“With Love” Star Mark Indelicato dishes on Love, His Career + more!
Fans of Amazon Primes hit series “With Love” are obsessed with Jorge Diaz aka Mark Indelicato. We Celebrate Pride month with Mark and discuss Season 2 of “With Love“, Playing Justin on the Hit series “Ugly Betty” and what’s next for the seasoned actor. Read his full Interview below.
Featured Interview:
TELL US MORE ABOUT YOUR CHARACTER JORGE ON AMAZONS “WITH LOVE”
In short, Jorge Diaz is a high-strung guy with a heart of gold and business mind. We meet him in Season 1 on Christmas Eve as he introduces his boyfriend Henry to his family for the first time. We also establish his best friendship with his sister Lily and his close bond with the entire Diaz family. However in Season 2, while his relationship with Henry evolves for the better, his relationship with Lily starts to deteriorate. We also get to explore his relationship and dynamic with his cousin Sol, which is incredibly heartwarming.
YOUR DYNAMIC WITH LILY ON WITH LOVE IS SUCH A TOXIC SIBLING RIVALRY WHERE DOES THAT STEM FROM WITH THE CHARACTER JORGE?
I think Jorge and Lily’s discord in Season 2 stems from both feeling like they are taking care of the other and not getting the credit they deserve. Their feelings of resentment toward each other boil over as the season progresses, and the more you love a person the deeper you feel said emotions.
YOU ARE SUCH A PIONEER IN PLAYING A QUEER ROLES HOW IMPORTANT IS THAT TO YOU WHEN YOU ARE CHOOSING ROLES?
I think it’s important to make sure that I–as a gay man myself–am representing my own community when choosing roles. The prevailing discourse about queer people playing queer roles, or at least being given the opportunity to audition for them, is not lost on me. It’s in that way that I feel so compelled to only play queer characters.
JUSTIN (UGLY BETTY) WAS A FAVORITE CHARACTER OF OURS ONE MANY OF US GREW UP WITH TRYING TO NAVIGATE QUEERNESS AS A KID, HOW DID THAT ROLE COME ABOUT AND WHAT DID IT TEACH YOU?
The story about how I got the role is not very interesting. I basically auditioned for it with 1,000 other boys and was chosen! I learned so much about myself from playing Justin and similarly to many fans of the show, Justin’s coming out story also gave me the strength to come out myself. Justin Suarez is still one of my heroes.
HOW IMPORTANT IS FASHION TO YOU NOW AND WHAT DESIGNER ARE YOU OBSESSED WITH?
Fashion has been important to me since we started Ugly Betty, namely because I got to work with Patricia Field in formative years in my life. One’s personal style is the most fun way to express oneself so I think everyone should get into it! I’m obsessed with what Bottega Veneta and Loewe are doing right now. The love for my Loewe bucket bag is only second to my Chanel 2.55 flap bag and that’s saying a lot.
FAVORITE FASHION MOMENT FROM UGLY BETTY?
The vintage Mugler suits Wilhelmina wore in later seasons were incredible, but honestly Vanessa Williams could wear a trash bag and look iconic.
WITH LOVE WE SEE YOUR STYLE CHANGE SO MUCH FROM THE SNAKE PRINT BLAZER OR XMAS TO THE GORGEOUS WEDDING LOOK WHAT STYLE MOMENT DID YOU LOVE AND WHICH DID YOU HATE?
Worked closely with our costume designer Bramli on creating these looks. For Season 2 we wanted to make Jorge a bit more refined without losing his quintessential flair. Since he is basically running the family business, we felt that his clothes should reflect that. The wedding look was extremely special because it was all custom! Bramli and I spent the better half of the season conceptualizing it and bringing it to life. I don’t hate any of the looks because I helped create all of them, but my favorite would have to be the vintage Lanvin suit I wore to the engagement party in episode 2.
WITH LOVE NAVIGATES JORGE LOVE FOR FAMILY AND FOR YOUR PARTNER HENRY , IN REAL LIFE HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO YOU THAT YOUR FAMILY ACCEPTS YOUR PARTNER?
Love, whether romantic or platonic, starts and ends with mutual respect
WHAT DOES LOVE MEAN TO YOU?
Love, whether romantic or platonic, starts and ends with mutual respect
WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN A PARTNER?
A good sense of humor about themselves, honesty, and spontaneity. (I’m single by the way.)
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE COLOGNE?
Tom Ford Costa Azzurra
WHAT WAS ONE DATE YOU HAVE BEEN ON YOU WOULD LOVE TO FORGET?
A date I went on recently. I’m afraid he might read this, so I won’t go into too much detail, but let’s just say we sat down at the table, ordered our food and immediately realized we were not interested in each other in any capacity. The date ended with a handshake. Learn from me: never, EVER do dinner on a first date, because you might get trapped with a person you can’t wait to get away from.
TELL US SOMETHING PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISED TO KNOW ABOUT YOU?
That I got my degree in international relations and foreign policy and had ambitions to work for the UN. I know, crazy right?
HOW IS IT WORKING WITH JEAN SMART?
Working with Jean is an absolute pleasure. I’ve had the great fortune of working with some incredible actors throughout my career and Jean is no exception. Most of my scenes in Hacks are with Jean, so I get the gift of watching her work. She is the epitome of a class act and a true inspiration.
WHAT IS ONE THING YOU WISH YOU COULD TELL YOUR 15 YEAR OLD SELF NOW?
That it has to get worse before it gets better, and to never underestimate your talent.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR CHARACTER IN HACKS NOW BACK FOR SEASON 2
Damien is back for season 3 of Hacks, and some interesting changes happen for him in his job! I can’t give too much away as we are still amid shooting the season (which has been put on hold in solidarity with ongoing writer’s strike), but I can say that I was very pleased to get to show a different side to Damien.
WHAT IS NEXT FOR YOU IN 2023?
I am standing in solidarity with our writers. I can’t do my job as an actor without an incredible script, and that simply cannot happen without great writers. I’m hoping that the studios will make the right decision and halt the use of AI and fairly compensate the people who have dedicated their lives to storytelling.
Would Damien be a good assistant to Wilhelmina SLATER?
Damien would be an incredible assistant to Wilhelmina as far as organization and logistics are concerned. However, I don’t think Wilhelmina would ever hire him based on his sheer lack of fashion sense.
Credits:
Galore Art Director: Perrin Johnson @Editsbyperry
Editor-in-Chief: Prince Chenoa @princechenoastudio
