Words by Carol Wright | Photos by Lilly K Photography
We got to talk with Disney Channel star Raphael about his favorite roles as a young actor including his character Matteo in Bunk’d and Zaqueu in Jungle Cruise.
What’s your favorite part about being an actor?
My favorite part about being an actor is to be able to play many different characters who have different characteristics than me, so I have to put myself in the character’s shoes and by doing that I become more aware of the differences that us, human beings, have. It makes me grow not only as an actor because I’m challenging myself to portray something that I’m not, or don’t believe in, but also as a person.
Can you relate to your character Matteo?
Yes, I can relate to Matteo. He and I are quite similar when it comes to academics. Matteo loves to learn, especially about science, and so do I. We are also similar in the sense that I’m also a bit of a germ freak, not as much as him, but I still am.
Bunk’d just got renewed for a fifth season. What will Matteo and his friends at Camp Kikiwaka be up to in this next season?
I hope that Matteo and his friends will be up to some amazing adventures. Season 4 was full of special moments and Matteo learned a lot about friendship, and he started to enjoy camp a bit more. I hope that Matteo continues to go in the same direction and create other wonderful memories from the new adventures in Season 5.
How did it feel to get cast in Jungle Cruise?
When I received the news that I was cast as Zaqueu for Jungle Cruise, I was so excited. One of my dreams as an actor was to work with Dwayne Johnson and when I got the news, I was so happy and ecstatic to know that not only will I work with Dwayne Johnson, but also that I will be filming in Hawaii, another place that was on my bucket list to visit.
Tell us about your character Zaqueu. Why did you want to play him?
Unfortunately, I cannot say much about my character Zaqueu. I wanted to play him because his character is completely different from Matteo (Bunk’d) or Hugo (How to be a Latin Lover). It was a lot of fun playing Zaqueu.
What advice do you have for aspiring actors?
My advice for aspiring actors is to believe in themselves and don’t give up on their dreams. But sometimes, to be able to accomplish our dreams, we need the support and help from others, so don’t forget where you came from, be grateful and appreciative of everyone that was there for you helping you achieve your goal.
One of my favorite sayings is from Spider-Man: “With great power, comes great responsibilities.” So when you become successful, don’t forget to give help and support to those that are in need.