Interview: Miguel A. Nunez Jr.

Recently we had the chance to talk with actor Miguel A. Nunez about his career, including his role in the new film Worth.

Was acting something you always wanted to do or did you discover it later on?

Miguel: I discovered that I wanted to be an actor when I was three years old. All I ever wanted to do was be an actor. I ran away from home in North Carolina, landed in the streets of Los Angeles, did that whole nine yards until I finally made it.

Was there ever a back-up plan in terms of a career or was it acting and nothing else?

Miguel: Never, there was never a back-up plan, I always knew I was going to be an actor. I told my mom at age three that I was going to be an actor, that was what I was going to do with my life, and that’s all it’s ever been.

You started out by jumping into some big movies and franchises with Friday the 13th and The Return of the Living Dead. What were those experiences like?

Miguel: It just happened that way, man. They were incredible experiences, incredible. When I first came to Hollywood I wanted to do a horror movie, I loved horror, and I can’t believe how it turned out. It was amazing, just amazing.

What was it like being a series regular on Tour of Duty?

Miguel: I was seventeen years old, living in Hawaii, was recently homeless and I was making all this money. I think the first year I didn’t even have a bank account. I got $10,500 a week and I was cashing that check and putting it in my pocket, just living the life! (Laughs)

Was that the role that confirmed for you that yes, I can make acting a career?

Miguel: I knew that before that when I was living in the streets. I knew that my whole life. Loved Tour of Duty, especially being so young having that kind of cash but yeah, I always knew I was going to be an actor, I just knew it.

You’ve done a lot of TV and movie. Do you have a favorite medium to work in or go back and forth?

Miguel: I like them both. Some of my favorite roles were in Street Fighter, a movie called Juwanna Mann because I was the lead, and of course Friday the 13th and Return of the Living Dead. Those were favorites of mine because they helped my career get started and horror is my favorite genre. I really don’t care what medium I work in as long as I’m acting, that’s really all I care about, it’s all about the acting.

How did you get involved with the movie Worth?

Miguel: One of the producers reached out to me, brought me the script, told me all about it and I was down with it. It wasn’t a big role but that’s ok, I liked the part, like the story and it was fun.

Are you attracted to smaller roles like Dr. Harris in Worth?

Miguel: Man, I’m attracted to almost any role, and here’s the thing: I been in feature films where I’ve had one scene in the movie, I been on a TV show with only one scene to do. It’s not about the medium, the television show, the film…it’s about what you do with each role you get. If I only have one scene and the lead has thirty-five, I want to leave them talking about my scene and forget about his thirty-five scenes, it’s all about what you do with it. I feel like I can steal a movie, I don’t care how few lines I’ve got, that’s how I look at it.

Is that the advice you’d give to anyone who wanted to get into the acting business?

Miguel: Absolutely. You go out there and take every role you can and own every role you get. Make every single moment count, every single role matter, that’s exactly what I’d tell any actor starting out.

So what other projects do you have coming up?

Miguel: We’re doing a Juwanna Man 2, I’m doing a show called Singing with the Stars, I’m going to be doing a few shows.

I want to thank Miguel for taking the time to talk with us