5 minute readDanny Ramirez has bad cell phone service, and for good reason. The 33-year-old actor and star of Michael Kors’ new campaign is calling from Mexico City, where he is filming the period drama De Noche, directed by Todd Haynes, in which he plays a boarding school teacher who falls in love with Pedro Pascal. His cell phone keeps malfunctioning and sends out a movie star-like voice on Auto-Tune. “I might be a substitute singer,” he tells ELLE. “Should I tell everyone that this is an AI?”
For the record, Ramirez is a very real guy, even if he’s become a fantasy boyfriend to millions of fans thanks to his nifty work on Top Gun: Maverick and the Marvel Universe and his paparazzi-candy relationship with certified goddess Jessica Alba.
The problem is that his current dating status is the least interesting thing about Ramirez. An avid literature buff and former soccer player, he’s currently reading four books at a time, working on a Basquiat biopic and a remake of Scarface, and somehow – teaching everyday guys how to carry a designer bag without getting fume-free. Certainly it’s worth discussing well. Please see below for details.
The Michael Kors campaign features men’s bags. Some people, even great people, resist. Is this a better choice than pocket?
I’ve had my share of overstuffed pockets, and it’s one of the most unpleasant sensations on the planet. Men tend to have pockets, so they overuse them and are more stubborn about using bags. But through sports I’ve started to get used to needing a place to put my spikes and extra clothes, so I’ve always preferred a bag. It’s just the type of bag. Once I started going to coffee shops, a nice little bag came in very handy. I feel sorry for people who don’t have pockets and have to carry bags around. The moment you can not only make your life easier, but also make it stylish, it’s kind of a perfect storm.
It seems like you’re into fashion, in a good way.
Well, now that I’m more exposed to fashion, I’m going down the rabbit hole, and by the end I’m starting to respect this art of fashion and understand why people love it. I’m definitely starting to let go of my expectations of what I thought style was and am now slowly learning the language. I went from wearing a classic suit, which I thought was the only one, to experimenting with bell bottoms, longer lines, different layers… It’s like opening a book on a random subject and by the end you’re hooked.
What book are you into right now?
I’m reading…wait, let me think…4. I’m currently reading four books.
Four?
Yes, The Psychology of Storytelling is one of them. I purchased “The Tipping Point”. I read it about 12 years ago and there is now a sequel. So why not take another look back and see if it’s still kind of a world phenomenon? And there are books on film editing… You’ve kind of turned off the dam in a way. Every time I go to Barnes & Noble, I ask for one book and get 12 books.
They can go in a man’s bag.
perfection.
Was Michael Kors a big brand for you growing up?
I’m from Miami. This place is very big. It’s on everyone’s Christmas wish list: my mom, my sister. I grew up thinking that was the thing to have. My first association with a thing is where it sticks in my mind, and it’s always been a wish list item for everyone I know. I’m actually looking forward to going back to Miami for this campaign and hopefully seeing my mom and sister.
Movies like Captain America are finally starting to incorporate Spanish dialogue into their scripts. However, there are many, many dialects of Spanish, even just from Miami. How do you work with the scriptwriter to ensure that the scriptwriter’s Spanish is the character’s Spanish?
this is a good question. Honestly, it’s gotten better. There are people out there who are doing a much better job of making sure they have the resources to get the right dialogue to the right characters. Definitely something I would play. But I think I’m just like any actor who has to find the words that fit the scene, whether it’s Spanish or English. I’ll adjust it if I feel like it. You know, it’s like having a (costume) designer dress you and then adjusting the clothes to suit you? I have to embody that line too. And if it’s Spanish, just because the Spanish is “correct” doesn’t necessarily mean it’s “correct” for you. And that creates flexibility. It’s more about the characters than the dialogue. This is a dance that is performed every time. It’s a very exciting part of the job.
What are the prerequisites for a great weekend getaway? Perhaps a trip to Miami or Saint-Tropez, where the campaign was shot.
Well, I think the thing about “weekend trips” is that they appear randomly, and you don’t necessarily know when they’re going to come. Especially for me, when it comes to filming, you never know when you’ll be free. It’s like, “Oh, we have two days left. Let’s make something happen.” So I think the first rule of a weekend getaway is to make a list of where you’d like to go if you have time. That way, when the moment comes, it won’t just pass just because you’ve made plans. Now, let’s say you go on vacation… let’s say you go with someone.
of course.
So I think before you go, you both need to look at your relationship with your phone and laptop and agree in advance on how much you want to be involved with technology, how much you’re okay with cutting it off, etc. Cell phones and social media accounts are often extensions of ourselves, so it’s more important than ever to set strong boundaries around cell phone and laptop usage. However, once you set that line for your vacation, it’s very good to make sure that line doesn’t change. Whether you’re going to the beach or Aspen or wherever, it’s very important to make sure you’re there to spend each other’s moments together. And when you get there, even if you’re busy, you just want to say it in that moment.
Once you arrive, put your laptop and iPhone in your Michael Kors luggage as well.
Oh, absolutely. And, let’s be honest, bring your sunglasses too. Great on the beach. Looks great with anything.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
