Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with grown-ish’s Henri Esteve

Hollywood heartthrob Henri Esteve is an exciting up-and-comer who’s making a huge splash this television season joining the cast of Freeform’s grown-ish, now in its third season. Henri plays Javier, a well-educated Cuban Republican activist and grad student who interns with Ana (Francia Raisa) and challenges her in ways she never expected. Pop Culturalist caught up with Henri to chat about the role.

Career

PC: How did you discover your passion for acting?
Henri: When I was ten, I saw John Leguizamo’s HBO special for his one-man show Sexaholix. I was way too young to be watching it. [laughs] I saw a solid thirty minutes of it before my mom came in, turned it off, and sent my young ass to sleep. But that was all it took. He planted the seed in my head.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Henri: That’s a hard question! It changes all the time. I’m such a big fan of movies and acting that I fall in love with performances and people’s work all the time. If I really love something, I’ll rewatch a performance ten times, but the constants that I always go back to are Gary Oldman, Al Pacino, and Benicio Del Toro. Those guys have all had huge influences on me—the way Oldman disappears into roles and Al and Benicio’s looming intensity.

PC: You’ve had a lot of success already in your young career. When you look back, is there a particular moment that stands out?
Henri: I wish I had a “top of the world, ma!” moment. I haven’t yet. Being asked that makes me reflect and really appreciate the day-to-day. The fact that I get to write “actor” in the little occupation box at the doctor, that’s pretty awesome.

But if I had to pick one, with the risk of sounding cliché, it would be my first TV booking, which was Revenge. Being able to call your day job boss and quit is a pretty cool moment. He was an ass. [laughs]

grown-ish

PC: You’re joining the upcoming season of grown-ish. How familiar were you with the series before joining? How did you prepare for your role?
Henri: I had seen a few episodes. A friend of mine works in the writers’ room, so I had watched bits and pieces. When it came to preparing, every role is different. For Javi, the first thing I went to was my own experience growing up in Miami and knowing a lot of first-generation Cuban Republicans—using their outlooks, point of views, and personality types. I wanted to make sure not to put him in a box, and having real three-dimensional people to draw from has really helped with that.

PC: What should fans know about Javi and his arc in Season 3?
Henri: That he means well. I think my favorite thing about Javi is he really is bettering himself and growing as a person, and obviously there’s a struggle to that and in that, but I love the fact that he is trying.

PC: Were there any nerves heading into this project given the fact that the cast has a few seasons already under their belts?
Henri: There’s always some nerves when I head into a project. You never really know how it’s going to feel until you get there. If anything, the cast having a few seasons under their belts relieves a bit of pressure. I get to come in and join something that already has legs to it. Everyone being that dialed in is contagious. It makes it easier to have fun with the work.

PC: You’ve done a lot of television in your career. Which role has helped prepare you the most for grown-ish?
Henri: To be real, all of them. I’ve learned something with each project. I hope I continue to learn something with each role that I can take with me to the next one. I have a theory that if I don’t learn something about myself or about acting while I’m working, then I’m not doing a very good job.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Henri: Ballers

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Henri: Top Gun

PC: Favorite book?
Henri: Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck or Sexus by Henry Miller.

PC: Favorite play or musical?
Henri: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof—Tennessee Williams

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Henri: I’ve been listening to a lot of Frank Sinatra lately.

PC: Who would play you in the story of your life?
Henri: Al Pacino

To keep up with Henri, follow him on Twitter and Instagram. Catch him in grown-ish Thursdays at 8/7c on Freeform.

Photo Credit: Christopher Michael Diaz