Original-Cin Q&A: David Alvarez, West Side Story's 'Tough Guy' Bernardo, is a Nice Guy from Montreal
Tonight, tonight - you can finally see Steven Spielberg’s much anticipated take on the Tony and Oscar winning musical West Side Story.
The film explores forbidden love and the rivalry between the Jets and the Sharks, two ‘50s New York teen street gangs of different ethnic backgrounds.
Read our review of West Side Story
It stars Ansel Elgort as Tony and newcomers Rachel Ziegler and Ariana Dabose as the love-struck Maria and her best friend Anita. And keep your eyes peeled for Montreal-born David Alvarez, who is explosive as Maria’s brother Bernardo.
Our Bonnie Laufer spoke with Alvarez about the pressures of stepping it up for this film and filling the shoes of Oscar winner George Chakiris.
Bernardo (David Alvarez) and The Sharks prepare to rumble in West Side Story.
ORIGINAL-CIN: David, I can't even imagine what it was like to get that call from Steven Spielberg asking you to star in his movie and play Bernardo.
DAVID ALVAREZ: Honestly it came out of nowhere. It was so unexpected. I don't think I had time to process what was actually going on and I think I'm still processing it right now. But I do know that I was just so grateful.
It was so overwhelming, there were so many emotions of thankfulness and just excitement to be able to work on this really beautiful piece, this work of art that Steven Spielberg brought to us.
O-C: Bernardo is one of my favorite characters from the original and wow, do you ever step it up. It’s really next level.
ALVAREZ: Yeah, it is next level. I was intimidated at first because I was going to be working with some of the most incredible, legendary artists in the world.
Although I was intimidated, I came onto the set and these incredible artists like Steven Spielberg, Rita Moreno, Justin Peck and Tony Kushner just made you feel so confident and supportive. They made us all feel so comfortable.
The big thing about them was they wanted us to always believe in ourselves. Always trust yourself. That was always their advice because in the end, there's only so much they can do for you. You have to be the one to believe in yourself and to bring what you know, your vision to the table.
ORIGINAL-CIN: Tell me about your chemistry with the fabulous Ariana Dubose who plays Anita, the role the great Rita Moreno made famous. I just love her.
PROUDLY SUPPORTS ORIGINAL-CIN
ALVAREZ: I love her too. (Laughs). Everyone loves her.
It was so incredible. We had this beautiful chemistry from the very first day. We met and I remember after we finished the callbacks, we didn't even know we had the roles.
But I went to see her just to thank her and I remember we both looked at each other and we both said, “We're gonna see each other again.”
It was definitely something very special that we felt for each other and we had this beautiful friendship that really transcends beyond two people working together.
I'm so happy that I got to work with her. I'm so happy that I got to share the screen with her. I'm so happy I got to partner with her and make her look so good. She's the best dancer I have ever seen in my life. She's so powerful and giving and she just brought the best out of me. It was really beautiful.
ORIGINAL-CIN: Was there a particular scene that you were really looking forward to creating?
ALVAREZ: There were so many! Every single scene that I was a part of was just so exciting to think, what can I do with this?
If I have to name at least two… I love the kitchen scene. It's a breakfast scene where you can see the family dynamic of Bernardo, Anita and Maria and how they love each other, and how they're really trying to understand their different perspectives on life and their different ideologies. It was a really beautiful scene and they're both such giving actresses that they made it so easy for me.
The other scene that I could not wait to do was the rumble scene, between Riff and Bernardo and Tony. I was so excited and looking forward to that because I like playing the villain (laughs). You can't be like that in life. But when you're acting, when you're creating a character, you're not being judged, you can play and you're allowed to be. So it was really good.
ORIGINAL-CIN: Now. I'm dying to know, have you heard from George Chakiris, who, of course, played Bernardo in the original film and won an Oscar for the role?
ALVAREZ: I haven't yet, but I will say that I was intimidated at first because he's when I first saw the original movie, the 1961 West Side Story. And I thought he was just perfect as Bernardo.
I didn't know how I could match that or even come close to what he did. So I felt like I needed to do something completely unique and kind of bring my own life experience into this role and just try to honor him and bring it justice.
ORIGINAL-CIN: Did you get to meet Stephen Sondheim before he passed?
ALVAREZ: I did get to meet him. He's such an incredible artist. We got to sit down with him and really talk with him and he gave some of the most beautiful profound advice, which was all about doing what you're doing for the love of it and that's all that matters. He's an incredible legendary artist, a legendary person and no one will ever come close to him.