turn when I landed three consecutive projects with Eli Roth. Working with him was an incredible experience, and I began to seriously consider pursuing acting, given his belief in me. Originally, acting was just supposed to be a fun activity, but Eli changed the trajectory of my life. I must also mention my mom, who has supported and believed in me from day one.

PC: You’ve had so much success already in your young career. When you look back, is there a particular moment that stands out?
Dorian: Yes, booking Avatar: The Last Airbender. I grew up watching ATLA and was a huge fan, so being able to be a part of that was a huge pinch-me moment!

PC: Tell us about World’s Best, your character, and what drew you to this project.
Dorian: Well, the idea of being part of a Disney production is always a huge draw for any actor. However, I really liked how different this project was going to be, being a rap/musical. The idea sounded so cool and relatable to this generation. I was genuinely excited to see the final product, and I’m so happy to have been part of it.

Gabe is a chill, laid-back kid who takes Prem under his wing and helps guide and support him as he navigates the world as a twelve-year-old.

PC: You’ve said in previous interviews that you share more similarities than differences with Gabe. For you as an actor, is that more or less challenging?
Dorian: I love it when I can play characters similar to who I am in real life because I bring a lot of myself to the character. That is always a lot of fun. It feels very real and authentic, and I think audiences connect to a character that feels real.

PC: There’s such fantastic chemistry that comes off the screen between you and the entire cast. How did you build that bond? Do you have a favorite behind-the-scenes moment?
Dorian: The cast was all so incredible; there was a real genuine bond between all of us because everyone really got along. Utkarsh [Ambudkar] made it such a fun set, and the energy was so good that everyone just vibed so well. Kayla [Njeri], who plays Mercedes, is the nicest person you will ever meet, and Manny [Magnus] and I were always joking. We just got lucky that it was such a great cast. Everyone, including Piper [Wallace], Max [Malas], Chris [River], and Liam [Wignall], was awesome, and we all just meshed really well. I think you can feel that through the screen.

PC: Now that the film is out on Disney+, was there a particular scene that you were excited for audiences to see? Which was the most challenging to film?
Dorian: Honestly, I can’t choose a favorite scene because I truthfully liked the whole film. There was a scene that was filmed but cut, where Gabe explains to Prem about his health struggles. I myself have gone through some pretty serious health problems, so I think that scene was difficult to film simply because it hit close to home. But as an actor, you pull from life experiences, so sometimes those scenes can be tough.

PC: You’re now a part of the Disney family. If you could appear in another Disney property, which would it be and why?
Dorian: Avengers, for sure. I think it would be so cool to see a Latino/Indigenous neurodivergent kid as a superhero! Also, Star Wars… I mean, it’s Star Wars, so definitely that one too!

To keep up with Dorian, follow him on Instagram. Watch World’s Best on Disney+ today.

Photo Credit: John Bregar