JuanPerales:TheLongGame

As Olympo introduces him to audiences around the world, Juan Perales reflects on discipline and why the process has always mattered more than the destination.

 

WORDS Phillza Mirza

INTERVIEW Olive Walton

 

For an actor whose career is moving quickly, Juan Perales rarely speaks about speed. Instead, he talks about patience and observation. About allowing himself the time to grow into both the work and the person he hopes to become. It’s an approach that feels increasingly uncommon.

 

While Olympo explores the pressure to push harder, move faster and chase success at any cost, Perales seems far more interested in everything that happens before the finish line. The preparation, the setbacks, and moments that rarely make it onto the screen. As his profile continues to grow through Olympo and La Promesa, Perales reflects on discovering acting later than expected, building Sebas from the inside out and why for him, the process will always matter more than the result.

Olive Walton: Your interest in acting began when you were very young. What were some of the first films or performances that sparked that interest?

 

Juan Perales: Honestly, I couldn’t point to one specific film because my interest in acting didn’t really come from a particular movie or actor. It came from something much simpler: I loved imitating people. Ever since I was a kid, I was always copying voices, gestures, characters, or anything that caught my attention.

 

If I had to think of something that was part of my childhood, I’d probably say Los hombres de Paco. I remember sitting down every week with my mother to watch it when I was just a little kid. I was far too young to understand a lot of what was happening in the show, but I remember that ritual perfectly and how much I enjoyed it. Who knows—maybe part of all this started there without me even realising it.

 

What I do know for sure is that my real interest in pursuing acting professionally came much later, about five years ago. That was when I truly began to understand what acting meant and the incredible ability this profession has to make you experience emotions, stories, and lives completely different from your own.

 

OW: What was the moment that made you decide to pursue acting professionally?

 

JP: I think it was about five years ago. I realised that stories and characters affected me much more deeply than I had thought. What I saw on screen moved me in a very real way, and I became curious about how it was possible to convey something like that. On top of that, ever since I was a child, I had always imitated voices, gestures, and characters—something I now see as a pretty clear sign of where I was heading.

 

I had already been working in advertising for some time and was used to being in front of a camera, but that was the moment when I decided to truly commit to acting and begin training professionally.

 

“I’m very interested in characters who have layers and who force you to look beyond the surface.”

 

OW: You’ve spoken a lot about discipline and training as an actor. What does your day-to-day process actually look like?

 

JP: I try to be consistent. Some days I’m studying scripts, others I’m working on scenes, watching films, or simply observing people. I also place a lot of importance on physical training because it helps me maintain discipline and focus.

 

Right now, in fact, my greatest school is the set itself. I’m working on La Promesa, a daily series, and that forces me to learn constantly. In this kind of project, the pace is extremely demanding, and every day brings new challenges, new situations, and new ways of approaching the work. It’s an intense process, but also a very satisfying and rewarding one because I feel like I’m growing and learning very quickly.

 

I believe an actor’s preparation doesn’t only happen when you have a project on your hands—it’s something that becomes part of your daily life. I try to stay curious, keep observing, and always remain open to learning something new.

OW: When you first read the script for Olympo, what was your impression of Sebas? Did you feel an immediate connection with him?

 

JP: The first thing I thought was that there was much more to him than met the eye. At first glance, he may seem confident, strong, or even somewhat aggressive, but in reality, he’s full of fears, contradictions, and inner conflicts. That’s what made me connect with him. I’m very interested in characters who have layers and who force you to look beyond the surface.

 

OW: Much of Sebas’s story revolves around pressure, masculinity, rugby, and the image others have of him. Was that something you worked on extensively with the directors?

 

JP: Yes, it was something we talked about quite a lot because, ultimately, much of what happens to Sebas stems from that. Rather than focusing solely on rugby or the environment he lives in, we tried to understand what was happening inside him and why it was so difficult for him to show himself as he truly was.

 

I think that many times we end up building a version of ourselves based on what we believe others expect to see. And Sebas lives very much from that place. He has a very specific image to maintain, expectations he feels compelled to meet, and a constant fear of disappointing those around him.

 

What interested me most about the character was precisely that internal struggle. Because although the circumstances may be different, I think we’ve all experienced, at some point, that feeling of trying to fit in or not daring to show a part of ourselves for fear of how it will be received. That’s where I connected with him the most.

 

OW: Sebas is involved in a relationship with Roque while trying to accept who he is. The chemistry between you and Agustín Della Corte feels very natural. How did you build that dynamic?

 

JP: Honestly, the chemistry with Agustín felt quite natural from the beginning. I think there was already something in the relationship between Sebas and Roque that worked very well on the page, and as we developed it, everything grew in a very organic way.

 

Obviously, there was work behind it. Agustín did a beautiful job with Roque, and I think that helped enormously in building that connection. But I also feel that much of the credit belongs to the entire Olympo team for the way they crafted the relationship between them. Time, care, and a great deal of honesty were devoted to that story, and it shows.

 

At the end of the day, when you have a scene partner you work well with and a team that takes such care with a story, many things simply flow naturally. And I think that’s what people end up perceiving.

 

Personally, it’s a story I’m very fond of. Beyond having portrayed it, I’m a big admirer of the way it’s told and everything it represents within the series.

 

OW: The rugby storyline looks physically demanding. What was the filming process for those scenes like?

