Guatemalan-American entertainment sensation Oscar Isaac is best known for his transformative roles as an actor. However, as an all-around talented individual, he is also a musician who has played the guitar since he was 12. Guatemalan-born Isaac was brought to the United States when he was five months old. Since his acting debut in the 1998 crime-drama Illtown, he has made a name for himself, landing roles in major films and popular television series. Aside from the many characters you have seen Oscar Isaac portray, he has also been called a “sex symbol” and “The Internet’s boyfriend”, by several media sources.
“If it was never new, and it never gets old, then it’s a folk song.”
Paralleling his own musical upbringing and New York roots, Isaac was the ideal candidate to play a 1960’s singer-songwriter struggling to break into the folk music scene in the film Inside Llewyn Davis. With Isaac’s performance, it’s hard to believe it’s a fictional character, albeit inspired by Dave Van Ronk.
Clip from In Another Day, Another Time: Celebrating the Music of Inside Llewyn Davis
“When it feels scary to jump in, that is exactly when you jump.”
A Most Violent Year is another notable film. Set in New York, it stars Isaac as Abel Morales, the owner of an oil company who finds himself the victim of a brutal battle between crime and corruption as his oil trucks mysteriously start getting hijacked. Soon, Morales has no option but to obtain $1.5 million dollars and fast.
NYC, 1981 - An original short documentary featuring stories from one of the most dangerous years on record for New York City.
“It’s always the ones in the corner you have to worry about.”
The French-based film In Secret displays Isaac’s incredible dynamics as an actor, playing a starring role opposite Elizabeth Olsen (Thérèse Raquin). His intriguing character, Laurent LeClaire, a seemingly ordinary artist of his time, is nothing less than extraordinary and seductive. A spiral of passion, art, and emotions run deeper than you can ever imagine.
Do You Know?
Gerard Butler was the first choice for the role of Laurent LeClaire.
