Benicio del Toro’s award-winning role as Sensei Sergio St. Carlos in One Battle After Another nearly didn’t happen. The Oscar-winning actor revealed that scheduling conflicts and other obstacles almost kept him from joining the project, making his presence in the film feel like a hard-won victory. Thanks to the persistence of the director and co-stars, del Toro not only starred but also earned critical acclaim for his performance.
Benicio del Toro shares how he almost missed One Battle After Another
At the New York Film Critics Circle Awards on January 6, Benicio del Toro took home the Best Supporting Actor award for One Battle After Another. He opened up about the hurdles that nearly kept him from joining the project. “There were many obstacles with the schedule, and at moments it felt like I wasn’t going to be able to be a part of One Battle After Another,” he said while speaking with PEOPLE. Del Toro also gave props to director Paul Thomas Anderson for keeping the set motivated and persistent.
In the film, Del Toro plays Sensei Sergio, a karate master who trains Willa (Chase Infiniti), the daughter of Bob Ferguson (Leonardo DiCaprio). When government agents led by the villain Steven J. Lockjaw (Sean Penn) target Bob and Willa, Sergio becomes their lifeline. His guidance helps the family stay one step ahead, navigate dangerous situations, and try to reunite with Willa after she’s taken.
The production even hit pause for some time to make sure Del Toro could fit into the schedule. DiCaprio mentioned in a September interview that filming had to wait so Del Toro could join, showing just how crucial his role was for the story. Del Toro gave props to his co-stars, saying, “They really fought very hard to create time so that I could be in One Battle After Another” ( via PEOPLE).
For those not in the know, Benicio del Toro first grabbed attention in The Usual Suspects and took home an Oscar for his role in Traffic (2000). Over the years, he’s shown off his range in films like 21 Grams, Sicario, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Che, moving between drama, action, and biographical roles.
