The Interview – BBC World Service

Episode Summary:

Guest: Diego Calva (Mexican actor)
Date: January 5, 2026
Main Theme:
Challenging Latin American stereotypes in global cinema—Actor Diego Calva on representation, storytelling, and breaking international barriers.

Overview

In this episode, Nicky Bady interviews Diego Calva, the celebrated Mexican actor known for his roles in Narcos: Mexico and the Hollywood film Babylon. Calva discusses his journey from Mexico’s independent film scene to international stardom, the evolution of Latin American representation on screen, and the cultural responsibilities he navigates as a global actor. The conversation delves into stereotypes, the universality of cinema, the importance of authentic representation, and Calva’s aspirations for the future of storytelling.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Changing Tides in Representation

[03:02], [06:36]

• Calva reflects on how Latin American actors are increasingly able to work under their real identities and play varied roles, signaling progress from past generations.
• Quote:

  "I talked with so many older actors… when they started they had to change their names... In my generation I didn't. My name is Diego Calva, and I use my real name." (Diego Calva, 03:02)

• He notes that, previously, roles for Latino actors were restricted to stereotypes—“the farmhand, the narco”—but this is changing as he now sees more diverse opportunities.

2. Portraying Complex Characters

[04:00]

• Calva discusses his role as Teddy Dos Santos in The Night Manager, emphasizing his choice to pursue layered and challenging roles.
• Quote:

  "Every time I choose a character, I always try to search for a challenge... I just realized this was not like a one-dimensional character." (Diego Calva, 04:00)

3. Navigating Accent and Cultural Nuance

[04:44]

• Calva highlights the differences between Mexican and Colombian accents, describing the Colombian accent as musical, almost like a salsa song.
• Quote:

  "The Colombian accent is so beautiful, it's so musical, so different than the Mexican. The Mexican accent has a lot of cut... and the Colombian one is just like a song." (Diego Calva, 04:44)

• He collaborated with the director to incorporate his natural accent, acknowledging the cultural mix in his character.

4. Responsibility and Joy in Representation

[05:33], [13:49], [13:56]

• Calva feels a deep responsibility to present Latin America beyond stereotypes of violence, salsa, and food.
• Quote:

  "Latin America, we have way more than violence... We're more than a salsa as our music or food or culture." (Diego Calva, 05:33)

• He cites his mother’s advice:

  "It's about, remember the way back home... representing my country, saying that I'm Latino, I'm Mexicano... is going to be my way of putting... my little piece of representation." (Diego Calva, 13:56)

5. The Impact of Narcos & On-Screen Stereotypes

[07:46]

• Calva recognizes the truth in portrayals of narco culture but cautions against glorifying such roles or reducing Latin American stories to crime.
• Quote:

  "When you start acting... if you watch Narcos, what I try to do with the character... it was literally playing a cartoon. Because I'm not down to humanize that kind of people in any way, you know." (Diego Calva, 07:46)

6. Cinematic Universality

[10:08]

• Calva views emotions as the universal language of cinema, transcending cultural and linguistic barriers.
• Quote:

  "Emotions are a universal language. And movies, cinema use emotions as letters to create sentences." (Diego Calva, 10:08)

7. Mexico’s Tradition in Cinema

[10:47]

• Citing legendary filmmakers like Iñárritu, Cuarón, and del Toro, Calva discusses Mexico’s cinematic legacy and its deep-rooted cultural relationship with death.
• Quote:

  "For our ancestors, like the Aztecs, being dead... was like an honor... Guillermo del Toro says: 'Why are your movies so beautiful and horrible and kind of scary at the same time? Because I’m Mexicano. Because I'm not afraid to death.'" (Diego Calva, 10:47)

8. Cinema Bridging Worlds

[15:16], [15:58]

• Calva believes that arts and storytelling can bridge divides more effectively than politics by appealing to the heart.
• Quote:

  "The difference between cinema and politics is cinema affects your heart. Politics is always like the mind... feelings and heart is going to open more doors than any political idea." (Diego Calva, 15:58)

9. 'You Have to See It to Be It'

[17:56]

• Calva underlines the power of representation, recalling his struggle to find references of Mexican actors in 1920s Hollywood and expressing hope for future generations.
• Quote:

  "It's important to see yourself, to imagine yourself there... I really hope that someday one kid is going to watch one of these movies and say, 'Hey, I can be an international actor.'" (Diego Calva, 17:56)

10. Underrepresented Stories

[19:17]

• He highlights the lack of stories about women like his mother—single, in their 60s—and sees the conversation about gender in storytelling as a key revolution of our time.
• Quote:

  "There's, like, a hole of woman's representation. I don't see a lot of stories of [women] like my mother in their 60s, single, for example... we are just starting this conversation about gender. And I think that's the revolution of our time." (Diego Calva, 19:17)

11. Career, Aspirations, and the Future

[20:18], [21:05]

• Calva aspires to direct, particularly to tell personal stories—such as a script about his mother's life—with Mexican talent and within Mexico’s independent film scene.

• Quote:

  "I have this script that I've been writing for, like, five years about my mother's life. I would love to go back to Mexico and direct there... to give my industry a push." (Diego Calva, 21:05)

• He sees value in pursuing both Hollywood and homegrown cinema, emphasizing the importance of creative freedom rather than belonging to a single “mecca.”

• Quote:

  "Now there's not just one way to be on the spotlight... If I'm able to, I don't want to belong anywhere. I just want to belong to the movie situation, to the movies." (Diego Calva, 23:47)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "The Colombian accent is like a salsa song. That's why they're so good at salsa, because they sing when they talk." (Diego Calva, 05:14)
• "I grew up around books and culture and poetry all my life. Hola, Mama. Estoy en la BBC. [Hello Mother. I'm on the BBC.]" (Diego Calva, 19:05)
• "For me, love is about the time you put in on things, on people, on whatever you love. For now, acting is my love. It's my complete passion." (Diego Calva, 21:05)
• “I want to go to space. I want to be a pirate. I want to go everywhere.” (Diego Calva, 20:40)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• 01:43–04:00: Introduction to Diego Calva’s career and early discussion of representation.
• 04:00–05:33: Accents, character choices, and responsibility in representation.
• 06:36–07:46: Stereotypes, Narcos, and reflections on industry evolution.
• 10:08–10:47: Universality of cinema and Mexican film legacy.
• 13:49–14:59: Personal responsibility, cultural pride, and advice from his mother.
• 15:16–16:32: Arts bridging divides, on-screen barriers, and impact on viewers.
• 17:56–19:17: Importance of representation, aspirations, and underrepresented stories.
• 20:18–21:05: Directing ambitions and passion for independent cinema.
• 22:50–24:12: Future of global versus local film careers and creative freedom.

Tone & Atmosphere

Diego Calva’s conversation is open, passionate, and thoughtful, blending pride in his roots with a desire for global engagement. He frequently circles back to the themes of artistic freedom, the transformative power of cinema, and his responsibility to provide authentic, nuanced representation. The episode maintains a reflective yet optimistic tone, punctuated by Calva’s humor and warmth (including a greeting to his mother in Spanish).

Conclusion

This episode provides an insightful window into the evolving landscape of Latin American representation in global cinema. Diego Calva’s reflections on identity, ambition, and storytelling reinforce the role artists play in breaking boundaries and rewriting narratives. The conversation leaves listeners with a sense of cultural progress and possibility for future generations of storytellers.