Diego Luna

23 Jun 2025 · 1 h 4 min

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In short

Podcast Summary: Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend - Episode with Diego Luna

Podcast Overview Title: Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend Description: Conan O’Brien embarks on a quest for friendship beyond the boundaries of his late-night celebrity interviews. His podcast offers a relaxed, playful environment for him to connect with guests more personally.

Episode Overview Episode Title: Diego Luna Description: In this episode, actor Diego Luna expresses comfort in his friendship with Conan O’Brien. They discuss Luna’s upbringing in a theatrical family, his breakout roles in various films, and the intricacies of his latest series, *Andor*.

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Key Points and Discussions

Opening Banter

  • Sona's Spill: The episode opens with light-hearted exchanges about Sona's tendency to spill food, creating a humorous exchange among the group.
  • Food and Eating Habits: They discuss their relationships with food, encapsulating the joy and chaos it can bring to life.

Guest Introduction

Diego Luna

  • Comfort in Friendship: Diego Luna feels safe and comfortable being Conan's friend, which sets a warm tone for the conversation.
  • Background: Luna shares his experience growing up around sets designed by his father, which greatly influenced his career path and love for acting.

Career Highlights

  • Breakout Roles: Luna discusses his early career, touching on breakout roles in *Y Tu Mamá También* and *Rogue One*.
  • Acting Journey: The acting process is illustrated as Luna reflects on the breadth of his experiences, from telenovelas to major film productions.

Themes in *Andor*

  • Character Depth: Luna highlights the importance of specificity in his role in *Andor* and its connection to his personal history.
  • Creative Freedom: He emphasizes the creative freedom he experienced while making *Rogue One* and how that carried into *Andor*.

Cultural Context

  • Representation: The conversation touches on the significance of representation in media and how audiences are beginning to shape the industry.
  • Diverse Stories: Luna expresses optimism about the growing diversity in storytelling and the importance of authentic voices in film and television.

Reflections on the Industry

  • Evolving Landscape: Luna discusses the changing nature of the industry and how it is increasingly responsive to audience demands.
  • Personal Growth: He reflects on his own growth as an actor and the importance of staying true to oneself.

Closing Thoughts

  • Friendship and Collaboration: The episode wraps up with a mutual appreciation for friendship and collaboration in their respective careers.
  • Future Plans: They express interest in future projects and adventures together, maintaining a light and hopeful tone.

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Key Takeaways

  • Friendship and Authenticity: The episode underscores the importance of genuine connections in both personal and professional realms.
  • Cultural Representation: Luna’s presence in major franchises like *Rogue One* and *Andor* exemplifies a shift towards inclusivity in Hollywood.
  • Creative Collaboration: The dialogue highlights how successful storytelling results from collaborative efforts among diverse creators and performers.

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Conclusion This episode of *Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend* offers an engaging mix of humor and heartfelt discussion, with Diego Luna sharing personal anecdotes and insights into his career, all while reinforcing the importance of friendship and cultural representation in today’s media landscape.

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Transcript

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0:03Okay, wait a second, I need to put these things on. You look really cool and professional Yeah I'm part of the franchise Okay, hi My name is Diego Luna

0:19And I feel Oh, damn it I feel I have to say I feel really comfortable Oh, good About being Conan O 'Brien's friend Thank you I feel very safe Fall is here, hear the yell Back to school, ring the bell Brand new shoes, walk and lose Climb the fence, books and pens I can tell that we are gonna be friends Yes, I can tell that we are gonna be friends Hey there, welcome to Conan O 'Brien Needs a Friend I'm joined by Sonam Ossessian, Matt Gourley Nice to see you folks Why'd you pause? I paused because I was thinking and then I thought, yeah, it is nice to see you. Sona, you're having a bit of an issue today.

1:07You had a bit of a spill and this is a common problem for you. Is it not? It's a common problem. You're a spiller. I am. You know what? Before I get angry. You know what I love? You always say, what? And then immediately say, yes. I know. Because you are right. I do spill on myself a lot. And I have to be more aware of it because this is filmed. but earlier today I had a dish with pesto and I spilled it all over. Oh, I see it. Yeah. Do you? Yeah. It's right there. And what did you, how did you try to get it out? With a, with a tide stick. Shout out tide. Well, not shout out tide. Cause I don't think it works.

1:42Well, you use the tide pesto stick. Yeah. It's gotta be specifically tide pesto. I really got it in. And then I, uh, and then it was wet for a really long time. They were like two wet spots. And then I thought, oh, when it dries, maybe it'll be cleared up. And it's not. And it's bothering me. That's got to go to it. Isn't it? Boy. And can I say, I've known you quite a while, Sona. And you have been traditionally a spiller. I'm a sloppy eater. Yes. Oh. Well, you are. Who else is a sloppy eater? You are a sloppy eater. I don't spill on myself, though. I always wear a giant bib. And I say goo-goo-ga-ga when I'm eating.

2:21Oh, my God. And I have to feed you. And you have to feed me. And why do I wear a bonnet? And I kick my feet up in the air in little booties. Yeah, and you're sitting in a high chair. I often doze off, and then you put me right in the crib. Sona, why? It's just something I used to request. And you went along with it. I want out. Six foot four, baby, needs to go to bed bed. Look, we all have our fetishes. That was mine, perhaps. I tried a furfew. What are you going to do in the future to avoid these spills? Because... Nothing. Okay. It's just a part of my life. It's like something I know about myself.

2:54And I think I need to carry more Tide sticks. Shout out Tide. Well, or something that's going to work. Did the Tide stick work, do you think? No. Okay, well then, why do you want more of them sent this way? And maybe they just need to work on their formula. Or maybe Tide's going to say, look, we're a good product, but there's nothing we can do with Sonomoses. Like, that's not fair. Like, that's not fair, you know? I do have - We're a good sponge, but you just threw us in the Pacific and you're bitching that the Pacific is still there.

