Santiago Cabrera on 'The Cleaning Lady' Finale: "Outside, I Was Vicentico—Inside, Rage Against the Machine" - INTERVIEW

Chilean actor Santiago Cabrera is no stranger to duality. Trained in classical theater and fluent in global storytelling, this Latino artist brings the grace of a diplomat and the raw energy of a thrash metal frontman to every role. In the final season of FOX and Hulu's crime drama The Cleaning Lady, Cabrera channels that very tension into Jorge Sánchez, a conflicted character navigating crime, loyalty, and redemption.

In a candid Latin Times and ENSTARZ via Zoom just before the series finale aired, Cabrera sat in a sunlit room, a guitar resting behind him, and offered an unforgettable musical image for his performance:

"On the outside, Los Caminos de la vida—Vicentico's version. Inside? Rage Against the Machine."

"It's Like Climbing With a Backpack Full of Stones": Santiago Cabrera on Being Latino in Hollywood

The conversation with Santiago Cabrera begins with a metaphor that has already gone viral among his followers—a poetic, piercing image of what it feels like to navigate Hollywood as a Latino. When asked to repeat it, he doesn't hesitate.

"Yes, that's how I feel," he says. "This industry is tough for anyone, but when you're Latino, it's like you have to climb the same mountain as everyone else—but with a backpack full of stones. Some heavier than others. They label you, pigeonhole you, and it's twice as hard to be seen as an individual, not just part of a culture. And don't even talk about breaking stereotypes."

It's a hard truth softened only by Cabrera's candor and grace. He acknowledges that the landscape has evolved—there are more roles, more creators, more space for Latinos to tell their own stories. But the weight, he says, is still there.

Back in 2004, when Cabrera first entered the industry, the path was far steeper and the map almost blank. Still, he carved out a remarkable career that spans continents and genres. On the big screen, he's appeared in films like Beetlejuice, Che, and The Life of Fishes—a Chilean gem that earned critical acclaim. On television, his credits read like a primer in prestige drama and cult franchises: Big Little Lies, Dexter, The Musketeers, Star Trek: Picard, and now The Cleaning Lady, where he closes the series as Jorge Sánchez, a role he infused with equal parts fury and restraint.

In The Cleaning Lady, his most recent project, Cabrera played Jorge Sánchez, a cartel lawyer who seems to have come straight from a golf club rather than a crime series.

Aware of the stereotypes that abound about Latinos, conf
"I asked myself: how do I do something different with a drug dealer? How do I give him a different feel? And I found something interesting: he wants to be accepted in those circles that look down on him. He sees that lawyers, politicians... also steal. They just do it with ties," he explains.

And how do you connect with that emotionally?

"With his love for his daughter. With his contradictions. Because it's not just ambition. It's pain, it's a need for validation, it's pent-up rage. That's where heavy metal comes in," he adds.

Secret playlist: from folklore to fury

We asked him if he actually used music to prepare.

"Of course! The trailer said "The Roads of Life ," but also some very strong, very metal stuff. I had to balance that friendly facade with what he's repressing. I come from a theater background, and for me, acting is physical. I like to work from the body, from the accent, from the energy. Music helps me connect all of that," he explained.

The legacy of Adán Canto and respect for emptiness

It's impossible not to touch on a sensitive topic: the death of Adán Canto, who played Arman Morales in the first seasons and whose return was planned for this fourth season.

"I found out like everyone else, online. It was a very difficult morning. The previous season was written with his return in mind. It was very important for me not to 'fill his shoes,' because he left a profound legacy. I preferred to build something completely new, from a different angle," he said.

Did you feel pressure? "Not pressure, but a lot of responsibility. That's why I didn't want my character to have a forced romance with Thony (the protagonist). It was about respect, sensitivity, and understanding that the series needed to reconnect," he indicated.

The emotional triangle and complicity with Kate del Castillo

One of the most intense bonds of the season was with Ramona, Jorge's sister, played by Kate del Castillo.

"Kate and I had an incredible time. From day one, we had a tremendous connection. We laughed a lot, and that allowed us to play with the darkest emotions. That love-hate between siblings who betray and save each other at the same time," he said.

And then there's Thony. What does that relationship represent?

The artist explains that "it's not a typical love triangle. It's more emotional, more quiet. There's respect, there's tension, there's mutual loyalty. And I like that it developed little by little. Organically."

The Chilean connection

You've been asked a thousand times if you know Pedro Pascal, another Chilean in Hollywood. This time will be no exception.

"Lately, everyone's been asking me that," he confesses. "And no, I don't know him... yet. But I know his family, we have friends in common. I'm sure we'll cross paths. And I would love to work with him. I really admire him."