‘Kiss of the Spider Woman’ star Tonatiuh reconnects with USC

As a USC student, Tonatiuh always knew it was a big deal when alumni returned to campus to screen their films. Last month, the actor got to experience that moment from the flip side.

When the USC School of Dramatic Arts and USC School of Cinematic Arts students packed into a special advance screening of the new film, Kiss of the Spider Woman, it felt like a full-circle moment for the performer, known professionally as Tonatiuh.

“People shared how the film impacted them,” Tonatiuh says. “And my heart opened because I got to share this movie with them.”

A dark horse

Tonatiuh stars in the new musical drama with actors Jennifer Lopez and Diego Luna. The movie, directed by Bill Condon (Dreamgirls), opened in theaters nationwide on Oct. 10.

In the film, political prisoner Valentín Arregui (Luna) shares a cell in Argentina with Luis Molina (Tonatiuh), a gay and genderqueer window dresser convicted of public indecency.

A deep bond and love gradually form between the two as Molina offers escapism by recounting the detailed plot of a Hollywood musical starring his beloved silver screen diva, Ingrid Luna (Lopez).

While Lopez and Luna were the first choices for their roles, Condon says Tonatiuh was cast from more than 900 hopefuls.

“The entire range of emotions that fill this extraordinary character — the wit, the camp, the pain, the kindness — all of that is something Tonatiuh is in touch with,” Condon says. “Often an actor has one or two things that define what they do. I needed somebody who could do everything, and Tonatiuh was that person.”

While Tonatiuh, who identifies as nonbinary and uses they/them pronouns, considered themself a “dark horse” when auditioning for the role, they were also fiercely determined to land it.

“I feel like I’ve always had this kind of underdog mentality,” the performer says. “I was really ‘othered’ a lot and made to feel small — so if no one believes I can do something, just give me the chance.”

Connecting with fellow Trojans

Although they attended the Sept. 17 screening at the Ray Stark Family Theatre on USC’s University Park Campus remotely, Tonatiuh felt a deep connection with the students in the audience, saying, “There is no difference between me being up there on that screen and you being in that seat. I am you.”

It was just one of several recent moments Tonatiuh has reconnected with USC since they graduated in 2014 — including a virtual panel on movie musicals last spring with fellow Trojan Will Ferrell.

“Tonatiuh’s willingness to share insights with current students — even as this career milestone unfolds — reflects the collaborative spirit and generosity of the Trojan Family,” School of Dramatic Arts Dean Emily Roxworthy says. “We’re thrilled to celebrate with Tonatiuh.”

Learning and growing at USC

Tonatiuh’s years as a Trojan were a time of personal and professional growth, where they thrived in acting, writing, directing and cinematography classes and built lasting relationships.

At USC, Tonatiuh says, “I found like-minded people and started thinking about the critical nature of film and the impact that it has on society and culture.”

One of the most impactful and lasting friendships Tonatiuh developed came through an “Introduction to Cinema” class, where they met teaching assistant Jed Samer, now an associate professor of film and media studies at Arizona State University.

“We hit it off right away,” says Samer, a trans and queer media studies scholar and filmmaker. “Tonatiuh stood out in the discussions — smart and sharp with an energy that was a young TA’s dream.”

Samer cast Tonatiuh in their 2012 short film, Love Online, about a gay teenager who makes a dance video for his online crush.

“I wrote the part for Tonatiuh,” Samer says. “I knew they would make it fun. They took to the choreography like a fish to water. It shows off Tonatiuh at that time. They already were a glowing orb of a personality.”

Making a name

Now 32, Tonatiuh has worked their way up to bigger roles in television and movies over the past decade. Tonatiuh credits former USC professor Angus Fletcher with sparking a key break. “He took us to see a bunch of local shows at the Echo Theater Company,” Tonatiuh says. “I became a member of those companies and ended up auditioning for their shows.”

It was at one of those performances where Tanya Saracho, creator of the Starz series Vida, took notice of Tonatiuh. She cast them in a recurring role on the series, which ran for three seasons.

“It began as one scene,” Tonatiuh says. “But I had the same feeling then that I had with Kiss of the Spider Woman: If you’re going to let me into the ring, I’m going to knock it out. I just want the opportunity.”

After doing guest spots on such popular shows as Jane the Virgin and Chicago Med, Tonatiuh was a series regular on the ABC drama Promised Land in 2022. Last year, they had a supporting role in the Netflix action-thriller Carry-On.

Tonatiuh’s Selena moment

Written and directed by Condon, the new Kiss of the Spider Woman film is based on the stage musical by Terrence McNally, John Kander and Fred Ebb. It is the second film based on Argentine author Manuel Puig’s 1976 novel.

Tonatiuh explains that it was essentially shot as two films, starting with a classic 1950s-style musical featuring Lopez, Tonatiuh and Luna in various glossy musical numbers, then another with gritty prison scenes shot later.

While chatting during a short break in filming, Lopez turned to Tonatiuh and said, “I can see how hard you’re working.” She paused and added, “I think this is going to be your Selena moment,” referring to the 1997 musical drama that launched Lopez as a movie star.

“I was not expecting that,” Tonatiuh says. “I was overcome with so much gratitude.”

But Tonatiuh barely had time to process Lopez’s extraordinary compliment before they had to jump back into character, shooting a scene with more than 40 dancers.

“After they called cut, I just burst into tears,” Tonatiuh says. “[Lopez] goes, ‘Go fix your face, we’re about to shoot again.’ I was like, OK, but stop saying nice things to me.”

Leaning into their superpower

Tonatiuh gradually lost more than 40 pounds during filming to reflect the character’s plight and transformation.

“I got to masculinize my face [for musical numbers], then feminize my face, and got to play the spectrum,” Tonatiuh says. “I got to be the hero, the heroine, the love interest, the villain and the henchman.”

Tonatiuh, who used many personal qualities to portray Molina, says they don’t plan to shy away from their queerness to achieve mainstream stardom.

“I don’t have shame in who I am,” Tonatiuh says. “There’s this temptation in capitalism and in an American market to turn to homogeneity to allow your brand to be palatable for wider audiences. But I know who I am isn’t a liability. It’s my superpower.”