INSTYLE Magazine: Manny Jacinto on FREAKIER FRIDAY, Career Firsts, and Childhood Crushes

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Manny Jacinto is stepping into leading man territory. For INSTYLE’s ‘This Guy’ series, the actor opens up about his evolution from scene-stealing comic relief in THE GOOD PLACE to the romantic heart of FREAKIER FRIDAY, Disney’s new sequel to the beloved 2003 film. Jacinto reflects on the women who have championed his career such as Nicole Kidman who he worked with on NINE PERFECT STRANGERS, the thrill of working with childhood idols like Lindsay Lohan and his bro-mance with Chad Michael Murray, and the joy of playing a character who leads with heart. With future projects on the horizon and a passion for telling Filipino stories, Jacinto feels he’s just getting started.

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On playing the love interest of Lindsay Lohan: “It’s wild that I get to do this. I never would have thought I’d play the love interest to Lindsay Lohan; I watched Lindsay Lohan as a kid,” he says with genuine awe. “It’s wild what you can do if you put your mind to it.”

On co-starring with childhood crush Chad Michael Murray and their bond over fitness: “I think I even had a crush on Chad Michael Murray when I was younger.”

Off-screen, the two bonded over their shared love of fitness. “He had some amino acid protein powder…I was like, This is my guy…We’re gonna be best friends.”

“There’s nothing like knowing that you might be shirtless on-screen to motivate you to hit the gym.”

On his profound impact of working with women like Nicole Kidman, Freakier Friday director Nisha Ganatra, and more: “Women have been a huge champion for me. It’s always been women who have been able to look past what I have done and see the potential of what I can do,” he says, name-checking Ganatra, Kidman, and The Acolyte’s Leslye Headland. “Thank God I get to do this during this day and age when there are so many women at the top … who see my potential and are not afraid to explore that.”

On playing both the comic relief and the leading man: “I’m not gonna lie; I love dunking the ball,” Jacinto says. “Getting the ball and getting to shoot and make people laugh … but another reason why this character appealed to me was just [to show that] I can be the heart of this story. I can be the straight man.”

On acknowledging his fake British accent in the film: “I apologize to all of the U.K. readers.”

[Photo Credit: Ryan Pfluger/InStyle Magazine]

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