Adam Irigoyen – Away

By starrymag | September 4, 2020

By: Kelly Kearney

 

 

 

Q) You play Isaac Rodriguez in the new Netflix show “Away.” Talk a little bit about this groundbreaking drama and how your character fits in. 

Adam: It centers around Hilary Swank who plays Emma Green and this group of astronauts who go on a mission to Mars. The show really follows that storyline, but also the relationships too. The relationships the astronauts have with each other, the relationships with the people they leave back home on this three-year mission. And like you said, I play Isaac Rodriguez. Isaac is somebody who Alexis (Talitha Eliana Bateman), who is Emma’s daughter, meets fairly quickly after her mom goes off to Mars. When you see him for the first time, and you meet him, you think he’s going to be this bad boy and have this kind of attitude about him. But as you get to know him you find out he’s really this sweet genuine guy who really wants nothing more than to help Alexis in this crazy time in her life. They have both had issues and while those are not identical, considering the Mars aspect, but similar enough were they relate very well together. It’s really beautiful to watch their relationship grow.

Q) When you read the script, what was it about Isaac that made you want to sign on to the role?

Adam: Well, I mean to be completely honest, when I got the offer to be a part of something as great as this, you know with Hilary Swank as your lead actress a Netflix show…I mean, Josh Charles. Just an amazing cast. Jason Katims behind it as a producer. It really was a no-brainer for me. [laughs] Honestly, the connection that Isaac has with Alexis and just the opportunity to watch how that relationship would grow over these ten episodes, that was something that really intrigued me and at least from a character perspective that’s kind of what drew me towards it.

Q) What were some of the challenges you faced bringing Isaac and this space exploration drama to life? 

Adam: So, there was a couple of challenging moments. I think one funny challenging moment was…There’s this scene where I was supposed to be outside chopping some wood and it’s meant to be a hot summer day, but in the television world we were filming in Vancouver and it was a tumultuous downpour of rain. So, that was a little challenging, but honestly, I was able to see the clip and it doesn’t even look like there’s a drop of rain! There was also the most challenging aspect of playing Isaac and that was really figuring out his prior relationships. The one thing as an actor that I tend to look at or pay attention to is that these characters all have lives that they have lived up until this point that we meet them. It’s just really about determining what that life was like and what was important to them, to Isaac, in that time of his life before we meet him. Just, you know, really kind of getting to know what and who he was and what was important to him. I think that shows in the series.

Q) How are you and Isaac alike and how do you differ?

Adam: Well, that’s definitely one of the first questions I tend to ask myself when I approach any character. It’s “how do we differ and how are we the same?” I think with Isaac, just the familial bond he has. He has such a strong relationship with his family, and that’s something that I’m proud to say that I have too. I have a great relationship with my parents and my siblings, and yeah, that’s something that we both have in common. One of the things that we differ on is I definitely don’t ride dirt bikes like him. I don’t ride like that, I wish I did, but I never got on that wavelength.

Q) Did you have a stunt double for those dirt bike scenes?

Adam: Yeah, for the most part, yes, but there was this one time where I was able to ride safely on a rig and that was really cool! Really cool popping some wheelies. That was honestly the most fun doing those dirt bike scenes on that rig.

Q) Speaking of Hilary Swank, her character is loosely based on American astronaut Mark Kelly and the sacrifices he and other astronauts make for science and exploration. Would you say personal sacrifice and family are the themes to this show more than an adventure into space? 

Adam: I would say yes, absolutely. I touched on this a little before but the show is really great in that, like you said, there’s a lot of really cool space stuff going on and a lot of adventure and sci-fi; really stuff that keeps you on the edge of your seat and that’s all great and it’s well done and no one is discrediting any of that. But I think what really pushes this series forward, episode by episode, really is that sense of family and those relationships. Like I said, the relationships that the astronauts have with each other and their relationships with those that they leave behind, mine and Alexis’ relationship…This project was something that I dreamt about for years, being a part of something of this caliber that really at its core is an emotional character driven piece. It’s just a dream come true for me and I think, like you said, everything about this series is great. But what really drives it home are the relationships.

Q) Without spoiling anything, what was your favorite Isaac scene or any scene from the show that you know is going to blow the fans away?

Adam: I think for me, one of the things that stand out and I’m pretty sure it’s in the fifth episode where Isaac invites Alexis out past curfew. It’s really the first time that the audience kind of starts to find out who Isaac is and really starts to question maybe his intentions and decide finally whether or not they’re going to like him or not. I won’t give anything away, but that for me was such a special episode because he kind of brings Alexis into his world and I think that’s really…It’s not really the genesis of their relationship, but it’s definitely a turning point for them.

