One of the most beloved characters from The Strain books and the TV series, Angel Guzman Hurtado, aka The Silver Angel, returns to the screen this season to put a smackdown on the strigoi. With the third season of The Strain kicking off this Sunday, I caught up with actor Joaquín Cosio for our latest Q&A feature to discuss what fans can expect to see from The Silver Angel this time around.
The Silver Angel is a beloved character from the books, and you have done a wonderful job bringing him to life onscreen. What appealed to you the most about playing this fan favorite character?
Joaquín Cosio: I love the duality of the character. The ambiguity of a guy that looks so rough on the exterior, but whose interior is noble and concerned with saving others. I love his path to rediscover his hero identity. He’s locked it up for years and with the help of Gus, he’s finally opening up and rediscovering his true nature once again, that of a true champion.
It’s wonderful to see The Silver Angel continue to bond with Gus this season. Do you think Angel is almost like a father figure to Gus at this point?
Joaquín Cosio: Not really. I think the dynamic is much more of a big brother, an older version of himself. They’re both warriors, fighters. When their paths cross, I think they see in each other an ally, a brother in arms, a fellow combatant that will stick with them through thick and thin. Gus is a younger, stronger version while Angel has much more experience and insight. They complement each other.
Angel is closer than anyone to Gus, and he sees how he struggles with what happened to his mother. What was it like filming those emotional and scary scenes in Gus’ apartment?
Joaquín Cosio: Exactly that, emotional and scary are the words. The scenes with his mother put their friendship to the test, and at the same time, the commitment they have to saving the city. It’s a perfectly crafted scene, all credit due to the writers. The complexity, the contradiction. I do have to say it was a privilege to see first-hand Miguel Gomez’s incredible acting skills when during moments of tremendous adversity, he was able to internalize so much emotion while at the same time doing it with powerful potency. It’s not an easy feat. Working with him pushed me to be a better actor. It was a huge pleasure and fun, and a treat to be able to work with someone who I can also now proudly call my friend.
With his wrestling and moviemaking background, The Silver Angel knows how to put the smackdown on the strigoi. Do you enjoy the physicality of the role? Can we expect Angel to get in more intense fights with the strigoi this season?
Joaquín Cosio: What makes the show so good and so well-received is that there’s a perfect balance of emotional and physical violence, and I thoroughly enjoy both. This season Angel experiences this action at a much more intense level, I loved filming this season precisely because of this. You’ll love it.
Last season we saw Gus and Angel team up with Mr. Quinlan, the human/vampire hybrid. Do you think Angel trusts Quinlan, or is he wary of The Master’s son?
Joaquín Cosio: I don’t think Angel trusts or distrusts Quinlan. He’s waiting, assessing, and staying very alert. That’s what a good hunter does, he doesn’t judge, he’s always alert and with his eyes open. Angel responds to what Quinlan does moment by moment, not so much to what he says.
What has it been like for you to be around all the creature effects on the set of The Strain? Do you have a favorite or funny moment from working on the show so far?
Joaquín Cosio: For an actor, the word “fun” covers so much of his/her work. It was a lot of fun to get to shoot guns on screen, and then seeing on the monitors, this duo that seems like such an odd pairing, me and Gus. This young, strong character, and then me, trying to keep up with my limp [laughs]. The sets, the locations, and these worlds that they’ve created have all been incredible. I had a great time working on this season.
Up to this point, I have to say that my favorite moment has been the first time Angel wears his mask, because of what the mask symbolizes. It was a very profound and important moment for me, a moment that I’ll always cherish, and wearing his silver knuckles with the crosses that symbolize his past. His glory days are gone because of that moment he got injured on the movie. Every episode, it’s impossible not to have fun on such an incredible show. A vampire apocalypse in New York, it doesn’t get any better than that.
What are you the most excited for fans to see with The Silver Angel this season on The Strain?
Joaquín Cosio: The growth of his path to find himself and his hero nature. He risks it all without hesitation, and he is such a noble character. I think fans will grow more fond of Angel this season. He is willing to defend New York and all its inhabitants with bravery, and this season really captures that. And of course, the growth of his relationship and bond with Gus.
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The Strain Season 3 premieres on Sunday, August 28th at 10:00pm EST on FX. In case you missed it, check out our previous interview coverage of The Strain Season 3:
Raised on a steady diet of R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps books and Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Derek has been fascinated with fear since he first saw ForeverWare being used on an episode of Eerie, Indiana.
When he’s not writing about horror as the Senior News Reporter for Daily Dead, Derek can be found daydreaming about the Santa Carla Boardwalk from The Lost Boys or reading Stephen King and Brian Keene novels.
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