Diego Luna
Cinema is his passion and books are his pastime. Diego Luna likes good films, ones that jump off the pages of a screenplay, his most frequent reading material. And whether in the form of a movie or a book, Luna loves a good story in Spanish. For that reason, despite the solid career he has carved out in the United States, this 29-year-old actor enjoys making films in Spain, Brazil or even in his native Mexico.Q. What are you reading at the moment?
A. Balas de plata (Silver Bullets) by Elmer Mendoza.
Q. When do you like to read?
A. I used to prefer the nighttime, but since (my son) Jerónimo arrived I can only find time on the airplane.
Q. Do you read in English or Spanish?
A. I always revert back to Spanish because it’s my native language, the one in which I read my first book and decided to become an actor.
Q. What book was that?
A. The first book I loved and devoured, not being really little, when I was 11, was La increíble y triste historia de la cándida Eréndida y su abuela desalmada (The Incredible and Sad Story of the Candid Erendira and her Heartless Grandmother).
Q. And which author?
A. García Márquez, of course.
Q. Which book would you recommend?
A. If you haven’t read anything by Elmer Mendoza, I’d recommend you begin with El amante de Janis Joplin (The Lover of Janis Joplin).
Q. And for your son?
A. We haven’t gotten past Barney yet.
Q. Have you taught Spanish to John Malkovich?
A. He understood it before working with me. When you’re next to him, be careful because he understands you. He has a lot of friends in Spain.
Q. And you?
A. We’re people first and foremost, no matter what our passport says. My family, my friends, my wife are in Mexico. But I appreciate Mexico a lot when I’m away.
