'There’s this notion that these ethereal, otherworldly fair beings are only white, and it is important for me to change that visual narrative.”
, Ismael Cruz Córdova made previous stops on Sesame Street and popped into a galaxy far far away for. Born and raised in Aguas Buenas, Puerto Rico, Ismael made his film debut in the 2003 filmand has been performing across film and television ever since. With this role as Arondir, he’s succeeded in hitting what he calls an “unshakeable” goal: “Ismael’s Arondir is a big deal for two big reasons. He’s the first Black elf in any adaptation of Tolkien’s works thus far.
Stitch: That's incredible. I also grew up movies first, and then I read the books and it was definitely an experience. Prior to being cast as Arondir, what kind of engagement did you have, if any, with a fandom likeI had my very own little fandom I guess, it's a fan club of one. This is a point of why I wanted to become an elf is like, when I first saw the movies, I wanted to be an elf, period.
Stitch: I've seen some of the public facing commentary about your role from like so many YouTubers who have nothing better to do, but I didn't realize they're sending you DMs as well.Oh, the DMs, if we're talking about it...
Things I cannot and will not quote in interviews. DMs, tweets, links, comments across every platform in which I stay very much sipping my tea while I'm reading them. [Laughs.] 'Cause I pursued this role ferociously because of this very reason. I believe that people of color, Black people, Afro Latinos and so on, people of varying genders, anything, any marginalized community has the right to see themselves and imagine themselves. I always say, if you can see it, you can imagine it.
Stitch: He is. I loved him. Like from the moment I saw the initial promotional materials featuring you, I was like, “hello, hello.”Stitch: We are getting a Black elf. I feel incredibly represented. Then I found out that you were from Puerto Rico. I'm from the Virgin Islands, I know I don't sound like it. I watched a lot of TV as a child unfortunately so I don't have an accent, everybody else in my family does. But [seeing you] I was like, oh, this is almost my cousin.
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