Q) Like you’ve mentioned, Isaac befriends Alexis Logan, the daughter of astronaut Emma Green. As a scene partner, did the two of you rehearse together off- screen to bring this friendship to life?

Adam: With Talitha? Yes, she and I had a really great relationship off screen. The good thing was we were able to talk to each other and touch base on where we were as far as episode by episode and just making sure we were on the same page on what was going on in the scenes. We had a lot of offscreen discussions in that vein. I was super grateful. Talitha is super talented and, honestly, a treat to work with. It was great because both of us have a real love for the craft of acting and we connected a lot on that level and I think that really translates when you see us together on screen.

Q) What do you think Isaac brings to the story that you hope attracts fans to this show?

Adam: I think, hmmm…That’s a good question actually. I think what Isaac brings to this story is this sense of hope, because really, throughout the series he helps Alexis cope with her outstanding circumstances. He really just kind of, for the most part, gives her this sense of hope like, “Hey, everything is gonna be OK,” and for me as an actor, this is the most character driven series I’ve ever been a part of. So, if people like it then honestly, it would mean the world to me.

Q) Hilary Swank was quoted as saying she “wanted to be an astronaut before I wanted to be an actor” and I feel like that’s a dream a lot of young people have growing up. Was acting always what you wanted to do, or like Hillary, did you dream of galaxies far away?

Adam: Yeah, listen, to be completely honest, I’m twenty-two years old, no, actually I’m twenty-three! I just turned twenty-three…

Q) Well, happy birthday!

Adam: [laughs] Thanks. Thank you. It’s new for me. But, anyway, I’m still dreaming about going to space. Honestly, I don’t think there’s anything I’ve wanted more in life than to be a working actor. Ever since I was literally eight years old, I was hounding my parents about wanting to pursue this and, thankfully, I was blessed with amazing parents who were able to support me and take a chance on my dream. Now I’m twenty-three years old and still doing what I love and talking to you about my Netflix show that’s coming out September 4^th.

Q) Like so many people today, you are a huge Marvel comic fan. If you had your choice of dream projects and co-stars, what would it be and with whom?

Adam: To be involved with anything Marvel would be a dream! I mean, if you could just copy and paste me into any Avengers franchise, I’d be more than happy to be there.

Q) You’re not just an actor, you’re a singer and a dancer too. A triple threat! You even did a Disney Concert series which highlighted not only your musical talent but your love of Latin music. Can the fans expect more music from you in the future? Maybe more roles combining all of your talents into one project?

Adam: Yes! That’s a dream, honestly. A great role like that, but mostly I had made the choice to put the music on hold because it was really a matter of not wanting to spread myself too thin and make sure whatever I was doing, whether it music or acting, I gave it a hundred percent. I didn’t or I wasn’t doing it, half-heartedly. So, when I made that decision, the acting was what I decided on. But that’s not to say that music is completely out of the picture. In fact, I would love to resume that when the time is right.

Q) Many fans remember you from Disney Channel shows like “Wizards of Waverly Place” and your breakout role Deuce Martinez in “Shake It Up!’ What or who do you miss most from working on those shows?

Adam: When I was doing that I was towards the end of my middle school and high school years. So, for me, it was like I was really growing up in that. What I miss most about those shows is really that school environment. For people who don’t know, when you’re young and on set you have to do school. You can only work a certain number of hours. So, it really does feel like you’re going to school every day, but obviously you’re hanging out with the same people and you’re working together so there’s this really tight bond created and I think that’s what I miss the most. Just how close we all were. I think a lot of people are really surprised when I let them know what set life is like when you’re young and it is really fascinating. There are a lot of really great people that I got to work with that we’re making sure that my schooling was A-1 and wasn’t lost by the wayside.

Q) What’s next for you Adam? Besides press for Away are you working on any other projects your fans can look out for?

Adam: Before this whole pandemic and even before “Away,” I filmed an independent movie called Centurion and it was originally supposed to be coming out around this time, but due to COVID post-production has been kind of pushed back. So, that should be coming out relatively quickly and hopefully people will check that out because I think it was really a fun movie to do and will be a fun movie to watch.

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who are fans and supporters of you and the work you do?

Adam: Yeah, no, I honestly, I can’t say thank you enough because I been doing this for quite a long time and I’m not ignorant to the fact that my success would be nowhere without my fans, or without people to view my projects. I can’t thank them enough! I try to be as gracious as I can with my time if anybody comes up to me because I really do appreciate them, and at the end of the day, my only goal is to give them stories that entertain them. Stories that are thought provoking that they can really enjoy.