3:25So I'm going to say Tide, I bet you're a great product because I can almost not see it and it's Sonam Obsessian. Yeah, really. Good work, Tide. I have a lot of them all over the place. Sometimes they - What, Tide sticks? Yeah, I do. Oh, so you're like someone who hides knives around the house, only for you it's Tide sticks. What do you mean? Yeah, what do you mean hide knives? You know when they hide weapons in movies, when people have secreted weapons and guns around the room? that's you except it's all cleaning sticks. Yeah, it is. But when you have a three-year-old, I'm the same way. Your clothes are constantly covered in food from your kids, you know?

3:56Yeah, it's from the kids. Yeah. Oh, wait a minute. Uh-oh. No, it's from me. Oh, wow. Do you often get food on your kids? They're very clean. They're very tidy. You have three-and-a-half-year-olds who are always wearing little white tuxedos and very fastidious about their eating habits. Yeah. And you're like, hey, guys, this burrito's good. Mama's blah. app. Mommy, mommy, our white tuxedos. You know, I love eating. I love eating and I'm a shoveler into my mouth. And so it just sometimes it spills on me and that's okay because it's an expression of joy. I love that you love eating. I eat quickly.

4:35I unhinge my mouth, get it in and swallow it. And I don't enjoy it. You have to enjoy it. I know, but will you agree that? Yeah. Yeah. It's just, Yeah. I've got to get rid of that. I'm getting better, but that just get to the grave mentality. Get this food in and then get to bed and blah. I like, you know, for me, it's like, I swear, I feel like after every bite, I sometimes I can hear in my brain going, yum, yum, yum, yum, yum. And then I'll do it again. I'll be like, yum, yum, yum, yum, yum, yum, yum. You know, I can tell when Sona's liking her food is that she'll have a knife and fork. And if she's really liking it, she conducts a little bit while she's chomping.

5:13She does. She's like, and then I can see her. I've seen her conducting an orchestra that's not there. I do that. Because she's really liking her food. You do that. I do that. People in cartoons do that. That's nice. I like that. Yeah. You should be more like me. I should. You know what? I've always. You should aspire to love the food you eat as much as I love my food. And love life. Yeah, I do love life. As much as you do. You're Zorba. But yeah. Okay. All right. No, you are. You're Zorba the Armenian. Okay. Also quarter Greek. And also quarter Greek. You're Zorba the Quarter Greek. I think, and you get to eat such delicious food.

5:47I feel like, okay, all right, never mind. Whenever the waiter brings it over, I'm like, he starts to say, now let me tell you what we did with the food. And I'm like, let's get it in me. Grave waiting. Sir, what we do here, it's very beautiful. We infuse the olives. Just push it in the hole and open the casket and shut it. Oh, my God. So someone else can live. I want to give up my spot. That's me. I don't know what my problem is, but that's always been me. From now on, in your head, just go yum, yum, yum, yum. Yum, yum, yum, yum, yum, yum. Conducting, conducting an orchestra that isn't there. What about you, girl?

6:30You seem like someone who can live. You live life. You enjoy it. You know, I'm more like, I mean, you're more like you. But lately, I've been more like you. But I wish I could say it was because it's like, ah, life. It's more stress. Yes, I'm like finding in my 20s, it was weed. 40s was alcohol and 50s is food is how I cope. Kind of like I've used up all those other ones, you know? So now I love food, but it's like a stress coping. You skipped heroin. That's my 60s. Heroin in your 60s, never a bad idea. This message brought to you by... Yesterday, I was having lunch with my friend and I had to come here for the...

7:05Got to come here. I had to come here. and I had a piece, there was a piece of sourdough on the table and I was like, should I take it with me? And then I did and I just came here just shoving a giant thing, slice of sourdough in my face. So you walked down the street holding the sourdough that you had taken from the table. Just a huge slice of sourdough and I was like, is this a normal thing to do to just eat a giant piece of bread? That's okay. That's kind of Parisian, you know? Yeah, exactly. Is it? You're having some bread. Okay, all right, cool. You were walking along the banks of the Seine here in Larchmont and there was someone, Did you pass an old man playing the accordion?

7:38No. Did you pass a painter painting a nice landscape? How about a mime? A mime? Yeah. We went too far. Yeah, a lot of stereotypes. Well, anyway, I do think I should try and be more like you, even if it means the occasional spill. Okay. Enjoy life, live life, Tide. It's the stick that can help anyone but Sona. My guest today has starred in such movies as Itou Mama Tambien and Rogue One, a Star Wars story. You can also see him in season two of the hit Disney Plus series, Andor. I love Andor. I know you're a fan too, Matt. Yes, sir. I'm thrilled he's here today.

8:16Diego Luna, welcome.

8:21You feel safe being with me. Being your friend. Yes, being my friend. I mean, I can use that, right? Yeah. I've been using it. Yeah. to get into places, to get away with doing things that are dodgy, you know, like, oh, but I'm Conan's friend. And they go, oh, of course, now we get it. Oh, oh, wow. Okay. Like, I'm glad that my name creates that much of a sense of protection for you. Yes. You live, we were just talking before we began that you live in Mexico City and in the south, or as I say, El Sur. El Sur, claro. Si. porque yo hablo español perfectamente listen oh god Eduardo Eduardo it's not Eduardo it's Eduardo Eduardo Eduardo Eduardo is in a constant hell of me pretending that I am fluent in Spanish and understand the culture and that maybe I'm from Central America what Or Mexico.

9:28Oh. You look it. I look it. You can blend right in. And then you immediately bonded with Eduardo because of the pain. As soon as we arrive to a place, you know, as soon as you get into a place and someone speaks Spanish, you go like, oh, okay, I'm comfortable now. I mean, he's going to protect me. Well, that's why you're comfortable being his friend. Obviously, yeah. But what about when someone like me butchers it in a well-intentioned way? I mean, it makes me feel like, yeah, like I've done something good in my life, you know, that I get to witness you trying so hard. Because, you know, like the first times I went to your show, it's you.

10:16I mean, I'm freaking out always before going in there. Oh. You know? Yes. Just because I'm so scary. I'm tall, very, very white. Well, yeah. And you have an audience and they laugh, you know, to what you say. And so they're punished. Or they punish. No one pays them. So they laugh at what you say and that makes everything you say be so like, yeah, then you're freaking out. So it's kind of nice to see you now freaking out trying to speak another language. Yes. Yes. Well, you did. You and I have a bond, which is very important to me. Yes. which is many years ago during the first Trump administration, my staff and I, when we were doing the show at TBS, and you were part of this, Sona.

