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Johnny Solo on acting with Hollywood greats and embracing his Greek roots

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Look out for actor and producer Johnny Solo in two high-profile TV shows later this year. He will appear alongside Hollywood royalty – Jodie Foster and Annette Bening – in the Netflix biopic ‘Nyad’, about the marathon swimmer Diana Nyad, and has a recurring role in the hit comedy show ‘What We Do In the Shadows’. It’s a far cry from his degree in economics and earlier corporate career – here he talks about how he traded it for the acting life, his love for producing, and why his Greek heritage is so important to him.  

Tell us about your exciting upcoming projects.

“I’m in a huge Netflix biopic, ‘Nyad’ as Aris Nyad (who’s Greek!). It stars Jodie Foster, Annette Bening and Rhys Ifans, and is directed by Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi (Academy Award Winners for ‘Free Solo’). I’ve also got a recurring role as Nico on the huge Disney/Hulu hit comedy TV show, ‘What We Do In the Shadows’, starting this July.” 

Photo credit Todd Estrin

How did you get into the film industry?

“I went to New York University and studied economics. I met so many actors and directors there, and I fell in love with their artistic lifestyle. I was in awe of their courage for pursuing their passion. So I started taking acting workshops at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting, and eventually worked with some amazing private coaches long after I graduated from university. I was working at a corporation while studying until I quit my job and started auditioning for roles. One of my first jobs was a major film, ‘Man On A Ledge’ starring Sam Worthington, Elizabeth Banks and Edward Burns. After meeting Eddie, he added me to the cast of his independent movie,  ‘Newlyweds’, where I starred as Miles. It was a big success and became a Tribeca Film Festival favourite.” 

Your Greek roots are very important to you, aren’t they?

“Yes, both my parents are Greek and I grew up in a real immigrant first-generation household in New York City. After years of TV and film jobs, I started a TikTok and Instagram account under the moniker @JohnnySoloNYC – I’ve made so many viral videos about being Greek American. Some of my videos on TikTok and Facebook have been viewed by 500k to a million viewers! I’ve also played Greek roles a few times in Hollywood projects. My experience growing up as a Greek American was beautiful, with so much care put into the cultural traditions. I loved celebrating both holidays as a Greek and as an American. But it was also a bit limiting because my first language was Greek, and both my parents spoke Greek to me when I was a child. However, education was very important to my family as well.”  

Photo credit Emily Lambert

Can you tell us about your work as a producer?

“I’ve produced a few short films and a web series of my own. ‘My Ex is Dating a Hipster Chef’ and ‘Captain Sensitivity’ were both featured on Amazon Prime. And working on the feature film ‘Love Magical’ as a producer helped me understand casting better. I worked with my good friend Justin Foran, who taught me so much about what directors look for in actors in the audition room and most importantly the style and feel that they bring. I love producing and hope one day to produce a feature again, once I have the right script and team.”

What have been your favourite acting projects to date?

“My favourite acting projects have been in ‘Newlyweds’ and ‘Fitzgerald Family Christmas’. Also as a recurring character, Bazooka, in the ‘Lights Out’ TV show alongside Pedro Pascal. I’ve also been a recurring character (Tommy Vance) on CBS’s ‘FBI’, and Al, the security guard in ‘Hunters’, which stars Al Pacino. I realised when I was working with Edward Burns that my best acting is when I am present, alive and being myself. It’s something that sounds easy, but takes time to accomplish unless the actor immediately connects with the script.”

Featured photo from film ‘Captain Sensitivity’

We Speak Actors

‘All’s Fair’’ actress Adlih Alvarado on her significant role in the TV series and her success in filmmaking

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‘All’s Fair’, starring Naomi Watts, Niecy Nash, and Kim Kardashian, continues to generate buzz for its powerhouse cast and compelling storytelling. Among the notable performances in the series is actress Adlih Alvarado, whose appearance marks an important milestone in her acting career. Alongside her on-screen work, Adlih is also making waves behind the camera as a filmmaker, bringing a multifaceted creative perspective to her projects. We caught up with her to discuss her experience on ‘All’s Fair’, working opposite industry icons, and her growing success in filmmaking.

Adlih, how did it feel seeing yourself in the recently released episode of ‘All’s Fair’, appearing opposite Sarah Paulson and Naomi Watts?

It felt really surreal — almost like I was watching someone else with my skin acting for me! I replayed the episode so many times because I just couldn’t wrap my head around it. All the anticipation leading up to the episode made it even more exciting. I’ve learned so much from them. I’m obsessed with David Lynch, so finally meeting Naomi — and acting with her — felt like being in the clouds with the stars aligned. And Sarah… I’ve followed her work for years. Every American Horror Story season is burned into my brain. I aspire to be as versatile as she is. They were both incredibly kind and supportive. After we wrapped, Sarah double high-fived me and told me I did a good job — and honestly, no one can ever take that moment away from me.

Can you tell us more about your scene and what the experience was like behind the scenes?

Behind the scenes, it was a lot of fun. Whenever I wasn’t on camera, they offered to take me back to my holding room, but I wanted to stay in the chaos and watch everyone work. It was raining both days, and they even gave me cute rain boots. On the second day, I felt much more relaxed, especially since I didn’t have lines and was simply present in the scene. While everyone was setting up, I finally met Glenn Close, and everyone asked about my name, which felt like a small but special moment. I really wanted to observe, learn, and absorb how big productions operate. Being on a set like that was incredibly valuable.

You’re also a filmmaker — can you share more about your projects in that field?

Yes, I’m also a filmmaker. I studied acting at NYFA, but I really learned filmmaking through creating my own projects and collaborating with friends on theirs. That hands-on experience shaped how I see stories and how they’re built.

“I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who has taught me along the way — from wardrobe and set design to building sets.”

I’m also a special effects makeup artist, which gives me another strong connection to the behind-the-camera world. Being on both sides of production helps me feel comfortable with the crew and understand the overall flow of a shoot.

Photo credit: Talia Bonanno

How does your work as a filmmaker influence or support your acting?

It’s a bit of a 50/50 clash. When I’m acting in my own projects, I’m already thinking about the editing room and how the story will come together. My process can look chaotic to others, but I know exactly what I want.

“When I’m acting on someone else’s project, it gives me more freedom. I can explore different choices and layers without worrying about the technical side.”

It feels like stepping into the upside-down version of the same world — but it fuels my creativity.

What’s next for you in filmmaking?

Right now, I’m focused on finishing my film ‘Blu Milk’ and getting it ready for the market — it’s definitely my biggest project so far. I also have a feature film written called ‘Where the Fish Sleep’, which I’d love to start shopping around. My short film ‘Espresso’ is finished and will be hitting festivals in early 2026. It’s my first romantic film and takes place during a chemistry read for an upcoming superhero movie. I wrote, directed, produced, edited, and acted in it — I wore all the hats on that one!

Featured photo credit: Talia Bonanno

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