Raphael Alejandro Talks About His Disney Career And Season 2 Of Apple TV+’s ‘Acapulco’

Get to know this star!

From Disney’s ‘Bunk’d to the popular ABC series ‘Once Upon A Time’, this award-winning actor is incredible! He currently stars as ‘Hugo’ in the star-studded Apple TV+ series ‘Acapulco’.

We had the amazing honor of talking with Raphael about his favorite Disney shows, advice to his fans, and more!

When did you first realize that you wanted to pursue a career in the entertainment industry?

R: “I’m the youngest of 3 siblings. My sister, Dalila Bela, started acting at age 5 and my brother, Bruce Salomon, started his acting career at age 4. I grew up seeing them practicing for auditions and having so much fun on set that when I was 4 years old, I wanted to try it as well.  Since the first time I stepped foot on set, I fell in love with acting and never looked back!”

Tell us more about your amazing returning role in the new season of Apple TV’s ‘Acapulco’.

R: “Hugo is a very dear character to me. The first time I played Hugo was when I filmed the movie “How to be a Latin Lover.” I was 8 years old back then, and Eugenio Derbez played my uncle Maximo.  I was so thrilled when I got the news that I would get to play Hugo again in the Apple TV Show “Acapulco,” and to getting to work with Eugenio again is such a blessing! I’m beyond grateful for Season 2 of “Acapulco,” and I love the fact that Hugo will visit his uncle’s childhood places and learn more about his culture and his story.”

Do you think you have anything in common with your character ‘Hugo?

R: “I definitely have some character traits in common with Hugo! For one, we both share a love of learning, especially science. We also both come from Latino backgrounds and are both very interested in learning about our culture. Further, we both cherish our family very much, and like to hear the stories about our family members.”

Can you tease anything that fans might expect in Season 2?

R: “Season 2 is full of amazing surprises that I unfortunately cannot really share anything about. You will have to watch it on Apple TV to see what I mean! The first 3 episodes are already out and the fourth one is coming out this Friday, November 4th. So, stay tuned!”

You also rose to fame in your role on ‘Bunk’d!’ What was that experience like for you?

R: “I’m super grateful for all the amazing opportunities I’ve had over the course of my career, like Roland on the TV show “Once Upon a Time” and Hugo in the movie “How to be a Latin Lover.” Playing Matteo on “Bunk’d” for three seasons was definitely a very important period in my acting career. Working on Bunk’d really helped me grow as an actor and as a person. As an actor, it made me realize that there are so many different types of acting, and that being adaptable is very important because every show/movie has its unique way it portrays a character. As a person, I learned about keeping up with my responsibilities while doing something I love. Working on Bunk’d was truly an incredible experience that I will cherish for the rest of my life!”

Now that you are a part of the Disney family, what is your all-time favorite Disney show/movie?

R: “I feel very special to be a part of a such iconic family like Disney. Some of my favorite shows and movies are Disney, like the “Toy Story” movies, “Coco,” “The Ultimate Spiderman,” and “Good Luck Charlie.”

How do you think you’ve grown as both an actor and as a person since your first TV role 10 years ago?

R: “I learned so many things about acting, and about myself, throughout these 10 years of being in the entertainment business. Professionalism is one thing about acting that is very important to me. I believe that you should always try to do your best in everything you want to accomplish, and being an actor is no exception. When it comes to be prepared for a scene, it’s very important to not only learn your lines but also to understand what the scenes entail and your character’s relationship with the other characters in the scene. As a person, one very important lesson that I learned is to be myself, and to stay true to what I believe in.”

Does it ever hit you that you are an award-winning actor?

R: “Even though I started acting because of my passion for bringing all of these different characters to life, I am incredibly honored to receive awards for my hard work and I can’t wait for new acting opportunities on the horizon.”

Is there anything you want to say to your rising fanbase?

R: “What I want to say to my fans is believe in yourself and never give up on your dreams! And remember, whatever you choose to do in life, do it because you love it!”

Where can we follow your amazing journey?

R: “You can follow my journey on Instagram @raphaelalejandro22 and on Twitter @RaphaelAlejandro.”

Catch Raphael now on Season 2 of ‘Acapulco, only on Apple TV+!

Photo Credit: Vince Truspin

Je’Kayla Crawford– Founder and Director– Je’Kayla has been a journalist for years and decided to start a publication of her own, New Scene. When not helping her team and working on the monthly issues, you can find her watching a movie on Netflix or baking using a viral Tasty recipe.