10:57I was. We worked it out with Televisa, and we did a show from Mexico City, and you were a guest. And it was really a beautiful thing. I loved doing that show. I did a monologue en español and got through it, and the audience actually kind of laughed. It's sort of the right places. And I think there was some pity there. but there's some pity for that. Oh, he's trying. He's trying. He's really trying which is how my wife They were all Televisa actors. All the people from the telenovelas were sitting there. Didn't they look extra cute? They were so beautiful. Yeah. I did but you came on the show and No, you did amazing.

11:40I just want to make sure people understand you really put yourself there which was something like it needed guts. It was like a big risk and a lot of fun to see you really going for it. Well, you know, what's fun is Vicente Fox. Yeah. The former president of Mexico came on the show and I still they're in my office. He gave me these boots. Holy crap. Which say no fucking wall. And then he put my name on them. And they're fantastic. They're fantastic boots. He found out my size. He does good boots, I guess. That's what he does good. His main contribution, I think, as the president was he, people voted for him because he made good boots.

12:24I'm sure he charged someone for those boots. I mean, they might be a gift to you, but not. No, somebody had to pay. Yeah, someone paid for that. You know, we were talking earlier about, we did that show and it was a very special time. and we thought, well, those times ended. Yeah. And now in some ways, those times have returned with a vengeance. And I know you touched on it a little bit when you first started talking about how you feel safe being here and these are tricky times, but it is. And, you know, we're not the most political podcast. We're really not a political podcast at all, But we have to address the fact that you and I had this really special time and this special moment during that first administration.

13:16And then many of us thought that we were moving past that to maybe a better future. And here we are again. Yeah, history repeats. And reloaded kind of thing. Yeah, it's, I don't know. I'm shocked on many things of what we're witnessing these days. And I think the best way to talk about this is I don't think I can fully understand what some part of the community, the Hispanic community in this country are going through. You know, the fear and it's like, I can't imagine, I mean, how that is, you know, that you dedicate your life, work to build something and suddenly they tell you they're going to take that away from you instantly just because of it.

14:12It's quite scary. Yeah. Scary times. But it's also just pointing out that we, I've been living in Los Angeles for many years and Matt and Sonny are from Los Angeles. But you live here in Los Angeles and everybody, just everybody I work with, everybody who works with me, everybody who helps me in any way or helps my family in any way with, you know, everything that needs to be done with our house. There's no in every way, every day I am working with people who are from Mexico or Central America or South America. They are such a vital. They are the community in Los Angeles. It just feels like it's such a, they're doing all the work, which is really powerful to see every day.

15:04And it's, I have empathy because if you're paying attention, you understand that it feels like 80 % of what's getting done here to sustain, you know, our lives and our culture and our community is coming from south of the border. so I didn't mean for things to get this heavy this quickly because you're such a funny you're such a funny guy but I think I just had a little bit of a flashback to the times we've spoken before and I know that this is very important to you and you're a very uh proud and vocal member of of your community and so it's meaningful to me that you're here today yeah because I've been thinking about it a lot lately and I was very happy you're coming and it meant so much to me that you did our show in Mexico City.

15:53And I consider you a very special friend for that reason. I consider you a special friend, Tuman. And I was very disappointed to hear that because every time I have to come and promote something, I always go like, can we go to Conan? And I'm glad we're here. You're creating the impression that people say no, no. Well, it's just that you don't have a show anymore. That would not be a good move for you. Diego, we're trying to build up your career. And it's really going great for you. Conan's the wrong move at this time. No, you're always welcome here. Always welcome here. I love that now you have this new format.

16:30I love it. And it's good we started like that. It's good we said it because it's important. You cannot come to this country. You cannot come to California. You cannot be in front of a microphone and not say something about that situation. where this community is going through and the amount of support and help they need these days. They need you to show up. So that you dedicate some space for that means a lot. And it's a good example of what people should be doing with microphones these days. That being said, I do miss you having a show on TV because now I can't go there when I have something to promote.

17:15well you can come here and uh also i do a travel show now for max so maybe we'll go someplace oh can we travel together oh you know we just did a new season is starting in a few days and um javier bardem did a whole episode with me in uh in in madrid and um we're we're total idiots lunatics yeah uh it was really fun and silly and he's a fun guy he is a really fun guy And I'm thinking you and I will find a way to go and do it. I mean, you did do a travel show with me because that was the Mexico City show. But in this new HBO Max format, it would be really fun to do something with you. So we'll do it.

17:59I would love to. I'm going to bring you to Northern Ireland. Where you'll feel right at home. Well, I'll tell you one thing. You're not going to believe it, but I am half Scottish. I did know that. Okay. I did know that. My mom was born in Scotland and Scottish family. I have a big British family and I have never done, I've never traveled through Scotland looking for my roots. Oh, this is perfect. Oh, wait a minute. This is perfect because... And now I have to pay you for the idea. I did have the idea, right? Eduardo, you got it, right? You got my back, man. Gracias. Eduardo. Eduardo. Eduardo.

18:44Por favor. Como se dice edit?

18:53I wonder what the word could be.

19:04I was reading about your family. I know your mom, you lost your mom at a very early age. Yeah. Uh, and your father, this fascinates me. Your father was a set designer, uh, for everything, for theater, for opera, for, you know, movies, anything. And so you grew up, it's no accident. I mean, I'm sure it's part of it. You're extremely talented, obviously, but you grew up in a house where your dad would be building sets in the house that had to inform your sense that, oh, life is magical and mysterious and there's different my dad is building weird sets for operas in the house that would maybe think make you think this is a world i could inhabit definitely and and i saw things go from like a quick drawing to like a model thing to then suddenly like a gigantic set you know uh there's a there is a film called santa sangre and i was very young that's why i remember santa sangre because it made a huge impact um it's a kodorovsky film and my father uh was uh was working there as the yeah the art director and uh there there's this moment where an elephant dies you know and there's and i i i was with a with half of the head of the elephant and the trump uh you call them trumps trunk trunk yeah trunk trunk oh good I just said Trump, right?

