Nicholas Alexander Chavez: The Playlist That Fuels Him, The Actors That Inspire Him, and The Darkness He Embraces
“Growing up in Denver and Houston, I never imagined I’d be sitting here talking about surreal plays, iconic Hollywood icons, and personal dreams,ˮ Nicholas Alexander Chavez reflects. In a world where fame can come overnight, Nicholas remains fiercely committed to his craft and true to himself. With a career that’s rapidly ascending, he’s already making a mark with bold choices, captivating performances, and a passion for expressing himself through art, fashion, and storytelling. In this candid conversation, he shares insights into his journey, the challenges he embraces, and the creative fire driving him forward.
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FEATURE INTERVIEW:
Tell us about yourself and what you do.
Sure. I’m Nicholas Alexander Chavez, and I am an actor. Am I supposed to introduce myself more than that?
You worked with Ryan Murphy on “MONSTERS: THE LYLE AND ERIK MENENDEZ STORY” and “GROTESQUERIE”. What did you learn from those experiences? Did they challenge you as an actor?
Of course. “Monsters” and “GROTESQUERIE” were both incredible experiences. I got to work with some brilliant actors, which was a dream. Working with Javier Bardem, Chloë Sevigny, Nathan Lane, and Ari Greiner on “Monsters” was amazing. Then moving on to “GROTESQUERIE”, which was very different—a wild, fantasy-based story that Ryan Murphy came up with. I also worked with Niecy Nash and hung out with Travis Kelce during that project. Itʼs been a really cool journey.
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How is that interaction on set, going into scenes with people for the first time, especially considering you’ll be working closely with them every day for months in very intimate situations?
I think it largely depends on the production company. Ryan Murphy Productions is really good about giving ample time for introductions and preliminary conversations. Ryan himself was on set frequently, which was helpful. I remember the day we met Javier for the first time; Ryan was there, facilitating discussions about what we were trying to do and answering any questions. The communication was constant throughout the process. Thatʼs really important because everyone is a bit nervous, especially when you’re doing such intense scenes with top-tier talent for a big client like Netflix. Everyone wants to deliver their best.
Javier is an incredible actor. Iʼm fascinated by him!
Totally! I have an actor crush on him.
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Is there an actor you love to work with in the future? Maybe a couple of names?
Do you want me to rattle off names right now? Willem Dafoe and Julianne Moore, just because sheʼs top of mind for me right now. But honestly, I could spend three hours listing all the incredible people Iʼd love to work with. There are so many amazing actors out there. Weʼd be here all day.
Iʼll give you a little star for Willem Dafoe—love that answer. Isnʼt he so crazy? Have you seen his photo shoots?
Yeah, thatʼs what I love about him. I see in him a personal inspiration because he makes such big choices. One thing I often talk about with my close actor friends is that truth has no size. When you’re starting out in acting, some people tell you not to go too big because thatʼs considered bad acting, which is ridiculous. Real phenomenal acting can be very big or very small and contained. Willem Dafoe is a prime example of an actor who makes bold, compelling choices—choices that come from knowing exactly what his intention is. He doesnʼt need to be timid about anything he does, ever, because heʼs done so much work leading up to that moment. He trusts his impulses and goes for the big choice. Thatʼs really inspiring for me.
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I’ve heard youʼre often described as a total dreamboat. Beyond the looks, what do you want fans to see and feel when they watch your performances? Whatʼs the real vibe you want to give off?
Itʼs a tricky question, but more than anything, I want people to see me as an artist. I want them to see that I care. I want to be seen as someone who defines his life by his artistic craft—thatʼs what I do, what I care about, and what I put all my effort into becoming better at.
Thereʼs a saying I heard once—donʼt remember who said it—something about spending too much time with your enemy and falling in love with them because you get to know them deeply. Love isnʼt about superficial knowledge; itʼs about really understanding someone, and then you fall in love with them.
Maybe thatʼs what I aim for with my characters—finding humanity or complexity even in wicked roles. People have different ways of being wicked. Some of the worst people are also some of the most charismatic. Every character can be made to stand out stylistically, even villains. If itʼs a bad guy, I believe you can do it with style. Ultimately, I think itʼs about how you tell the story and who is listening. Iʼm getting ready to get on a plane to Massachusetts to perform in a play with Pamela Anderson. Itʼs a Tennessee Williams play called “Camino Rial”.
We’re going to do 11 performances in front of a few hundred people. Iʼm not doing this because I think everyone will come see it. Only a few hundred people will, but I love Tennessee Williams, and I love being on stage. I enjoy working with capable, invested actors to create something special. Thatʼs what drives me. If no one knew who I was and I just performed in a small black box theater for 20 people for the rest of my life, Iʼd be just as happy.
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And speaking of summer, what songs are on your workout playlist? Gotta keep those gains, right?
Okay, hold on. Iʼm going to my Spotify because I want to tell you whatʼs on there. Hold on. I have “Time to Pretendˮ by MGMT on here. “Enjoy the Silence” by Depeche Mode, “Shoes” by Kelly.
