talking 'avengers' + 'stargirl' with maximiliano hernandez

You played a double agent named Jasper Sitwell in the Marvel Universe, how has this role changed your life and possibly even your career?

Playing Jasper Sitwell and being a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been a great joy to me. Not only because it was a jolt to my career as an actor, but because I grew up reading comic books and pretending to be the characters that I worked with in the films.  You can say it was a dream come true. I remember very vividly playing super heroes with my friends and always wanting to be the Hulk. So you can imagine how I felt when I stepped on set the first time and knew I would forever be connected with such mythic characters.  I was walking on air. 

Your appearance in Avengers: Endgame was the coolest surprise. What was it like being back with the cast again?

Going back to work with Marvel Studios on Endgame was really like getting the band back together. You have a group of really talented artists that enjoy each others company and because of the many years they have worked together on these films, there is a deep almost family like bond.  Thor was my first Marvel film. We shot that 12 years ago.  Since then marriages and divorces have happened, children have been born and shake ups at the studio have taken place.  But what remains are the friendships that have been made during the process.  We have been lucky to have such a great group of actors involved.  It doesn’t happen all the time.

Who do you look up to as an actor?

I look up to a number of actors. Ben Kingsleys, Meryl Streep and Javier Bardem always jump to the top of the list. Not just for the natural talent and skill they possess, but because of the risks they take and diverse types of characters they seek out to portray. They don’t let themselves get lazy. They look forward to the challenge. I admire that willingness to explore and push boundaries, even after being in the business for so long.  It’s inspirational. Benicio Del Toro is always good as well, but I’m biased on the subject having worked with him.

Did you intend to be an actor? How did you get started?

I didn’t always intend to be an actor. I began acting in high school and grew up in a neighborhood where a profession in the arts was unheard of. My mother worked in a tie factory for almost 30 years and my father worked in construction and painted houses. None of that equals “show business”. But, when I went to college I saw that there was a BFA theatre program. It was an audition only type of thing, and after I performed my monologue, they accepted me. I learned the skills that I needed in a safe environment where mistakes were allowed. Where I could hone my craft away from critical eyes. It was a perfect place for me. I learned so much about being an actor, but also being a person. About being supportive to everyone whether they thought like me or not. Being surrounded by artists will do that. It will broaden your mind.

You have an upcoming role in the movie "Stargirl" as Mr. Robineau. It releases March 13th, can you tell us a little bit about the film?

I had the good fortune to work with Director Julia Hart on Stargirl. It premieres on Disney Plus on March 13th.  It stars Grace Vanderwaal as the title character in her very first film! And she’s fantastic.  Such a natural talent. Stargirl is a coming of age story based on the best selling young adult novel, STARGIRL, by Jerry Spinelli. It takes place in the fictional town of Mica, Arizona. Where Leo and the rest of the students at Mica High School have their lives changed for the better by the arrival of a new and mysterious student that goes by the name Stargirl.  I play the “popular” teacher in school, Mr. Robineau. He heads up the AV club as well as the debate team that Stargirl is a part of. He is looked at more as a pal by the students than an actual authority figure, which lets him connect to them more genuinely. It was a joy to work with such great kids. Most of which are the same age as my son, Diego. So I had a lot of real life experience in dealing with high schoolers. On and off set.  It’s a great family film that doesn’t feel corny or canned. It also addresses a lot of the issues that teenagers deal with on a daily basis. Popularity. Image. Social status. Bullying. First loves. Peer pressure. I think the film is impactful without being preachy. I think people will be moved by it and I hope everyone will watch it. 

I have also created and am teaching The Charleston Masterclass in Charleston, SC.  It’s the first program in the country that combines stage acting and acting for the camera in one class where we work in front of an actual film crew weekly.  We do two sessions a year. We just kicked off our inaugural session on January 6th. Information on the program and how to register can be found at chsmasterclass.com.