20:33Damn it. He's the other end of the elephant.

20:39Cut to 1930s audience applauding. Very well done, Matt. Very well done. I'm sorry. I'm sorry to bring that. I wasn't trying. So, and because the thing, there's a moment where blood is coming out of the trunk. Yeah. And so I but I had the piece of the prop, the gigantic thing in my in my living room for months. You know, I was interacting with that thing. It's like a sandworm from Dune. Well, that's Jodorowsky as well. Yeah. Well, exactly. So it's it's it was quite quite a thing. And and my father at the same time, because you always everything you do somehow at that age is to piss off your parents.

21:24So my father, he loves actors and he works for actors to suddenly use his sets, but he always complains about what they do. He would always say like, oh, the actor never gets in the light where I put a light here and he stands there. Then I move the light and he stands in the other side. These damn actors. These damn actors don't know how to use the ramp in the theater or blah, blah, blah. So I decided to become an actor also to piss him off. And then intentionally stand in the wrong spot. Exactly, exactly. But yes, it was. And to be honest, it was more. I never had like the moment where I went like, oh, I want to I want to be an actor because of what happens.

22:10It was just about being part of his world and make sure no one would take him away from me, you know, like. And also because school was boring and it was nice to feel I could be around adults that were acting like kids. That's what theater represented for me. These adults are much more fun than the kids in school. These crazy adults pretending to be someone else telling stories, playing games, spending all day in this fantasy world. It's like that old idea of running away with the circus. Yeah. There's a, my reaction to getting into comedy and when I was 18, 19 and seriously thinking about it was, wait a minute, this can be a job.

22:57I just assumed that I, my job had to be something that I hated that, you know, I have to go and do something serious and it's going to be something I hate, but then I can be fun with my friends and my family when I go home. And the idea that that this could be a profession was insane to me because I'm from Boston, Massachusetts. Nobody's doing that. It was a very strange feeling. But I know that idea that, well, of course, I'd rather do this than go to school or memorize something or take a test. And also, it's a family that shares a passion. And that is like such a difficult thing to find. You know, imagine a Christmas dinner where everyone talks about something that matters to the other, you know, because Christmas are like, oh, my God, here, the uncle, the drunk uncle again.

23:46Now he's going to tell the story of, but imagine you care about what they're talking about and you really want to be around that gang. And that's how it feels in these communities, you know. Also, my mom passed away when I was two years old, but she was a costume designer and a painter and she worked with half of the people I grew up working with. So on a way, it was her love stories that were around me, you know, and all these people trying to be their best because they knew my mom wasn't around. So suddenly everyone like was like feeling for my mom, you know, somehow I got all these crazy, interesting mothers, you know, that were like actresses or directors or designers.

24:31And they were all like very into making my life nice and easy and fun. and he was the best. You've said that you had a real connection with women always and this, what you're saying may have been the introduction to it but that women would befriend you and confide in you and trust you and you were that guy growing up. Oh yeah. Which sometimes, I was that way a little bit and I would take it a little bit of as an insult. You know, Conan, we don't see you as a sexual threat. Yes. You don't even seem like a man to us. So we're very comfortable. I'll braid your hair. You braid mine. And we'll tell you all our secrets.

25:15And there was a time there where I thought this is insulting, but I'm still happy. Yes. No, I never felt I was being insulted. Yeah. Not at all. And I do connect with that, definitely. Yeah. Yes. Yes. And always also there was stories you could tell, no? I mean, because I was having a life that no other kid was having. So I could talk to you about stuff no one else could. So it was fun, I guess. That's a nice way in. But then it's quite frustrating to have to go back home and say like, oh, no, she's now with a boyfriend. Yeah. Yes. Yeah, yeah. We have this great deep connection, but she doesn't see me that way.

26:02She's with this other guy. That happened to me, like from, yeah, like for a year or two of my life. Yeah. Then things got better. Are you still there? Because you look very, you look very sad. Things never got better. I do have a wife. I love her and we've been together a long time, but she also does not see me as a sexual person. You're the mayor of Friend Zone. I'm in the Friend Zone. I have a very healthy marriage, but I'm in the friend zone with my wife of 23 years. And I don't know how that happened. And we have two children, but who knows how that happened. For your wedding, you guys just gave each other friendship bracelets.

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26:45Exactly. Yeah, exactly. Instead of kissing after you high five. We high five. Do you take this friend to be your friend? And do you take this friend to be your friend? I'm curious about I know the breakout for you was that beautiful terrific movie Y Tu Mama También and that how old were you when you did that film? That's probably the best Spanish I've heard from you Really? Wasn't it? Yes Didn't he say Y Tu Mama También? Y Tu Mama También Okay guys if we call it out every time I manage to get it kind of right it makes it worse Okay? Good job, Corey. Corey, who did it? That was cute. Aw. Oh my God.

27:31This is quite like a structure. Have you ever noticed? Your show is about them making fun of you the whole time? Yes. Is that it? Well, when the guests are here, when you guys leave though, he comes at us. Oh yeah, yeah. But you don't record that, therefore, like the actual - No, no, no. Oh God, we record it. Okay. No, I'm very comfortable being, I'm one of six children in my family. I have many brothers and sisters. So being mercilessly made fun of is in my DNA. And I actually, in a sick, sadomasticistic way, I like it. But - Yeah, sorry. You were saying - No, no, no. I was saying that that was, how old were you when you made that film?

28:07You were - I was 19. 19. I think when we did that film. And - That kind of changed. I mean, obviously theater was a big part of your life and theater still is a big part of your life. But that must have been a huge - Yeah. Change for you. I was doing, I was doing, yeah, because I was very comfortable in Mexico and I didn't even think it was possible to actually start like moving around and traveling with my work and finding new audiences. Like I was pretty comfortable doing cinema that was very small. We had an industry that was doing 10 to 12 films a year back then. so it was very small your family would watch it and someone in a festival probably but that was it but I had theater and I was doing TV to support myself I was living by yeah what kind of TV did you do?

