Néstor Carbonell Consulted Japanese Historians in Preparation for Shogun
Néstor Carbonell underwent a physical transformation for the FX limited series Shogun, which received 25 Emmy nominations, including one for Carbonell as a guest actor. He grew facial hair, gained weight, learned how to bow, and even acquired rowing skills for his role.
Carbonell plays the character Rodrigues, a Spanish pilot assigned to deliver Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis) to Lord Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada).
Comparing Rodrigues to Iago from Othello, Carbonell describes him as a Machiavellian character skilled at manipulating others like pieces in a chess game.
Carbonell discusses the preparation that led to his Emmy nomination for the show.
Congratulations on your first Emmy nomination. What does this recognition mean to you for this show in particular?
He expresses gratitude for the opportunity to embody such a complex character and highlights the extensive preparation involved, including physical changes, accent training, and learning Japanese.
How did you become attached to the project?
Carbonell recounts how he was surprised by the offer to join the project while directing another show in New York. He reflects on his initial impressions of the miniseries and his excitement to be part of the new adaptation.
The show has been praised for its authenticity. What was your research process like?
Carbonell discusses the extensive research conducted with experts in various fields to portray the Japanese culture and customs accurately. He emphasizes the importance of understanding and then breaking the rules for his character.
And you gained 25 pounds?
He confirms the weight gain for the role and shares a humorous anecdote about the reaction to his physical transformation.
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