American War on Drugs Has Been a Failure, Says Wagner Moura, Star of Narcos

01/19/2016 - 09h14

A week after being up for the Golden Globe for best actor, for his portrayal of Pablo Escobar in Narcos (though the award went to Mad Men's Jon Hamm), Wagner Moura returned to Los Angeles.

Moura talked about the forthcoming second series of Narcos - and it may well be the last, given that Pablo Escobar was shot dead by the Colombian police in 1993, 18 months after the events portrayed at the end of the first series.

"I'm ready for it, but we still don't know whether [the death of Escobar] will happen in this series," says Moura.

Moura recorded four episodes of the new series and then went back to Colombia to finish the six remaining episodes, by May. Before flying to Colombia, however, he met with Folha on Sunday (17).

Folha: How was your experience at the Golden Globes?
Wagner Moura: I wasn't expecting Narcos to be nominated. But was it a surprise? No. There's a lot of good stuff on TV, but I think we made something very good and a bit different. I was relaxed at the table at the Golden Globes (laughs).

But isn't it different for someone like you, from a small city in Bahia, to find themselves up for an award in Hollywood?
Of course. I used to carry buckets of water on my head in Rodelas. But I've worked hard for this. It's the biggest prize for which I've been nominated. Kevin Costner came to talk to me. Lots of people sought me out.

Anyone that you're a fan of?
Jason Reitman, the director of Juno. He said "The series is great and you're really badass." (Laughs). I said "I like what you do as well. Let's swap numbers." (Laughs again).

Have there been any changes in your career because of Narcos?
No. When I finish the second series, I'm going to direct Marighella in Brazil as planned. There is a certain pressure to spend more time in Los Angeles, but I'm not interested. Still, if Jason Reitman asked me to work with him on a film, I wouldn't think twice.

Are there any major differences in the new series of Narcos?
It's more focused on the characters. Tata [Escobar, played by the Mexican actress Paulina Gaitán] will have more of a role. It's about Pablo fleeing justice and trying to maintain normality when everyone wants to kill him.

Do you feel vindicated by the nomination, given that some people in Brazil criticized your accent in the series?
Look, I know what I did and I feel secure about it. I didn't start working on this yesterday. With or without the nomination, I'm relaxed. I did a good job and I'm happy. I know that lots of people were rooting for me.

Did you read Sean Penn's interview with Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán?
No. I was surprised because it came out the same day as the Golden Globes and there were various questions about it. But I was as shocked as anyone.

Do you think that an artist can play at being a journalist?
I think so. Of course, there are limits. It's a fine line. But I wouldn't judge any artist that goes to such lengths for their art. Though personally, I wouldn't meet with a wanted criminal.

Why not? Personal trepidation?
Yes. I don't want to get involved with someone wanted by the courts. I'm sure that El Chapo is kind to his family and friends. Being responsible for the death of lots of people doesn't mean that he's not a complex human being. But I wouldn't get involved.

Do you think Narcos influenced El Chapo to approach people to make a film about his life?
I think they must have seen Narcos. These guys have Netflix. In the criminal world, El Chapo is the most famous drugs trafficker after Escobar. And there's something deeper: the American War on Drugs is a failure which has caused the death of many young people in Latin America. While the policy remains the same, it'll never end. They'll just kill one El Chapo and another will emerge.

Translated by TOM GATEHOUSE