29:04oh like the last did you do telenovelas? the last telenovela I did it was just right before Y Tu Mama También because I was 19 years old I remember that day as like the day I stopped doing telenovelas I'm never gonna forget But I started really like at 12, I worked on the first telenovela. So it was good seven years of my life. I occasionally will be talking to someone from Mexico. This happens a lot. And we'll be chatting and they'll want to know. They know that I work in television. They've seen clips, but I always say to them, well, I did a telenovela because I did it when I was in. and I was in, I think it was the something malediction.

29:49I forget what it's called. Mi adorable malediction. Yeah. Mi adorable malediction. That's close. It's more like mi adorable malediction. You'll get it. Oh, Eduardo. Okay. You'll get it later. You'll get it. Yeah, I know. He just needs a little more time under my tutelage. Wow. Yeah. I'll teach how to do it in a Boston accent. But no, they wrote a part for me and they were really funny. They wrote a part for me as a cheese merchant. and they gave me a mustache, and I come in, and I have this scene where I'm getting very angry, and it's this, one of the most beautiful women I've seen in my life.

30:29The women in these, the men are so good looking. This woman took my breath away. She was so beautiful, and you can see the clip online, and she, there's a point where I'm getting very angry with her, and I'm, it's all in Spanish, and I'm yelling at her in Spanish, you do not treat me this way, I will not be, and she puts her hand out, and she touches me, and I guess they have a name for it in telenovelas, which is the Thunderbolt or something where a woman touches a man and suddenly they have that moment of connection. And it's such a soap opera thing. It is. But I'm yelling at her and she touches me.

30:57And I look at her and they cut to her. And she suddenly feels this emotion, which by the way, she would never feel in real life. And the crowd went crazy. They go crazy. And it's one of my favorite moments from my career. And I love to show it to people I talk to. I'm constantly calling it up on my phone and saying, check this out. And my wife is like, you're not making them watch your telenovela. I'm like, this is Pedro. And this is Jose. And I'm just showing it to them. And they always, but I, it's so funny because. It all depends on the perspective, right? I'm trying to disappear everything that's out there from the work I did in telenovelas.

31:36Nah. You're a kid. You were a young man. I was 19. I was still doing telenovelas. and there was a few no there's a few that I'm more proud of than the others but it is a big thing and it was one I grew up in theater where they would judge you if you were going to work on a telenovela but the point came where every actor had to be in both things you know to survive you know theater wouldn't be enough to pay your rent and actors would be doing telenovelas and theater at night. And it was quite a thing. And you can tell what happens with the popularity in telenovelas. You are doing one and you're very popular, but another one comes and everyone forgets immediately.

32:29It's that kind of thing. What some people have said too about being in soap operas or telenovelas is that if you're playing the bad guy, people in the supermarket who see you are mad at you. They're like, I don't like what you're doing. And you're like, no, no, no, that is a role that I'm playing. So yes, people take it very seriously, become part of their lives. Obviously, I mean, and things have changed. I think in the 90s and early 2000s, like the TV was always on, you know, in many homes. And you were there, you were part of their everyday's life. You know, it was like telenovelas. there was the ones that were meant to be playing while you were doing something else also you know and and that's why they repeat them over and over the same scene you know because you're not really paying attention sometimes you know but television was really important for audiences not these days now now people are more like into searching for what they want to be consuming you know yes there was a time they they uh it's a great term for it here where people are siloed everyone's in their own little tube watching all the stuff that they just want to see they're not connected to each other yeah the bubble no you live in this you're in your own little bubble and you're watching and all the content is catered just to you if you're online you're seeing everything that you would want to see as opposed to uh when i was growing up uh obviously i'm much older than everybody here but it was tv was there's three four channels and and you had to wait for what was what had good reception because we didn't have cable so sometimes the channel that had something good on you wasn't coming in and then you'd flip the channel and it's a catholic mass you're like oh my god but it looks good it's coming in i guess we'll watch this and hope a gunfight breaks out um never did but but you're right you were forced to be exposed to things like old movies things that you wouldn't watch normally because that was what was on television Yeah.

34:32What's fascinating to me about your career is that you have this very bohemian background, theater, small movies, art house movies. And then you're in what's arguably one of the best of the Star Wars franchise films, Rogue One. And that's got to just change everything. I mean, it's and then it's led to, you know, today you're here because Andor is out with the second season, a show I love, by the way. It's fantastic. And I'm not even a Star Wars person per se, but I love it. I think it's such a great it's a beautifully told story. And so now you find yourself in this world of a huge international audience in and the power of the Star Wars franchise behind you.

35:20It's such a, you weren't setting out, you weren't looking for that. No, not at all. Not at all. And also because it would have been painful. There was no room. You know, I grew up watching these films, but I never thought, I mean, I never saw someone like me there. I never thought it was possible. And I didn't even want to. Like, I was doing theater really happy. When I did It to Momentan Bien, I started traveling with my work. And it was suddenly I realized there was a community that it was really close to me, you know, in the States, for example, when I went the first time to Sundance, I realized there was people that struggled the same way I struggled to work on film.

35:59You know, the Hollywood wasn't a thing like a Hollywood, like Hollywood was just like a. There were different subsets, communities. Yeah, independent cinema, theater, people doing cinema but theater and then cinema again and struggling to get financing for their movies and finally getting it and having very little resources. So I have to, like, with creativity, solve things and all of that. I started finding those connections in the States, in London, in Spain. And suddenly was like, OK, great. I can keep doing what I do. When I was asked to do Rogue One or to go into the process of doing auditions for Rogue One, the director said to me, I want to do a film in this universe that tonally feels very realistic, close to what you guys did in Y Tu Mama También.

36:51And I was like, what?

36:57Are you okay, man? Exactly. Who was saying this specifically? Gareth Edwards, the director who I owe him being here talking about Andor because he had the idea. He shot in Mexico a film. He loved It's a Mama También. And he was crazy enough to think that there was a room for me in that project. I couldn't really believe it I make the joke a lot of times about like I was sitting there going like what does he want from me? Does he want the number of an actor? Or like does he want me to help him with Gael? You know, I don't even speak English, you know? I mean, what is this about? And he was like very honest and saying like and he got an amazing cast of people that were doing the cinema I was doing but in their context, you know?

