‘Green Veil’ Star John Leguizamo Talks Playing Self-Hating, Vile and Twisted Character: ‘I Don’t Need People to Like Me in This Role’
¡Hola, mis amigos! Preparense because John Leguizamo has taken a deep dive into the shadows in his latest role that’s cooking up storms in the new TV series, "The Green Veil." This beloved actor, known for embodying a kaleidoscope of characters—desde comic book villains hasta Shakespearean titans—has now plunged into the darkest role to date as the 1950s FBI agent, Gordon Rogers. And let me tell you, it's unlike anything we've seen from him before!
The buzz started after the first four capítulos premiered at Variety's TV FYC Screening Series in West Hollywood on April 26. The portrayal of Gordon was so intense that it left the audience trembling—desde drama profundo to unsettling truths, Leguizamo brought it all. Post-screening, a fan expressed how challenging it was to see such dark layers unravel, and asked him cómo managed to embody such trauma. Leguizamo, with the intensity only he can deliver, replied, "I don’t need people to like me in this role. What I want is for it to be understood—how a person can turn this twisted."
This powerful performance was just the beginning of an intriguing charla with co-stars like Hani Furstenberg, Isabelle Poloner, John Ortiz, and the series creator, Aram Rappaport, with Clayton Davis of Variety steering the discussion.
"The Green Veil" intricately weaves a narrative that mirrors the oppression in the 1950s America while telling the poignant story of Rogers—an immigrant chasing the elusive American Dream, only to confront a brutal reality that it was just an illusion.
This project grabbed Leguizamo’s attention with Rappaport’s meticulously researched script about cómo the U.S. government schemed to snatch Indigenous children from their families to block them from inheriting their ancestral lands—lands that were greedily handed over to oil companies, shattering generational connections and wealth. Aghast but inspired, Leguizamo jumped at the opportunity to delve into such a compelling proyecto, especially highlighting a tragic practice that persisted into the '80s.
Rappaport shaped a character specially for Leguizamo, portraying a Latin man wrestling with self-hatred—an aspect resonant with many in the Latin community only now beginning to embrace their Indigenous and Afro-Latin identities. "In the '50s, this guy wanted to pass for white, thinking it would win him acceptance and love. Obviamente, it doesn’t," Leguizamo reflected on the prejudiced dilemmas of the era.
Transforming into Rogers was no walk in the park. "It’s tough," Leguizamo admitted, discussing the emotional and psychological toll required. "You have to visit uncomfortable places within yourself, live with those feelings through the shoot and then, soltar everything afterward. But, when you see the final product, you think, ‘Wow, that’s powerful.'"
Furthermore, Leguizamo highlighted the significant absence of Latinos in historical narratives. "Remember ‘Mad Men’? Loved it but zero Latin presence. It felt off, considering we've been all over New York since way before the '60s!" "The Green Veil" hence presents a chance to correct historical oversights by integrating Latin characters into a 1950s setting.
Pitching "The Green Veil" was no fácil task, despite Leguizamo’s credentials including Emmy and Tony wins. Rappaport shared the challenging journey to the screen, which involved starting a completely new network to finally bring this vital story to viewers.
"The Green Veil" debuted on April 30, with two episodes now streaming on The Network, a bold new platform designed to give such unique stories the spotlight they deserve. Don’t miss the full conversation and get a deep dive into the making of this powerful series.
