Milk star Diego Luna opens up about his role in Gus Van Sant’s acclaimed biopic, kissing his childhood pal on camera and being a first-time daddy.
GIANT: How much did you know about the real Harvey Milk before signing on to the movie?
Diego Luna: I knew a little bit because I was in San Francisco three years ago visiting a friend and I walked through the Castro area, where Harvey. As soon as I agreed to do the movie, I started reading about him and what a character he was. I’m so happy this film is being made and people are going to hear his story. Because it is such a recent story, so we shouldn’t forget about it. We should be learning how to share and co-exist in the same place and respect ourselves, but we seem to be going the other way.
GIANT: What kind of research did you do to learn more about your role as Harvey’s lover, Jack Lira?
Luna: Well, I decided not to talk to his family, but I did talk to many of Harvey’s friends and people who go to meet him in San Francisco. I wanted to be as respectful as possible. He was a guy that needed a lot of attention and Harvey was there to give him that. He kind of hated the political scene that Harvey was part of, though. It became a very weird relationship because it was obvious it wasn’t going to go far. I think Jack is a guy who initially brought a lot of joy into Harvey’s life, but then it went in the exact opposite direction.
GIANT: There’s a real intimacy to Milk that you don’t often see in mainstream Hollywood films about gay couples. How were you able to create such a relaxed, romantic vibe on set?
Luna: It was because he had a fantastic star and an amazing director and a great crew around us. Sean is a very generous performer in that he is always really focused on creating real moments between actors. It’s a pleasure to work with someone like that and it makes [the romance] real easy. The most important part is the amount of risk Gus was willing to take with this film. He was so relaxed throughout. When you have to jump into cold water, it can be kind of scary, but if you look in the pool and you see your director waiting for you, you jump and become part of it.
GIANT: You previously locked lips with a guy–specifically your childhood pal Gael Gracia Bernal–in 2001′s Y Tu Mama Tambien. What do you remember about that experience?
Luna: That scene was a little difficult because he was a really close friend. We definitely got wasted afterwards. But since then, I’ve realized that kissing a man is not the hardest part. It’s what happens before and after. I got a lot of terrible jokes after Y Tu Mama Tambien and it still makes me laugh how much attention that kiss provoked. It’s totally not important to me.
GIANT: Milk is your most high-profile role in 2008, but earlier this year you appeared as a Michael Jackson impersonator in Harmony Korine’s underrated flick Mister Lonely.
Luna: That was painful process. The first part was amazing and it was crazy enough to enjoy every single moment. But I did start to fall into the loneliness of the character when we were shooting in Scotland in the middle of nowhere. The World Cup was happening at the same time and I was so far away. I remember just having to get out of a depression. It’s twisted because that guy doesn’t want to be himself, but imagine a guy who doesn’t want to be himself and chooses to be Michael Jackson! That makes it very difficult to know how to love and believe in him. You have to find the logic to a character like that.
GIANT: What’s next for you?
Luna: The only thing I can really talk about is, Rudo y Cursi, which will be out soon in Mexico and hopefully in the States later on. It’s with Gael again and this is the first time we’ve acted together in seven years. It’s a story about two brothers. It’s very different from Y Tu Mama Tambien, but it talks about some of the same things. I’m also writing a script for a film I’m planning to direct. It’s a story about a boy in a little town in Mexico. I can’t say much because I believe if the film isn’t done, you shouldn’t talk about it. Otherwise you’re one of those guys who talk a lot and do nothing.
GIANT: Before we let you go, congrats to you and your wife [Camila Sodi, left] on your new son, Geronimo. How does fatherhood feel?
Luna: It is the best! No sleep, but it’s the best time ever. It’s such a nice feeling that it’s not about you anymore. There’s something more important in this world than you. Being in love is giving your life to someone in a way but there is something special when you realize you don’t matter that much to yourself. Also, that there’s a type of love you didn’t know existed that is more powerful than anything. I picked his name because it has a little bit of everything. First it’s a name I love, it sounds beautiful to me. There are a lot of other connotations and one is the Native American chieftain. He’s going to think everyone’s talking to him whenever I take him to the playground, but at least he’ll be known by everyone.
Pick up the December/January issue of GIANT to read more about Diego Luna. And check out Milk in theaters now and Mister Lonely on DVD. Trailers below.