37:47Felicity, Risa May, Mads Mikkelsen. It was a cast of people that were doing tiny films in their countries and dramas that were all about the storytelling. Anyway, so I went into doing that and I freaked out. I was like, wow, this is amazing because I can still be myself. And I have to thank Lucasfilm and Disney and everyone because they gave us the tools. but then the freedom to, you know? So it felt like I was just on a set of a film that I've been my whole life. I felt the same freedom. I didn't feel like, oh shit, we have to now behave differently because we're doing this gigantic project. Well, I think that also the moral of the story is sometimes a big popular movie can be fantastic.

38:38Yeah. Do you know what I mean? There's a, it, it, it, there can be. And can have integrity. Yes, there can be a reverse snobbery sometimes of, oh, this is a popcorn movie. this is going to be huge. Everyone's going to love it. No. Yes, people are going to love it. A lot of people are going to see it. It's a big franchise. But, and it's now this television series and it is beautifully acted. The story is so well told. And what's so fascinating to me is Cassian, your character, it makes sense to me because of the story, the backstory of Rogue One is he comes from this other place and he doesn't belong.

39:18And so there's something that lines up very neatly with someone coming from, in your case, Mexico. Yes. You know, and you are coming from a different land and trying to struggle to figure out what your place is in it. So it's all, it all makes sense, but it takes someone with vision to see that and go, we gotta get Diego Luna. and 99.9 % of the people in the room would say, what are you talking about? That's exactly what Garrett said. Including me. I don't have mixed it. They did call me because I had worked with you and I said, I think it's a mistake. It's a mistake. It's a very good word. I said, I'm more of a...

39:57Get him a telenovela. I said, I'm more of a Cassian when you think about it. And they did some tests and apparently not good. No, you don't fit in the cockpits also. My head, they had to cut a hole through the spaceship. No, but it is. I did realize on the process of Rogue One and then Andor that it was more my prejudice speaking, you know, because I think Andor is a great example of how things should be done. You know, it's like it is a gigantic project. It has a wonderful and very diverse reach. But the way they did it is the way they do the films I love. You know, we are there because there's a perspective, a point of view, which is the creators, Tony Gilroy, the amazing writer and producer and director that is behind this.

40:58And we're following a leader and a voice. And if you commit to that, then that's integrity. That's where integrity comes from, you know. And then this thing can fly and be huge, you know. And obviously we all get it. I mean, we're part of a community. People really want to see this. People really want this to be good. And they're expecting the best out of you and you have to bring it. But it had that kind of like that sense of like, okay, we're working for a vision, you know, from beginning to end. And I was really pleased. and then many people many people like think your life changes because of being part of a project like that and it's true but not in the way probably that people imagine you know it changes because like I'm a different person I went through a revolution myself with this project I'm part of a community I got to work with people that are as talented as it gets and I got to learn but then you go back to your life and your life is the same.

42:01I go back and I want to do a tiny little film about this particular event or character, and I don't go out there and find money to do it. They go like, oh no, that one, no, not for that one. No, it doesn't change, and in a way, that's refreshing. It is, because you can still be yourself, and you can go through an experience like this and and be transformed in the best possible way. But then also go back to who you were without having to leave something behind or to avoid being back as if it was a bad thing. To me, it's the opposite. Going back is great. I've always found it very, in a way, refreshing that I'll have a moment that's supposedly like a big moment or something in my career and then the next day someone will say, oh, I saw you host the Oscars last night and then you did a really good job.

43:01Oh, you did a good job. But I'll say, thank you very much. And they'll say, and you can't park there. Exactly. And I go, oh, oh, I'm sorry. And you're like, oh, good. It's gravity. Gravity is always acting on you.

43:25Well, I want to cede the floor to Matt for a second because Matt is a huge... He's falling asleep. No, no, no. He's very close as well. I'm just so relaxed listening to you guys talk. I'm serious. I could listen all day. I don't know that you should see it to me. But I just, it's only fair and right because Star Wars and all of it means so much to you. And this is, I know that you have raved about, I mean, when you saw Rogue One, just you thought that, oh, they've really, they've really it's they've made a beautiful beautiful movie um and particularly and or and rogue one and what you and tony gilroy and all the other actors are doing it's so damn enjoyable and so good i mean it's just that's all i have to say no but i mean you were you were you were in a very happy place today uh because uh diego was coming in and i know what what i've noticed about Andor is that I don't, again, there are some shows that are part of a big franchise that kind of demand, you know, X, Y, and Z.

44:27And I remember going to see when I was a kid, my brother Luke and I went to see the movie Dune with Kyle MacLachlan in whatever it was, 1980 or something at the Hearthstone Plaza Theater, which isn't even a theater anymore. I think it's a pot dispensary because everything that I grew up with is now a pot dispensary. except the pot dispensary is now an ATM. But I remember we got there and they handed you a little booklet that you had to read before you could watch the movie that explained, okay, this is this. And I thought, what the fuck is this? I think that's just because what David Lynch did to that story.

45:02Yeah, yeah. God bless his soul. But anyway. I like him. Don't get me wrong. Yeah, yeah. It's just insane. You and your anti-David Lynch propaganda. I won't have it. But what I love about Andor is you can know absolutely nothing and it's just great storytelling really great storytelling and terrific acting and then um and you get to sit in a tie fighter what's that like oh yeah yeah we got to that you be quiet the tie fighter yeah it's a it's a special prototype right that i'm i'm it was it was fascinating because things actually work and you guys can go we got this no i want to hear so when you say things actually work what do you mean you you turn on the uh a button and a light comes on uh the the screens are showing you you know information you can relate and communicate you know with with the object i didn't know that it's it's we and and i don't know i mean i'm not sure how they do every every star wars show but uh ours is very mechanical it's very much like a homage to the filmmaking that started the whole thing.

46:17You can feel it. You know, and so we are interacting with props, with real pieces of, yeah, of the stage is real, is built. You have to wait till it's built. You have to use it and then they bring it down. You know, there's a whole process and there's a whole design behind things. Things don't get decided later. They don't tell you like, just turn buttons and pretend you're flying and then we'll figure it out. No, there's a reason. There's things on the right, things on the left. If you move these forward, it has to be like this. And also, there's someone behind the design. So there's someone defending the design and telling you and walking you through what you are about to use.

