Actor Anthony Ramos has been planning for this next move for quite some time. With parts in films like “In The Heights” and the popular musical “Hamilton,” he’s poised to be more than simply a Latino action star, but an action star imbued with a little Brooklyn and Puerto Rican flavor, as he demonstrates in “Transformers: Rise Of The Beasts.” It is his second leading part but his first in such a large-scale franchise. On a sunny Saturday, the Brooklyn native talked about what it was like to play Noah Diaz. Someone close to his heart.
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How did it feel to apply your authentic self to this role, particularly the Latino and New York aspects?
“It feels amazing for all of those reasons,” Ramos said effusively. “It’s a blessing, and it was fun to be able to bring my culture and myself to a role like this. You don’t see characters like me, Latino working class, being the hero in a franchise movie.”
In this new ‘Rise Of The Beasts’ film, the heroine is a Black woman named Elena Wallace (Dominique Fishback). She delivers the book smarts, while Noah offers the street smarts. These are two minorities who have been tasked with saving the planet. Ramos discussed how the casting industry might benefit from this form of casting.
“Dominique not only portrays an intelligent black woman in the film, but she is also from Brooklyn,” he explained. “She grew up in the East New York neighborhood where I used to play baseball as a child. I was close to Jerome, a member of my baseball team. She used to play football with the same guy and his cousins. Also, Dom and I have been friends for years, saying that we should collaborate on a project, but it never happened until now. It was truly an honor to not only receive this role but also to perform it alongside her. Because we are both from Brooklyn, we were free to incorporate this element into the film.”
‘Transformers‘ is a film in which automobiles play a significant role, obviously. However, like many born-and-raised New Yorkers who benefit from a public transportation system, Ramos didn’t have a driver’s license. He got it, particularly for the film. The actor recalls getting his driver’s test during the pandemic.
“I had a two-week window to get an appointment at the DMV, and the DMV was initially uncooperative,” he explained. “Finally, after much haggling, I was able to secure an appointment. I took the test in my mother’s car after a few months of practice with an instructor. Fortunately, I was able to pass.”
“Transformers: Rise Of The Beasts” is also a physically demanding film. Ramos described how he prepped the action that is prominent in this film’s plot.
“Before filming, I worked out a lot. I wanted to arrive in good shape and ready to go,” Ramos said. “The film required a great deal of movement. To prepare, I did weight training and cardio. It’s a lot of fun for me. I did the majority of the stunts myself. I had the director’s support, Steven Caple Jr., so I had some flexibility. I especially enjoyed filming the fight sequences that the audience gets to see at the end of the film. Originally, it was supposed to be done by a stuntman, but I persisted, and the results speak for themselves.”
In the film, Noah’s mother and brother serve as his driving inspiration. His scenes with Dean Scott Vazquez, who plays his younger brother, Kris Dias, were especially touching. Ramos recalls happily working with Vazquez and how the interaction paralleled his relationship with his biological brother.
“Dean Vazquez is one of the most special actors I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with,” Ramos effused. “Because of his maturity, he is an old spirit stuck in a young body. He was always upbeat and would offer us words of support while we were filming. He means a great deal to me. Noah and Kris’ friendship is really precious to me since it reminds me of my bond with my older brother. We are nine years apart in age, and he was a role model for me growing up. I viewed him in the same way that Kris views Noah.”
“Transformers: Rise Of The Beasts” rolls into theaters on June 9 everywhere.