We Speak Actors
Walles Hamonde on the secrecy and excitement of acting in ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’
As a huge Tim Burton fan, Walles Hamonde was thrilled to be cast in the new ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ movie alongside stars Michael Keaton and Winona Ryder. A former competitive figure skater, Walles is now a familiar face on screen, perhaps best known for his character Rich in Armando Iannucci’s hit HBO show ‘Avenue 5’. He also played Sheik Al Jamain in the ground-breaking Netflix animation ‘Captain Fall’; Doctor Saed in the controversial 2023 New Year’s episode of ‘EastEnders’; and the lead Auror in the seminal Harry Potter spin-off ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’. In addition, Walles has starred in dozens of high-profile audio dramas, video games and animations.
Walles said it was “an absolute honour” to be part of ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’: “I grew up watching the original ‘Beetlejuice’ movie, and in my former life as a competitive figure skater, actually skated as the character Beetlejuice several times using the hit Danny Elfman score.

“The audition process for this movie was shrouded in secrecy, and the project was codenamed, so even after I was offered the part, I was unaware of which movie I was shooting.”
“It was only when I went to my first costume fitting that I saw a pictures of Michael Keaton and Catherine O’Hara in costume and the penny dropped – and my heart rate jumped!”
Walles’ character, Glen, is involved in a plot line which really sets the scene of ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ and reintroduces us to the world of Lydia Deetz, 36 years after we last saw her. We can’t say any more without spoiling the plot, so you’ll have to watch it to find out what happens…
Walles thoroughly enjoyed the shoot, especially working with his hero Tim Burton. He said: “A large portion of my career has been spent working in the fantasy genre, so this is a very familiar playground for me. That said, I felt a lot of nerves when I got on set for my first day of filming, which was incidentally the first day of filming for the whole movie. It was the normal ‘first day of school’ jitters, but definitely accentuated by the fact that I am a huge fan of Tim Burton, absolutely love the original movie and wanted to make sure my work spoke to my passion for the project.
“I’m in a big scene alongside several lead cast members, which is technically intricate and has a lot of moving parts.”
“Tim has an incredible ability to see the bigger picture in his head and he really helps you as an actor to find the performance that he needs to tell his story.”
“The sets allow you to completely immerse yourself in your character and just ‘live’ the part. It was surreal to finish filming and think: ‘Did that just happen? Am I really in the new ‘Beetlejuice’’?!”
Over his career, Walles has worked opposite many well-known names in the industry including Eddie Redmayne and Colin Farrell (‘Fantastic Beasts’); Hugh Laurie and Josh Gad (‘Avenue 5’); Lyndsey Marshal and Jonah Hauer-King (‘Agatha and the Curse of Ishtar’); and Jason Ritter and Adam Devine (‘Captain Fall’). He can currently be heard alongside David Oyelowo and Vanessa Kirby in ‘The Strange Case’, and Phoebe Fox and Kyle Soller in ‘Temporal’, both available on Audible.