47:00Therefore, it's like actually happening. And you're in a platform that actually moves. So you turn right and the thing moves right, left, down, up. You know, if you're hit, it shakes. Are they ever like your father where you're just like, oh, he's messing up my designer? Many times. I'm sure that happened many times. And sometimes you have screens in front of you. So you are looking at what's going to be there, you know, somehow. So the putting together of the show takes a long time because there's a lot of work behind everything. And that, again, is because it has to do with the vision. The way Tony writes is very special.

47:43You'll be interested in this. He doesn't write a scene where they go like, okay, they're doing a podcast in a studio. And he sits down with the set designer and says, okay, how big is the studio? Okay, and they design a studio and a piece of paper. And they go like, okay, they'll have a table with four microphones. Over there is going to be the computer. There's three seats there. So when he's writing the scene, he's describing a space that already exists and that is being designed for this. Therefore, everything has a reason. Everything has a purpose. And things are already designed when he's writing.

48:18And he's the master, I believe, of collaboration because somehow in that moment, it's not just his material. It's also the production designer's material because his vision is already in the page. you know uh so when you get to the place and you read a line and a direction it makes sense you go like oh okay i get it now i get it but it informs it informs it's a collaboration between because you're acting then is it's a collaboration between all this work that's happened before you even show up to set definitely and um you know one of the things that uh always because i'm old enough to will remember what it used to be.

48:56Science fiction used to be shiny and clean, meaning spaceships always were kind of shiny and Buck Rogers, everything. And people wore these immaculate spacesuits. And that was what we knew as science fiction. And if you watch 2001, that's how it is. And then I want to say Blade Runner was kind of a revelation because as we all know in real life, cars are rusty or dirty or banged up or dented. And then in Star Wars, you saw that things are kind of retrofitted they're kind of holding it together with tape yeah you know the millennium falcons got some problems uh some of the the the robots or the droids are kind of dirty they've been banged around a little bit and i remember that being a real revelation and what you really see in in andor and in rogue one two is is also just this idea that stuff these are machines that get used they have to be fixed they have to be repaired people are there's dirt everywhere things get fucked up and that informs the story a lot do you know what i mean like clearly it's it's and it's it makes it to me more real it makes it very real and it's different than the science fiction i grew up with it's just so tactile the world that you guys have created and you know you just feel like all exists for real how much of it is on location or at least exterior right because the wind's blowing and it doesn't feel like a studio it's all cleveland all of it and and you don't have to do anything to Cleveland it just looks like a you know the first season we had in mind was uh it was going to be a shoot that we were going to travel uh around the world hoping to to be in amazing locations and and again uh be a homage to filmmaking you know allow the accident of the real location to come part to be part of of the result you know and the creative process us to be influenced by what happens when you're out there and you can't control everything.

50:50But then the COVID came and we had to adjust. And we did a very, a show that happened mostly on studio because we had to be there, you know, and we started building things in the studio and they built Ferex completely, like the whole town. And it's a town like you can get lost in Ferex. I mean, Adria talks about getting lost in Ferrix and it did happen. Like you can, it's so wonderful. And, but it's, again, it's a design that Luke Hall did next to Tony. And Tony understood the logic of that city perfectly and then started writing for the city. And the city gave you everything, gave you alleys, big streets, stores, food, you know, the restaurants, the hotel, the place where you would need to hide or do exist.

51:45And they're the size for you to actually play that scene there. You don't have to like, you know, you can shoot in order and allow things to actually happen. That's how we did the first season. Then we went to Scotland for a bit when we were allowed to travel and to the mountains. And it was beautiful. And again, you can't control everything. There is a scene where we are supposed to be in the top of the mountain and seeing where we're going to hit the next day to do the big robbery, you know. And we get to the mountain. There's just a, you can get in cars to one point and then we had to walk and we get with all the equipment to the top of the mountain and there's a huge cloud not moving.

52:28Oh, no. And we go like, oh, God. And it signifies those sins, you know. You have a scene with Nemec talking about how much fear he has for what's coming. And it adds because, yes, I'm scared too. We can't even see where we're going. This is crazy, you know? But the scene just becomes that scene we did because of the place. There's no telling the cloud, hey, this is Lucas. Lucasfilm, I mean, come on. Move along, cloud. Yeah, exactly. Kathleen Kennedy sent a note. No, it's not. And the beauty of this is that it brings all the attention to where it has to be. everyone is you know like focus on okay how do we tell the story how do we tell the story because also we know the story but by that point there is no there is a secrecy you know out of the bubble but for us we are all very much invested in the same story that tony gilroy wants to tell you know that's great i'm just sad this is the last season well sad but relieved no yes also because It's hard to, no, no, but not in terms of like, oh, I want to be at home.

53:39No, it's just like, it's not easy to get something right. So when it happens, it's nice that you keep it that big. Let me put it this way. I think TV has brought great things, you know? It's a great place for young talents to find their voices. It's wonderful. It's taking all the risks cinema stopped taking, you know, which is great. but there's one thing I don't like which is things start without knowing where they're gonna end everyone's talking about the next season and probably there's another one and there's an anxiety of like how much more can we achieve and it's nice to start something knowing where it ends therefore you throw everything in you put everything there and if you succeed you celebrate and if you don't you learn and you try again but knowing the ending of the story allowed us to work this tough and in detail in all those layers that you can bring in.

54:44But I remember we sat down in the first season, half the way of the shoot in Scotland, Tony and I, and he was like, we can't do five seasons of this. It takes two years and a half of our lives. I'm going to be 60 years old pretending I'm the guy I was. You know, in 2016, impossible. So how do we do this? And he came up with the idea of doing these four blocks because our goal was, let's tell the story of the five years before Rogue One and then finish this story the moment Rogue One starts, right? That was the goal. So he came up with this idea of like in the second season, move through four years of the life of these characters and get to the point that we promised at the beginning.

