Jimmy Fallon, Eugenio Derbez
Jimmy Fallon and Eugenio Derbez backstage on The Late Night With Jimmy Fallon. Facebook

Eugenio Derbez is a name that might not be very recognized for Americans, but this actor, producer and director is already a big star in Latin America. He's also a versatile comedian, playing different characters whose expressions have become everyday sayings in Mexico. Although his face might not be as well-known in the U.S. as other Latino actors, he has landed a few roles in American movies and TV shows. He had a small appearance alongside Adam Sandler in "Jack and Jill" and another in the one-season TV sitcom "Rob."

Trying to get out of the typical comedian role, Derbez started writing a script for him, with a character that has a lot of depths and transitions different emotions. What he wasn't expecting was his personal project to become the highest grossing Spanish-language film to open in North America, "Instructions Not Included," which transitions seamlessly from Spanish to English, although the main language is Spanish.

"I was tired of being the funny guy. I've playing the same character for more than 20 years," explains Derbez. "I wanted to show people that I'm an emotional guy, not someone who is always laughing and smiling. This is the movie I've wanted to make for years - a comedy with a lot of heart. Because if you have heart in your comedy instead of just a joke, you can leave people with something that will last forever. So I wrote the script for me, just as an actor and it really evolved to become something that became much bigger."

The film tells the story of Valentin, a playboy in the resort city of Acapulco who one day is paid a surprise visit by one of his conquests and her baby daughter, who is his. The mother runs away, forcing the single heartthrob into a parent role. Valentin moves with his daughter to Los Angeles after learning the mother might live there. Even when they fail to find her, they stay in the U.S., where blonde, blue-eyed Maggie grows up speaking an accent-less English in school and flawless Spanish at home. One day, the mother shows up to claim her daughter.

"Instructions Not Included" opened with $10 million and placed No. 5 at the box office. The film, which debuted at 347 theaters, averaged an extraordinary $22,594 per screen, compared to other high-budgeted Hollywood movies.

Given the unprecedented success, Eugenio is now one of the most coveted figures in the show business. Everyone wants to know his secret, his future plans, and how he managed to position a movie that started as something personal, into a box-office success. Jimmy Fallon was the first major Late Night TV Show to score an interview with the actor, producer and director, and the result of having two funny men in one show are hilarious.

Fallon began the interview by learning how to pronounce Eugenio's name, which might be a bit of a tongue-twister for native English speakers. After several unsuccessful attempts, Eugenio finally revealed a better option. "It's an issue for Americans to pronounce my name," said the Mexican comedian. "So I think I'm gonna change my name. "U-Genius The Best," that's my American name. Instead of Eugenio Derbez, U-Genius The Best!"

They later went on to talk about "Instructions Not Included," and Eugenio expressed his surprise after the huge success the movie has had in the United States. "I never expected this success. The people are waiting in line for hours to go inside the theaters, they're driving three and four hours to get in the theater. It's crazy!"

He continued to explain what the movie was about, and his comedian side came afloat. After saying it was a beautiful story between a dad and his daughter, he stopped and explained that it wasn't a John and Mackenzie Phillips kind of story. After that was clear, Jimmy Fallon proceeded to ask him about his character, who happens to be a stunt man, to which Eugenio replied that Mexicans are the best stunt men ever. "We're always facing danger," he said. "Any Mexican driving through Arizona ... We're good stunt men, yeah."

The two also showed a clip from the movie, and later talked about Eugenio's pint-sized costar and how she will be the next Dakota Fanning, but since she's Mexican, they call her "South Dakota."

Don't miss the clip from Late Night With Jimmy Fallon below!

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