If you were about to go deaf—that is, youʼre going to lose your hearing, tu oído lo vas a perder—what would be the last song you hear before you die?
“Shoes”. That one, really—“Shoesˮ by Kelly. (laughs) No, thatʼs a joke. It might be the last song I ever listened to. Honestly, I think it would probably be “The Promiseˮ by When in Rome.
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Since youʼve got a vibe for ice cream—whatʼs your go-to flavor? I mean, you can tell a lot about a guy by his favorite ice cream. No shame, spill the tea.
My favorite is Ben & Jerryʼs. I really like Jimmy Fallonʼs The Tonight Dough. Thatʼs probably my number one. I also like, when I go to a random ice cream shop, getting coffee ice cream lately.
Fans love to get to know the real you—whatʼs one thing theyʼd be surprised to know about you?
Hmm, I donʼt know… what would surprise them? Oh, yeah—Iʼm a really, really good dancer. I dance what I feel. Yeah, Iʼd say Iʼve got that dad-at-wedding vibe—pointing up, pointing down, shoulders in tune—pretty in sync.
Whoʼs your favorite artist?
I might not be able to answer this perfectly, but I love Genesis—both Phil Collins and Peter Gabriel. And I really enjoy their solo careers as well.
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Whatʼs your favorite spot to eat when youʼre back in Houston? Home cook, fast food, that secret fave?
I was born in Houston, but I left there when I was about four or five years old. So, I donʼt really have a favorite restaurant. I do have a few memories from back then. I was raised in Denver. Whenever I go back to Denver, we usually go to this pho spot—Vietnamese pho—that weʼve been going to for a long time. Itʼs really, really good. They do this thing called “bet bowls,ˮ which is basically huge bowls of pho—they try to see how much they can give us, and if we can eat all of it. The bowls keep getting bigger and bigger every time I go. Iʼve been going since I was a kid, so now theyʼre just filling these enormous bowls.
Sometimes I think they just want to see how much I can eat. I remember one time they filled one so full I wondered how I was supposed to wrap my arms around it. Iʼd definitely eat the whole thing, especially once I add their sauces—so good. Itʼs just this crazy, delicious challenge.
How important is romance to you? What would you say is a perfect date night?
I think romance is really important because itʼs about being known. You know what I mean? Itʼs nice to be understood by the people in your life. Last night, I was on a date with my girlfriend, and I told her, “I canʼt get anything past you.ˮ She asked, “What do you mean?ˮ and I said, “You pick up on every micro expression I make.ˮ She knows me so well that I canʼt even subtly move my face without her knowing exactly what Iʼm thinking. Itʼs a little upsetting, honestly, because I feel like I canʼt just exist privately without her telepathically knowing whatʼs going on. But I love her—I love her to pieces. She knows me very well. And sorry, what was the other part of the question?
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Whatʼs your perfect date night?
Weʼre big foodies, so we love trying different restaurants. Weʼre huge Korean barbecue fans. Weʼre also movie lovers, and thereʼs this really cool thing called Rooftop Cinema Club, which I know they do in LA. They show classic movies outside on a big screen while you sit on a rooftop, eat popcorn, and drink hot cocoa. One of the best nights I had there was watching Steven Spielbergʼs THE FABLEMANS. It was just so nice sitting outside, enjoying the movie under the stars.
Fashion is a big part of your public image. How do you see style as a way to express yourself? Any influences or go-to designers?
Oh, definitely. I think style is a really cool way to express yourself—kind of like the art you wear on your body. Recently, Iʼve gotten close with Simon Porte Jacquemus, the founder of Jacquemus. He designs incredible clothes and is just a really interesting person I respect a lot. I read an interview he gave in Vanity Fair, and heʼs such a smart guy. The way heʼs been able to build his career in such a short amount of time is impressive.
I believe he started in retail sales, working at a Comme des Garçons store in France. I also started in sales before I became an actor, so I really relate to his journey. I have a deep appreciation for his art and who he is, and I respect how much dedication, passion, and soul go into his work.
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Art is an expression of ourselves, and design is definitely art.
Absolutely. Whenever you create something, youʼre revealing a part of yourself—thatʼs what makes it so powerful.
If you could have dinner with any Hollywood icon who is still alive, who would it be? And whatʼs one question youʼve always wanted to ask them?
Humphrey Bogart. Iʼd ask him, “How are you so charming?ˮ Because heʼs one of the most iconic, charming, and grounded actors of all time. Honestly, heʼs just astounding.
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TEAM CREDITS:
Editor-in-Chief: Prince Chenoa
Feature Editor: Taylor Winter Wilson (@taylorwinter)
Writer: Frida Garcia D’Adda (@fridadda_)
Cover Art Design: Carlos Graciano (@sadpapi666)
Photographer: Tyler Patrick Kenny (@tylerpatrickkenny)
Production Assistant: Jay Sivayavirojna (@jay.thehuman)
Producer: Adam Diaz (@iamsocialadam)
Wardrobe Stylist: Douglas VanLaningham (@dvlstylist)
Grooming: Michelle Harvey at Opus Beauty using Osea and Oribe (@groomedbymichelleharvey)
