Nestor Carbonell Central

Néstor Carbonell Central turns 5 this year! In celebration of the upcoming anniversary, Nestor is answering your fan questions. Check out the Part 1 of his answers below.

1) How has your approach to acting changed since your first role?

Thank you, Renée! First of all, thank you all for participating! I started out doing theater in college, performing in student-run plays. During the summer after my sophomore year, I managed to land my first professional role in a two character play off Broadway entitled A Silent Thunder. The only acting instruction I’d had up until then, was a basic introductory elective in college on acting. So, in my first professional job, I essentially relied on the theater director and a lot of trial and error. It wasn’t until I graduated college and moved to LA, that I was able to enroll in a Sanford Meisner school and truly commit myself to learning that technique. The basic principle of Meisner is to get you to try to “live truthfully under imaginary circumstances.” Meisner teachers try to get students to train their imaginations much like athletic coaches train athletes to strengthen their muscles. My approach to acting definitely changed once I’d studied Meisner at Playhouse West.

2) How do you challenge yourself as an actor after so many years in the industry?

I’ve been so blessed to have had the opportunity to work in this industry since the early 90s. Like most actors, I’ve experienced some tough years. But it’s thanks to those years that I’ve learned to never take any job for granted. I’ve also learned the value of going to work every day with the hopes of learning something new. While we are often asked to play roles that fall into similar categories, there’s always something to learn from the other cast, crew or in the approach to the material.

3) Are there any roles/genres you haven’t yet tackled but would like to?

I would love to have a crack at directing while acting in a feature film. I was lucky enough to have had the opportunity to do both while working on Bates Motel. But I would love to be able to do both in a film. I’m working hard at trying to realize that with a script I cowrote entitled Three Things:)

4) If you could be remembered for one performance which one would it be – and why?

There are so many roles I’ve had the privilege of playing: Richard Alpert on Lost and Sheriff Romero on Bates Motel are two of my favorites. Still, I try to go into every role with the mindset that it could be my favorite. Perhaps one of the most valuable things I’ve learned over the years is to try not to look forward or backwards, but rather to stay present.

An all new episode of Law & Order directed by Néstor Carbonell airs April 10th. Check out the episode synopsis below.

An all new episode of Law & Order directed by Néstor Carbonell airs October 31st. Check out the episode synopsis below.

Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon and the rest of the ‘TMS’ team return Sept. 13 after the pandemic-era second season that ended on a cliffhanger.

Your favorite Morning Show is back.

Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon and the rest of the TMS team have picked up the pieces following the heavy pandemic-era cliffhanger broadcast the Apple series left off on.

The second season, which aired in November 2021, ended the show’s timeline in March of 2020 with the country on the cusp of lockdown amid the COVID-19 pandemic. When discussing possible projections around where The Morning Show could go following the finale, outgoing showrunner Kerry Ehhrin told THR at the time that she would be inclined to jump ahead, or even revisit the past, instead of picking up right where the show left off, indicating that the next chapter in the award-winning series would side-step COVID: “You could [jump into the future]. You could go backwards. It’s such an interesting little universe. You really can put it anywhere in time, and I think the challenge of the show is coming up with that big subject.”

Bandit Director, Allan Ungar has released a number of stills from various deleted scenes from the film. This was done in celebration of the film’s continued overseas release. A few of the scenes included Néstor Carbonell one of which was his original introductory scene. Allan discussed this scene during the podcast Cast of Creators.

With Bandit now playing in select theaters and available On Demand, I recently spoke with director Allan Ungar and Néstor Carbonell about telling the incredible true story of Canada’s infamous Flying Bandit. If you’re not familiar with the Flying Bandit, aka Gilbert Galvan Jr. or Robert Whiteman to those who knew him, he was notorious for escaping prison in Michigan, starting a new life in Canada, and proceeding to successfully rob 59 consecutive banks, setting the record for most robberies committed in a row in Canada. In the film, Josh Duhamel plays Robert Whiteman, and Elisha Cuthbert plays the caring social worker named Andrea who Whiteman falls in love with. Bandit also stars Mel Gibson.

During the interview, Ungar and Carbonell talk about incredible true story it’s based on, the challenge of trying to make the film in 21 days, and how Carbonell helped direct second unit and why he didn’t enjoy wearing the ‘80s clothing in the heat of summer in Georgia. In addition, Ungar gave an update on the Driver TV series, and Carbonell talked about filming the Shōgun FX series and how they spared no expense in trying to recreate feudal Japan in Vancouver.

COLLIDER: I’m going to start with an individual question for Néstor. If someone has never seen anything you’ve done before, what is the first thing you want them watching and why?

NESTOR CARBONELL: Oh wow, that’s interesting. I want to go with Bandit. I’m going to go with Bandit.

ALLAN UNGAR: Good answer, buddy.

CARBONELL: Listen, I’ve been very blessed, my whole life getting great opportunities. This was one of those, and I’m not saying that just because you’re here. This was a true gift. I was in Pensacola helping my wife promote her book, when I get the call three days before I’m supposed to shoot this. An offer to do this film and I’m going, “What? This is crazy.” And I read it right away. Immediately, of course, I say yes. I hop on a plane from there. Two days later, we’re shooting. It turned into one of the most incredible blessings, the entire project. This man did the impossible, shooting this film in 21 days with this incredible cast. But I think for me, to tell audiences if there’s something to watch, this one, because the experience was so free in the sense that there was no time to prepare.

On July 31, 2020 Nestor Carbonell joined Bruce Campbell, Carlton Cuse, and various celebrities/cast members of Brisco County Jr. for a live table read. During the script read, Nestor played the role of Jonah Collier and a few other roles. Visit the Video Vault for a compilation of all of Nestor’s scenes.