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Manuel Garcia-Rulfo

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[Manuel Garcia-Rulfo](https://www.instagram.com/manu_rulfo/) is a man of many talents. The photographer-turned-actor’s resume is slated to enrich and grow, with a number of exciting American film projects underway for the year. Starting his career in his home town of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, and following the Mexican film circuit for a few years before expanding beyond country lines, Garcia-Rulfo would go on to embody roles in blockbuster films like 2016’s _The Magnificent Seven_ as Vasquez the outlaw, Kenneth Branagh’s 2017 adaptation of _Murder on The Orient Express_, and most recently, co-starring in Michael Bay’s _6 Underground_ alongside Ryan Reynolds and Mélanie Laurent, Netflix’s most expensive production to date. While his recent roles paint a seamless picture of success, Rulfo admits the road hasn't always been easy; early moments of doubt led to considering every professional route from directing to lime farming. In May, Garcia-Rulfo will star with the venerable Tom Hanks in _Greyhound,_ a film anchored in the Atlantic Ocean during World War II, where the isolation and anxiety of the open waters and nefarious U-Boats crescendo. Based on C.S. Forester’s _The Good Shepherd, Greyhound_ serves as a solid reminder of Garcia-Rulfo’s rising star with American audiences. As he continues to pave his way through the industry, _Flaunt_ had the opportunity to speak with the Jalisciense, who reflects on the moments that brought him here, and considers what looms on the horizon. DIOR MEN shirt, pants, and shoes. ![DIOR MEN shirt, pants, and shoes.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/62ee0bbe0c783a903ecc0ddb/6472bd225fbea8dd9b8e02ae_Flaunt%2BMagazine%2BManuel%2BGarcia%2BRulfo.jpeg) [**DIOR MEN**](https://www.dior.com/en_us) shirt, pants, and shoes. **How would you describe yourself to people you’ve just met?** Well I'm from Mexico, I'm an actor, and I love what I do! I’ve been doing it for 16 years now. I'm an aficionado of film and photography and art as well. **A man of many interests.** Yes, especially art. One of my favorite hobbies is to take photos—I love photography  **What's your relationship to photography like?**  I've been doing it all my life as a hobby. When I was really young, I wanted to be a photographer for _National Geographic_. My father and grandfather were experienced in photography as well, so I think I might have got it from them, it’s just a part of who I am.  **There’s been ample buzz around your recent film, _6 Underground._ Share with us your experience taking part in the project?** I felt so fortunate to work with actors that I’d known and admired for so long, like Ryan Reynolds, who I’ve met before. I felt very fortunate, it was really cool. FENDI jumpsuit and ERMENEGILDO ZEGNA turtleneck. ![FENDI jumpsuit and ERMENEGILDO ZEGNA turtleneck.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/62ee0bbe0c783a903ecc0ddb/6472bd225fbea8dd9b8e02aa_Flaunt%2BMagazine%2BManuel%2BGarcia%2BRulfo%2B2.jpeg) [**FENDI**](https://www.fendi.com/us) jumpsuit and [**ERMENEGILDO ZEGNA**](https://www.zegna.us/us-en/home.html) turtleneck. **Were there any challenges you faced working on this film?** I was very afraid to do comedy. I don't think of myself as a funny man \[laughs\]. The fact that the film is in English, it's completely different timing and all that, so that was another thing I was afraid of. Honestly if it weren't for Ryan, I wouldn't have had any point of comedy \[laughs\] He helped me so much, and came up with things so quickly, I felt really protected with him. **Could you expand on the differences you've noticed between Mexican and American Cinema?** Well, of course, the money and the budget. Sometimes there are films that are low budget in America but not in Mexico, Unlike _6 Underground_, where we shot it for 4 and a half months, you might never see a production that long in Mexico. That's one thing, and the other thing is that, Mexico is starting to become an industry with a structure. It was a little more personal where you knew the casting director and you knew everyone personally. Whereas when I started here, I noticed there were more steps that taught me a little more about an industry structure. **When did you get your start in American Cinema?**  It's funny, actually. There’s this film festival in Denver, and my first feature from Mexico was invited and I got to go as one of the actors. When we presented the film, I was approached by another actor in the Q&A who asked me if I considered working in LA. He told me if I ever went and wanted to do a crossover he’d introduce me to his manager. Next thing I knew, I was in LA already taking a 3-week-course on photography, and I remembered what he said. So I called him, he connected me to his manager, and I went on my first audition. It was for a film called _Bless Me, Ultima_, based on the novel, and that was the first job I did out here and from there I kept it going.  **What was the moment you felt you made it or felt truly accomplished as an actor. Or are you still on that journey?**  It's tough because there's no certainty. You know, you can make a huge film, star in the film, and it still depends on so many things. There's always the next one. I remember booking my first short film and thinking ‘Ah fuck, I made it!’ So of course, every project in that way is an accomplishment. But in another way, you can’t settle, because only huge stars can take a year or so off and decide to come back. I don’t think I’m there yet \[laughs\]. Every project is a step further. ERMENEGILDO ZEGNA suit and shirt. ![ERMENEGILDO ZEGNA suit and shirt.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/62ee0bbe0c783a903ecc0ddb/6472bd225fbea8dd9b8e02b2_Flaunt%2BMagazine%2BManuel%2BGarcia%2BRulfo%2B3.jpeg) [**ERMENEGILDO ZEGNA**](https://www.zegna.us/us-en/home.html) suit and shirt. **Are there any new steps we should be looking out for? I know you've been working on _Sweet Girl_ with Jason Mamoa.**  Yes! Jason and I worked together on _Sicario_, so we knew each other from that. I got to see some rough scenes the other day and they’re just so beautiful. It's a bit of a thriller and action film. Then there's a Mexican film with Carlos Saura, _El Rey de todo el mundo,_ a Spanish director. Then I did a film with Tom Hanks called Greyhound about WWII. **Since you're back and forth between the states and Mexico, where have you been calling home?**  I love LA, it's a cool city. I moved here about 5 or 6 years ago. There's so much to see if you drive an hour or two in any direction. The food is also really good \[laughs\]. Plus, it's so close to Mexico. I love New York, but If I want to go visit my family, it's so far. **When not acting or snapping photos, what’s a day in the life for Manuel Garcia-Rulfo?** I play a lot of tennis, and if i'm not here in LA, I’m in Mexico with my family. I started this little farm where I grow limes, so if I'm not working I'm usually on the ranch.  **A lime farm! I have to know more…** It’s a long story, but after my third film in Mexico, I got tired of acting and thought ‘Fuck this shit, I’m gonna go be a farmer \[laughs\]!” In my mind I retired, and went to the ranch and was there for a year and a half. Not too long after, I went to LA and ended up in my first American film. Then I started loving acting again and started back at it. That was about eight years ago.  **So we went from National Geographic Photographer, to Actor, to Lime Farmer, and back to acting again. What’s next?** Well, I’ve always wanted to direct. I love film and I love the feeling of directing. It's great because it includes everything from acting to photography and has a lot of elements that really excite me. But that's later! I'm writing a personal short film and we’ll see when it's done. * * * Photographed by Selin Turner.  Styled by [Jenny Ricker](https://www.instagram.com/jennyricker/?hl=en)  Groomer: [Anna Bernabe](https://www.instagram.com/heyannabee/?hl=en) using [Shu Uemura Art of Hair‎](https://www.shuuemuraartofhair-usa.com) and [Tom Ford Beauty](https://www.tomford.com/beauty/) at [The Wall Group](https://www.thewallgroup.com).