Making it big in Hollywood isn’t always about glitzy premieres and fancy trailers. One Better Call Saul actor knows this struggle all too well, having spent endless hours on the road chasing roles before finally landing a spot in Bob Odenkirk’s hit series. Imagine surviving cramped seats, gas station snacks, and questionable bus companions – all for a shot at stardom.
But when passion fuels the journey, exhaustion takes a backseat. Turns out, that insane dedication paid off, and now they’ve got one helluva story to tell.
From 11-hour bus rides to Emmy-worthy roles: Michael Mando’s relentless rise
Before Michael Mando became fan-fave Nacho Varga on Better Call Saul, he was clocking in 11-hour bus rides just for a shot at auditions. Reflecting on those overnight trips from Montreal to Toronto, Mando shared in an interview,
When I started auditioning, I took the bus—it was about an 11-hour ride from Montreal to Toronto. I used to take it overnight. I would go to the YMCA to shower and get into costume and go do my auditions. Almost 48 hours would be dedicated to going to the city to do the audition, eat, and then come back.
I did that a lot in the beginning of my career. It didn’t feel exhausting at the time; it just felt natural. I was so excited to go and book those parts.
His dedication? Undeniable. His goal? Clear – book the role, no matter the miles.
Mando’s acting journey kicked off on stage in Canada, where he tackled Les Fourberies de Scapin by Molière. Performing in both English and French, it was like Shakespeare in the Park, just with a French twist. He admitted during the same interview,
My very first job, I played Scapin in a bilingual production of “Les Fourberies de Scapin” by Molière. It was, I think, the first production ever where the same cast did the whole play in English and did it again in French. It was kind of like Shakespeare in the Park, but it was Molière in the Park.
It was an unbelievable experience, because you had to grab the audience’s attention when planes were flying by and kids were crying. It was magical, because we would always play into the sunsets.
But it was his relentless grind off-stage that really paid off. Those long bus rides, YMCA showers, and quick costume changes were proof that passion outpaced exhaustion.
When Better Call Saul came calling, Mando found himself tackling a whole new challenge. Playing Nacho wasn’t about flashy lines or dramatic monologues. Instead, it was all about subtlety. Mando explained,
The character barely spoke and spent a lot of time on camera by himself. It was an unbelievable challenge to learn to dive deep within myself and discover who I was and what mattered to me most.
As his time on Better Call Saul wrapped up, Michael Mando’s journey from grueling bus rides to Emmy-worthy performances stands as proof – dedication and grit go a long way, especially when the passion never feels exhausting.
Better Call Saul creator Vince Gilligan unveils new sci-fi series for Apple TV+
Vince Gilligan is swapping Albuquerque’s dusty streets for the stars in his upcoming sci-fi series. Teaming up with Better Call Saul star Rhea Seehorn, the Breaking Bad mastermind promises something far from your typical space saga. Seehorn teased to Deadline,
It’s sci-fi but in a more psychological kind of sci-fi way…I can’t wait for it to come out though. Some of the stuff that audiences have loved about his writing where it’s really rich characters but also him playing with the idea of tropes and genres and tone…
and switching, like injected humour in a very dark moment — in this new show, he pushes that to a limit that was both very thought-provoking and upsetting sometimes, and other times, so, so funny. It really swings for the fences. I had so much fun.
Think rich characters, mind-bending twists, and humor that hits even in the darkest moments.
Gilligan crafted the role just for Seehorn, calling her a bit of a damaged hero trying hard to be good. Their creative chemistry was undeniable. Gilligan alluded,
[Rhea] is such a pleasure to work with, I wrote a show for her. I created this new show for her…She plays someone who’s trying very hard to be good. She’s a bit of a damaged hero, but she’s a hero nonetheless. And it’s just a pleasure to work with her because she’s just the best, and she is so sweet and kind and talented. I can’t say enough good about her.
The untitled series has already wrapped and is headed to Apple TV+ soon. No release date yet, but with Gilligan’s knack for flipping tropes on their heads, this one’s already shaping up to be out of this world.
Better Call Saul is available to watch on Netflix & Apple TV.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