 

JP: It was pretty intense. Behind every match or training session you see on screen were many hours of preparation. We wanted everything to feel believable, and that meant training hard and pushing ourselves physically. There were some really tough days, but they were also among the most enjoyable because they brought us closer together as a team.

 

I try to approach these kinds of experiences with a great deal of gratitude because, in the end, they are very special opportunities within this profession. Having the chance to prepare in that way for a character, share that process with your castmates, and build something like that from the ground up is not something that happens every day.

 

These processes are demanding, but they’re also beautiful because they allow you to experience unique situations that you’ll probably only live through once. Over time, I’ve learned to value those moments deeply because they’re part of the journey, and as an artist, I think it’s important to enjoy them and be grateful for them as well.

 

“In the end, our body is our home, and I believe we have to take care of it and listen to it.”

 

OW: You practice boxing regularly. Did it help you handle the physical demands of the rugby scenes?

 

JP: Yes, it helped quite a bit. Although it’s also true that right before starting Olympo, I wasn’t in my best physical shape. It was probably one of the periods in which I had trained the least in quite a long time, which isn’t usually the case for me. That’s why the transformation during preparation was much more noticeable.

 

It’s true that I already had a solid athletic foundation, but rugby demands a lot from you on every level. It’s not just about strength—it also requires endurance, speed, coordination, and teamwork.  We had to train extensively to meet the demands of the series.

 

We also had the opportunity to work and train with real rugby players, and that left a strong impression on me. Seeing up close how they train, the level of commitment they have, and everything they’re capable of giving on the field made me admire the sport enormously. It was a demanding preparation process, but also a wonderful experience that I remember very fondly.

OW: Olympo also explores the darker side of ambition in young athletes. What do you think the series says about the pressure people face today?

 

JP: I think it speaks about something very current. We live in a society where we constantly feel that we have to be the best, stand out, or meet certain expectations. The series asks how far we are willing to go to achieve success and what price we may end up paying for it. It’s a reflection that goes far beyond sport.

 

In fact, I recently watched a video that made me think quite a bit. It talked about how more and more people set themselves extremely demanding physical challenges overnight because they see others doing them on social media. Marathons, extreme challenges, or radical transformations in a very short period of time. And we often forget that behind those achievements there are usually years of preparation, training, and sacrifice.

 

I think we live in a very fast-paced era, where sometimes we are more attracted to the result than the process. Social media can make everything seem immediate, but reality is usually very different. In the end, our body is our home, and I believe we have to take care of it and listen to it. It’s good to be ambitious and want to improve ourselves, but it’s also important to do so consciously, respecting our own timing and not putting our health at risk in pursuit of something we saw in a thirty-second video.

 

OW: The fans’ response to Sebas has been enormous. Has there been any message that particularly stayed with you?

 

JP: Yes, several. The ones that move me the most are the messages from people who have identified with Sebas’s story. When someone tells you that the character made them feel understood or helped them talk about something they had been keeping to themselves for a long time, you realize that stories can have a real impact on people’s lives.

 

OW: What is your ideal getaway after finishing a project as intense as Olympo?

 

JP: When I finish a project, I try to enjoy it and say goodbye to it gradually. I think characters and stories stay with you forever in some way, but there also comes a point when you have to let them go and reconnect with yourself.

 

In this particular case, one of the first things I did was allow myself to enjoy a few small indulgences again and relax a little when it came to diet and training. For many months, we followed a very strict routine because the project required it and because we wanted to be as prepared as possible.

 

I’m someone who enjoys taking care of myself, eating well, and exercising because it makes me feel good, but I also believe strongly in balance. Sometimes, when you’ve spent so long being extremely strict with yourself, it’s equally important to give yourself space to switch off and slow down.

 

Ultimately, everyone has to find what works for them. Some people thrive with constant discipline, but I believe listening to your body and mind is just as important. For me, balance is usually the best path.

 

OW: What do you feel is the next step in your career right now?

 

JP: At the moment, I’m fortunate enough to be doing exactly what I’ve always wanted as an actor:  playing characters who are very different from one another. Sebas and Ciro, in La Promesa, are completely different characters, and that’s something I truly enjoy because it forces me to explore different places and prevents me from becoming too comfortable.

 

The truth is that I try not to obsess too much over what the next step should be. My idea is that when this stage comes to an end, I’ll take a moment to come back down to earth, pause, and ask myself what I genuinely want. To ask Juan what kind of character he’d like to live through, what emotions he’d like to explore, and what story he’d be excited to tell. From there, I’ll try to work toward making that happen.

 

Obviously, there are directors, actors, actresses, and projects I’d love to cross paths with one day, like any actor. But beyond specific names, my ambition remains the same: to portray many different lives, discover characters that challenge me, and give everything I have to each one of them.  Because I’m still fascinated by this profession’s ability to make you see the world from perspectives completely different from your own.

 

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By the end of the conversation, it’s clear that Perales isn’t in a hurry to define what success should look like. Rather than chasing a particular role or career milestone, he’s more interested in finding characters that ask something different of him each time.

 

It’s a perspective that feels refreshing. In an industry often driven by what’s next, Perales remains focused on the work itself, trusting that the right opportunities will come through curiosity, consistency and a willingness to keep learning. If Olympo marks the beginning of a much bigger chapter, he seems content to let the story unfold at its own pace.