55:33And that was such a relief because then suddenly we understood that it was possible that we had to aim for another three and a half years of work, but we were going to make it, you know. Which is great because that's what Rogue One does is it goes right up to the end before Star Wars too. So they all just connect so seamlessly. Rogue One is a prequel Then we did a prequel So this is the prequel of the prequel A repeatquel Exactly We got very technical Everyone's like I do think And I appreciate that little tangent Yeah no it wasn't little at all And you're fired You're fired You'll now work with You'll go with Diego Really?

56:18Yeah, you live with him now. Okay. I do think people talk - I don't eat a lot. It's just work, you live with him. People, I like that Diego has no say in it either. Conan said so. And then there's bunk beds. You're in Mexico City in bunk beds. Oh, good night, Matthew. Just one more thing about Casanova. Go to sleep. You know, it does, people talk about this a lot, And it can almost sound like a cliche, but it's so powerful that when you said you didn't see yourself in any of the Star Wars, in the Star Wars world when you were growing up, and it seemed like an impossibility to you that someone like you coming from where, you know, from Mexico City could be in that world.

57:08think of how powerful that is to millions of kids who are seeing you in this franchise. And what's fascinating is that it has your role has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that you grew up in Mexico. You know what I mean? It has nothing to do with that. You're just a great actor. The more that happens in different cultures, I can't prove it, but I feel like it's the it's the answer to a lot of our problems. I agree with you. I think it's, if I think about the reference, I grew up, you know, watching, following and hoping one day I could like be like them compared to the ones that are, my kids are growing up with.

57:51Yeah. It feels, it feels much diverse, interesting, rich today, you know, and things are changing and getting there. And I always, like, I always want to bring it back to where I think everything started happening, which is because of the audience. It's because the audience started to have a voice, you know. And now all these tools that we have, they're terrible and dangerous in many ways, but they are also very useful. And one very useful thing they do is that you can send messages. You know, you click or you buy a ticket and you're sending a message. And the industry has to listen because they want you to keep clicking, you know.

58:35And if you ignore, if you decide not to click, not to buy the ticket, you're also sending a message. So it's audiences who are somehow reshaping what the industry is talking about, what voices are there, what stories get to be made. It's still a process. We're not there yet. But the idea, I grew up like watching those films where every decision in the movie business was made behind the desk and someone was like, this is what they want to see. Big cigar. You know, big cigar. Here's what we're going to do, see? Exactly. You got it right. And today is not like that. Today is people at home, you know, clicking or not clicking, paying attention or not paying attention.

59:13so if we as audience act with responsibility the responsibility that this you know tool brings or gives you uh we we are we are having something to say on this industry that somehow for a long time it didn't seem to talk to us you know and now it is so i think it's i think it's cool i think i'm part of something big you know i see many people coming from where i come from having an opportunity. You were just talking about how cool it was to travel with Javier in Spain. I mean, it is happening. It is happening somehow. And again, I think we can be really proud because it's a moment where you can be yourself.

59:59I grew up with people telling me, are you going to work on your accent? Are you going to clean your accent? And I was like, clean your well, I mean, why do you think it's dirty? What's wrong with my accent. My accent is mine. It might not be yours, but when I was 20, that was the thing. It's like, okay, you're doing great. What if you start working on your accent and you start sounding like these other people and you can start doing what they can do? And today is a moment where that is changing, I think. I mean, I'm here because I bring what I am, you know? And that's what got me here. I might not be there and not there, but I'm here because of this.

1:00:37You're exactly where you're supposed to be and where you should be, yeah. And that's kind of like a cool idea and message. And also things are happening where sometimes you can do something in another context that not even thinking of traveling and that can resonate with someone here or in Europe or in Japan or whatever. And so there's also like a respect and a search for a specificity that today is really cool in the movie making. Well, I'm very proud to call you a friend. I'm honored. It was one of the great honors of my life that you came on my show in Mexico City and blessed our kooky project there.

1:01:20Just delighted, delighted to have you here. And I love what you represent. You're an artist and you're a really good guy. And just a pleasure, absolute pleasure to have you here. Oh, thank you so much. And so please come back and let's have an adventure together. I'll take you to Scotland. Scotland. So much water. It's incredible. That is not what the tourist bureau says. Scotland. So much water. But also I think. It's so green, man. It is beautiful. And also I accept your invitation to return to Mexico City. You should. And appear on a telenovela with you and live with you. I think that was mentioned at some point.

1:01:59That was mentioned. I get to live with you. No, no. I'm living with you. Triple bunk bed. Yeah, triple bunk bed. You can come too. I'm out. You're going to ask a lot. You're going to wake us up at night to ask him questions about Andor. And that bullshit is not happening. And I'm going to wake you up to correct you on your accent. Yes, please. In Spanish. Very, very important. No, thank you so much. Yeah, yeah. This was so much fun. It's cool. And come back soon, Diego. I will. And thank you for everything. Seriously. Great to have you here. Oh, man. Thank you. Thank you all. Conan O 'Brien Needs a Friend.

1:02:31With Conan O 'Brien, Sonam Avsessian, and Matt Gorley. Produced by me, Matt Gourley Executive produced by Adam Sachs, Jeff Ross, and Nick Liao Theme song by The White Stripes Incidental music by Jimmy Vivino Take it away, Jimmy

1:02:50Our supervising producer is Aaron Blair And our associate talent producer is Jennifer Samples Engineering and mixing by Eduardo Perez and Brendan Burns Additional production support by Mars Melnick Talent booking by Paula Davis, Gina Batista, and Britt Kahn You can rate and review this show on Apple Podcasts, and you might find your review read on a future episode. Got a question for Conan? Call the Team Coco hotline at 669-587-2847 and leave a message. It too could be featured on a future episode. You can also get three free months of SiriusXM when you sign up at SiriusXM.com slash Conan. And if you haven't already, please subscribe to Conan O 'Brien Needs a Friend wherever fine podcasts are downloaded.

1:03:34Thank you.

From the publisher

Actor Diego Luna feels really comfortable about being Conan O’Brien’s friend.

 

Diego sits down with Conan to discuss growing up around the sets his father designed, landing breakout roles in telenovelas, Y Tu Mamá También, and Rogue One, and reaching for specificity with the hit series Andor.

 

For Conan videos, tour dates and more visit TeamCoco.com.

Got a question for Conan? Call our voicemail: (669) 587-2847.

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