What does Giancarlo Esposito say about playing villains?

Giancarlo Esposito, known for playing villainous roles, says he tries to be as kind and accommodating as possible when portraying these characters.

What did Esposito discuss about balancing his instincts with the director's vision when playing a villain?

Esposito recalled negotiating with director Baz Luhrmann on the set of The Get Down, insisting he needed to express his own instincts before being moved around.

Home / Arts and Entertainment / Veteran Actor Giancarlo Esposito Defends Villainous Roles: "I Try to Be as Kind as Possible"

Veteran Actor Giancarlo Esposito Defends Villainous Roles: "I Try to Be as Kind as Possible"

Q: How do Veronica Falcon and Joaquim de Almeida approach playing villains?

Falcon and de Almeida agree they aim to play villains as human beings with complex emotions, rather than one-dimensional antagonists.

30 Oct

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Summary

Giancarlo Esposito insists he tries to play villains as kind and accommodating
Veronica Falcon and Joaquim de Almeida agree villains should be portrayed as human
Actors must balance their instincts with the director's vision when playing villains

Veteran Actor Giancarlo Esposito Defends Villainous Roles: "I Try to Be as Kind as Possible"

On October 30, 2025, veteran actor Giancarlo Esposito, known for his roles as villainous drug kingpins and war criminals, insisted that he tries to be as kind and accommodating as possible when portraying these characters. Esposito, who broke out as the villainous Gustavo Fring on Breaking Bad and its spinoff Better Call Saul, argued that villains in film and TV often get a bad rap.

Esposito was joined by fellow actors Veronica Falcon and Joaquim de Almeida, who agreed that they aim to play villains as human beings with complex emotions, rather than one-dimensional antagonists. Falcon, known for her role as a villainess on Queen of the South, explained that bad people in real life don't necessarily see themselves as evil - they may just be doing a job.