‘X-Men: Days Of Future Past’: Mexican Adán Canto Opens Up About Playing Sunspot In High-Profile Production [EXCLUSIVE]

Tomorrow, May 23, is the premiere of “X-Men: Days Of Future Past.” Directed by Bryan Singer, this film is the seventh from the X-Men series. The A-List cast includes Hugh Jackman, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Halle Berry, Anna Paquin, Ellen Page and so many more big names. However, we’re actually super excited to see an actor that’s making his way through Hollywood while making Latinos proud. We’re talking about Mexican Adán Canto. He is a native of Acuña, a small border town of just over 100,000 located north of Coahuila, across from Del Rio, Texas.

This explains that he speaks English with complete fluency. He began his career at age 9 in the awarded film “Like Water For Chocolate.” As an adult, he developed a solid career in his country that included appearances in the series “Estado de Gracia” and in the films “Sin Memoria,” “Te Presento a Laura” and “Amar no es Querer,” followed by his American debut in “The Following.” Adán also has a role in “Mixology” on ABC. Now he will be playing Roberto da Costa in “X-Men: Days Of Future Past.” He is a Brazilian mutant who becomes Sunspot. His power consists in absorbing and channeling solar energy.

We spoke with Adán about landing this coveted role, and this is what he said to us:

How does it feel to be involved in such an important production like X-Men?

It’s very thrilling! When I got to the premiere and saw all those fans, it was incredible. I imagined something like that, but not to that scale. From the moment I arrived at the hotel here in New York, fans were everywhere. It’s been definitely way bigger than I expected.

What was the best part of this whole movie experience?

Above all I think it’s the acceptance and love from the fans. How they’re so connected to the story, their knowledge of all the characters… and it’s a great feeling to see that people are anxiously waiting to see what we’ve been working on for so long. It’s a compromise you have to them, to be true to the character and don’t let them down.

Did it take time to prepare for the role or were you somehow familiarized with X-Men?

I was already familiar with the story, but it still took time to get to know my character, Sunspot. To understand where he came from, his past, his story, etc. And not only in his world, but globally, in this particular story “Days of Future Past” that is divided in past, present and future.

How would you define Sunspot? Do you think you have some similitudes with him or not at all?

Basically, when something doesn’t go the way he wants, he lights up on fire. Fortunately, he’s capable of controlling his energy and focusing it and manipulating it. I do feel like there’s some resemblance between Sunspot and me, especially during my teenage years. I would totally get angry and in a way “light up on fire” and then I had to face the consequences of my actions. Luckily I learned to control my temper!

What was the hardest thing for you while shooting the movie?

The hardest thing was to keep my head free of prejudice or limitations. I couldn’t plan how things were going to go, especially the action scenes. It’s a great responsibility because you know it’s a huge production and you don’t want to mess it up.

Did you do all your stunts?

I did all my stunts but I did have a stunt double. However, I couldn’t hold myself because I was so excited and wanted to do everything myself.

What was your biggest lesson throughout this whole experience?

Sharing the screen with such important actors. People whom I’ve admired all my life. I think it was a great lesson to get to know them, study how they behave on set and off set. It was very humbling. Everyone was great and I feel very lucky to have learned from them.

Adán, you started at the age of nine in “Like Water For Chocolate.” Was acting something that you always wanted to do?

I think I’ve always been a victim of my imagination. I loved telling stories, I loved to put scenes together or prank people making them believe one thing and I would act it out until the end. But I never knew I would be an actor. It wasn’t an option at the time.

What did you want to do?

A direct influence in my life was music. Every time I woke up in the mornings my mom would always be singing in her bedroom or wherever she was. I love telling stories, but music is something that I carry inside of me and I never forget it. Maybe I’ll focus more on music someday, but if I do it, it will be on a personal level. I really doubt that I will do it with a record company behind me. Yes, I would like to share it will people but in a more direct way.