The name Manu Ríos will ring a bell to anyone in the fashion scene. Boasting over 11 million followers on Instagram, the actor is known for his playful, gender-fluid style. At the Met Gala last year, he garnered plenty of attention by rocking a sheer black Moschino suit on the red carpet, showing the world that menswear can be fun as long as you dare to experiment. In fact, Ríos began his career as a model. He is also a passionate musician: on top of playing the piano and the guitar, he owns a Youtube Channel, has released his own musical albums, and even takes to social media with song covers from time to time.

Simply put, he is a multihyphenate, just like many rising stars of our day. When asked about how he transitions between his identities, he responds, [My identities] have many things in common while being so different at the same time. That difference actually makes it easy for me to move from one to another — because the learning I get from one I can put into the other.” He continues, “Currently, in my career, I am much more focused on acting, but that doesn’t mean that music is not important to me. From a very young age, I began to sing in musicals and theatre, so both acting and music have gone hand in hand throughout my life.”

Ríos is also a member of Parchís, a musical band with whom he toured and released albums. “Before focusing on acting, I was working a lot on my music project, I was composing a lot, and I travelled to Los Angeles with other composers and producers. When I got Elite, I decided to really focus on that. I like to focus my energy because I think that if I try to do many different things at the same time, I am not able to give it my all.”

Nevertheless, music holds a special place in his heart. “My favourite part about singing is that it allows me to let myself loose and really feel present in the moment. It’s something therapeutic along with composing, as it allows me to write everything that I need to let out. It’s also really cool to play with sounds, to find your sound, to convey your message through it.” Communication and connection also lie at the centre of Ríos’ love for theatre. “When I was doing theatre, I loved seeing the reaction of the audience as everything was happening live. When you see the audience enjoying themselves, it feels like you are giving them energy through your work, and this energy is reciprocated, which I love.” 

Netflix’s Spanish thriller series Elite has resonated with young people across the globe by depicting the complexities of love and friendship among teens. While Ríos only joined the series in its fourth season as a transfer student Patrick Blanco, his character quickly left a deep impression on his audience. “My life turned upside down since I did the show. I was aware of the show’s international impact, but until it really happens, you don’t realize ​​how much your life can actually change. It’s been a learning experience from the start, and the most rewarding thing to me is the wonderful people I’ve met from whom I’ve learnt a lot from both as an actor and as a person.”

Ríos’ favourite part about acting is stepping into another person’s shoes. “It’s like a game. You can have a good time, but you can also be in pain. In the end, it is very rewarding when you end up shooting a scene where you had a lot of connection with the character,” he explains. “I also enjoy researching the character’s background. It’s interesting because you’re bringing a person to life with their past and all the things that moulded them into the character you’re playing in that moment.”

It’s no secret that luck and fate play a huge part in one’s journey to stardom. However, success is impossible without hard work. Having studied classical ballet, Ríos understands the importance of discipline. “I’ve been doing this since I was 8 or 9 years old. Starting at such a young age gives you a sense of responsibility, which made me a disciplined person. In every project, you learn new things, and you share a stage and experiences with new people. From there, you get the skills that prepare you for the job. Being surrounded by professional adults since being a kid kept my feet on the ground and helped me understand what it takes to succeed.” 

He admits that transitioning from theatre to cinema was a big jump. “The body language in theatre is more exaggerated to help the audience immerse themselves in your performance even from afar. Through a screen, however, everything has to be more subtle and balanced, as the audience can see your every move. Your performance needs to feel real, so you can’t overact.” 

In recent years, Ríos has cemented his status as a fashion darling. As someone who has always adored fashion, his experience at fashion week felt surreal. “Being invited to fashion shows of brands that I have been following ever since I can remember; getting to see the collections in person; meeting the designers and their team was amazing,” he says. “Fashion is very important to me, it is one of my favourite ways of self-expression, to reflect who I am and how I feel.”In his day-to-day looks, the actor values comfort and convenience. “I can’t live without my black boots, I love them. They add a lot of power to a relaxed look,” he shares his style staples. “I love accessorising, usually by throwing on a cap or a bag. Lastly, a good pair of trousers is also key to my everyday wardrobe. I tend to be quite picky with the fit as I don’t like them being tight.”