Walles said that ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ would appeal to a wide cross-section of viewers, adding: “It’s a major crossover in terms of genre – horror, comedy and fantasy. And there’s a whole generation of people who remember the original and will want to see the sequel for some feel-good 80s nostalgia. But there’s also a passionate new legion of younger fans who will know cast members from their more recent smash hit shows: Winona Ryder from ‘Stranger Things’, Catherine O’Hara from ‘Schitt’s Creek’ and Jenny Ortega from ‘Wednesday’. The original movie is also now on Netflix, so hopefully people can do a double-whammy and refresh themselves on the original and then come to the movies to find out what happens next!”
Walles has a busy month ahead, as he will be appearing in the new MGM+/Lionsgate drama ‘Borderline’, alongside Eoin Macken and Amy de Bruhn, which premieres on 2 September. Then on 13 September, Walles is set to star alongside Kim Cattrall, Ed Harris and Johnny Flynn in the highly anticipated BBC Radio 4 audio drama ‘Central Intelligence’.
‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ has been released in cinemas across the UK and US.
Featured photo credit: Ziebell Photography.
We Speak Actors
Marvel Actor Sebastián Capitán Viveros (‘Capi’) Stars as Series Regular in ‘Fightland’
Sebastián Capitán Viveros, better known as ‘Capi,’ has quietly built an impressive international career, appearing in major productions including Marvel Studios’ ‘Spider-Man: Far From Home’ and ‘Eternals,’ alongside acclaimed series such as ‘Halo,’ ‘The Man Who Fell to Earth,’ and the thriller ‘9 Bodies in a Mexican Morgue.’ He now stars as series regular Lazaro in the action crime drama ‘Fightland,’ now streaming in the U.S. on STARZ, with a UK release on Sky Atlantic and NOW planned soon. Executive produced by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, the series marks another major milestone for one of the industry’s most exciting rising international talents.
Having grown up between Mexico, the United States and Switzerland before establishing himself in the UK after graduating from the prestigious Drama Centre London, Capi brings authenticity, emotional depth and remarkable versatility to every performance. In this exclusive interview, he reflects on his multicultural upbringing, working on blockbuster productions, landing the role he believes he was born to play, and why ‘Fightland’ represents the most exciting chapter of his career so far.
For readers discovering your work for the first time, could you tell us a little about your acting journey? Having grown up between Mexico, the USA and Switzerland before building your career in the UK, how has your multicultural background shaped you both personally and professionally?
The universe chose me to be an actor; there is nothing else that would sit right in my soul than living through the expression of my art. Growing up across different countries and learning several languages allowed me to see both the world and myself from different perspectives. Being away from my home country since I was five years old, theatre became my refuge. It gave me the freedom to discover who I truly was alongside my twin sister and soulmate, Ilse. We both found a sense of security on stage. My first acting coach, Judith Hall, taught me what it truly means to be a professional actor and helped me earn my place at Drama Centre London. That experience shaped me into the man I always dreamed—and knew—I was meant to become.

Throughout your career you’ve appeared in productions including ‘Spider-Man: Far From Home,’ ‘Eternals,’ ‘Halo,’ ‘The Man Who Fell to Earth,’ ‘9 Bodies in a Mexican Morgue’ and now ‘Fightland.’ Looking back, which projects are you most proud of to date, and why?
“I went from serving Malaysian food in Camden Town to standing on a boat with Tom Holland and Zendaya in Venice while filming a Marvel production.”
That was my very first screen role in ‘Spider-Man: Far From Home,’ and it completely changed my life. It connected me to my higher self and made me feel aligned with my destiny. ‘9 Bodies in a Mexican Morgue’ was another unforgettable milestone because it was my first leading role. Filming alongside one of my closest friends from Drama Centre while portraying a Mexican lieutenant inspired by my grandfather—who was an admiral in the Mexican Navy—was incredibly meaningful. But ‘Fightland’ is on another level. The filmmaking, the people, the experience… It was one of the most profound, joyful, and unforgettable experiences of my career.
In ‘Fightland,’ you play Lazaro, a series regular. What attracted you to the role, what can audiences expect from your character without giving too much away, and what was it like working alongside such a talented cast?
The moment I read the audition scenes, I knew I was born to play Lazaro. An actor’s responsibility is to tell the truth, and Lazaro is my truth—apart from the criminal side! He’s a Mexican raised in the United States, and I connected deeply with him. Audiences can expect violence, strength, emotional depth and plenty of authentic Mexican swagger. Working with such an exceptional cast was a gift. Great actors elevate one another, and every scene became an opportunity to feed off each other’s performances. The showrunners, Damione and Raphael, as well as directors Otto and Seb, created an environment where I learned and grew in ways I can’t fully describe.

Your role includes action and physically demanding scenes. How did you prepare for them, and what was the most rewarding or challenging part of bringing Lázaro to life?
The most challenging—and enjoyable—part was training with legendary stunt coordinator Will Mackay. We spent countless hours practising fight choreography, gun handling and knife work.
“Audiences should prepare for intense action that will genuinely keep them on the edge of their seats.”
For me, preparation comes down to repetition. You rehearse until everything becomes instinct. Then, once you’re on set, you let go of all that preparation and simply live truthfully in the moment.
Looking ahead, what excites you most about this next chapter of your career, and what do you hope audiences take away from your performance in ‘Fightland’?
What excites me most is seeing a future where I can continue doing what I love—telling stories through art. I hope ‘Fightland’ introduces audiences to my commitment as an actor and demonstrates my versatility. While I’m proud of my Latino heritage, I don’t want to be defined solely by it. I’m an artist, a human being, ready to play any role—to be vulnerable or strong, funny or serious—and I’m hungry for every life I get the chance to live through acting.
Featured photo credit: Courtesy of STARZ
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