Fresh Air Benicio del Toro
14 snips
Mar 13, 2026 
Benicio del Toro, a Puerto Rican-born actor known for complex, morally ambiguous roles, discusses working with Wes Anderson and creating layered characters. He recalls early choices like the mumble in The Usual Suspects and training with Stella Adler. He reflects on childhood loss, discovering acting in college, and how Traffic changed Latino representation in Hollywood.
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Directing That Creates Character Arcs
- Wes Anderson writes layered contradictory characters that let actors explore arcs rather than stereotypes.
- Benicio del Toro says Zsa Zsa Korda's long redemption arc made the role rich and put the actor "in the cockpit" of the story.
Choosing A Daughter By Unblinking Eye Contact
- Del Toro recounts noticing Mia Threppleton's unblinking gaze during a reading and recommending her for the daughter role.
- He says that silent eye contact convinced him she was the emotional anchor Zsa Zsa needed.
Inventing An Accent To Stand Out
- For The Usual Suspects Del Toro and director Brian Singer agreed he could invent a distinctive mumbling accent for Fred Finster.
- He cites influences like Joe Frazier and Thelonious Monk and credits the choice for boosting his visibility.