THE BECKER BUGLE

Kuno Becker sensation of the new Mexican cinema and intriguing surprise for the english language, in which he has become the newest Hollywood sensation. 2 years ago he burst on to the big screen alongside important actors and in roles, that are only given to actors with real talent, roles that are not given to just anyone. Only actors who have talent and the experience to take on lead roles. Kuno Becker has proved to have the talent and the sufficient experience to be able to obtain important, leading and key roles.

But the Mexican actor who has just turned 26, has spent almost all his life, in one form or another, on stage and in front of the cameras: as a precocious violinist boy, as a Soap Opera heartthrob and superstar, to an actor in cinema in english and spanish films, and now a Hollywood sensation. He even participated in the recording of an album for a Soap Opera, that sold over 150,000 copies.

"Various actors and I from a soap opera, sang a few songs and had a lot of fun." Kuno explained. "The soap opera had a lot of rating and we sold a lot of cds to our audience.

For his talent, preparation, carisma and his attractive physic, Kuno Becker has been catalogued as one of the hispanic promises of Hollywood, but now he has become more than a promise. His modesty at the time of facing the press and his fans, represents a pleasant surprise in a media plagued with so much unfounded vanities.

In 2 yrs he has made 4 films. Last year he starred in the independent comedy "Two Lovers & a Wedding (Isla Bella) directed by Matia Jarell (Behind the red door), alongside Esai Morales and Charlotte Ayanna, where Kuno said he had a lot of fun. He also starred in Lucia, Lucia, directed by Antonio Serrano (Sex, Shame and Tears), in which Kuno was nominated for best actor in the mexican MTV movie awards.

This mexican suspense comedy  broke records at the box office in Mexico last year, it was distributed in the USA with the title Lucia Lucia and has come out on sale on DVD (20th. Century Fox Home Entertainment).

He had a lead role (antagonist), in his first english film in Hollywood, in Imagining Argentina, alongside Antonio Banderas and Emma Thompson which will come out in theaters in 2004.

"In Two Lovers and a Wedding" I had the lead role and in Imagining Argentina I'm the antagonist, and I did act with those actors", he says. "I don't expect the results of the film, because it has already given them to me. Its enough for me to be filming a scene with Emma Thompson".

Now he is filming his 3rd leading role in english, The Nomad, hollywood epic directed by czech Ivan Passer (Born to win) and produced by no other than Milos Forman.

"I was filming for 3 months and a half in Kazakhstan, in an asian country between China and Russia. We stopped for the winter and we will continue filming in May. Its a fun action film, thats very entertaining and tells a story from the XVIII century, about how 2 tribes were united against another one. Its the most interesting thing I have done until now."

Kuno is living in a world very different from the one he was used to. When he was 5 yrs old he began studying and learning to play the violin in the National School of Music in Mexico. He amplified those studies in Salzburgo, Austria; and from age 6 to 16 he dedicated himself to that instrument.

"When I was little I had 2 concerts with my grandmother, who is a pianist, one of Vivaldi in the minor and another one of greater Bach in re, in Mexico and California", he said.

His primary language is Spanish and speaks German and English to perfection. Grandson to germans and spaniards, he was born in Mexico and he says he is 100% Mexican. He made his primary studies in the German school of Mexico city and his family familiarized him and his brother and sister with the art and culture.

At 17 yrs of age he began to study in the school of Televisa (acting school) in Mexico and was a soap opera actor for 6 yrs. 3 yrs ago he did his last soap opera (First Love 1000 Miles Per Hour [Primer Amor A 1000 x Hora], where he recorded the album).

"One day I said; I want to surpass as an actor", he remembers, "I want to be able to choose better projects, I'm going to try".

He tried and his life totally changed. Just like Salma Hayeck in her time in Mexico, when she went from television to films, Kuno had to start from zero but on the right foot and with important and key roles. Not secondary roles, because he showed his acting capacity and that he truly deserves important roles. Because he is a real actor, with an enormous talent and passion for his career.

"Having the security in television and economically, and then throwing yourself and leaving everything behind to see if you will get to work in films, is risky. A lot of things go through your head: "What if I got and make this movie and in the end I don't make it, what if I never work again?".

The first film he did was a short film and for the role he had to summit himself to a lot of castings. "I didn't do castings anymore because they already knew me, but in filmmaking it doesn't matter if you work in television, you have to do castings. And thats where I started from zero. Later they made me the favor of telling me about the casting of Lucia, Lucia and then 6 months passed. They called me and 2 months passed, they called me again and more months passed. until I got the part and stayed in the movie".

Kuno is very thankful for all the opportunities he has had, but he knows that he has known to choose good projects. "I'm a guy that lives from his work, but I rather wait and choose a good movie, than doing anything just to get some money", he says.

Kuno is obstinate to accept that he is in the category of young actors, new values of Mexican cinema, that he is an actor with lots of talent, presence, class, and the angel to capture the attention of the public. He is an actor who cares about his work, and knows how to choose good roles. He doesn't just take anything, like some actors who do, like Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna, reason why they have not advanced in their career, besides the fact that they lack talent completely. They are just pure publicity, who only worry about appearing everywhere (tv, magazines, etc.) with out worrying about doing their job right. Kuno Becker is very different, because he worries about doing a good job, in doing something good and with quality, in WORKING, before anything. Fame is the farthest thing from his mind, because he is a serious actor. Who is here to work, to get good roles that help him grow even more as an actor. He is not here for the glamour. He is an actor who knows what he wants and that is very mature in his way of thinking. Reason why he will go very far in his career, because of his way of thinking. Because he is an actor with talent, who is still the same down to earth guy...he is Kuno Becker the funny, friendly and playful guy everybody knows. He is a guy like any other, who has not let fame change him, because he values his work and how far he has gone. Unlike Gael Garcia and Diego Luna, who are nobodies but give themselves airs of greatness, thinking that they are the best of Hollywood, when in reality they are nothing.

"Who am I to put my self at such a high level? I can't say that I am a good or bad actor. Just now they begin to locate in filmmaking. I'm looking for good roles and the good roles are in the good films. I'm not saying that there aren't good roles in tv, but the best ones are in films." said Kuno.

Can his physic influence his being successful? Kuno laughs and says he doesn't consider himself handsome.

"I hope that what I am and who I am influence for good in my work. The idea is that as an actor I can do anything and my work (talent) has helped me obtain those roles that have been given to me. I want an interesting career that fulfills me as an actor. When I decided to do this, I had to leave some things for others, but at the very, very,  end, things are coming out very good for me, which I thank God and destiny for my work."