I’ve made it no secret that Manny Jacinto is one of my favorites. Bortles! He’s charming, talented and humble, which is what hooked me as a fan during his time on The Good Place and then Star Wars: The Acolyte. He’s also super hot, which is a big plus. After starring in this summer’s long-awaited sequel to Freaky Friday, Manny’s star is rising, and I couldn’t be happier for him. During an appearance at the TIME100 Next Gala in NYC last week, People asked Manny about his career thus far. Manny’s response was just as wholesome as expected: He has imposter syndrome and is simply happy to be able to buy groceries.
“If I told him that I was here [at the TIME100 event], [my younger self would] be like, ‘What are you talking about, man? You should be in an office in front of a computer being an engineer or something,’ ” the Nine Perfect Strangers actor says.
“But no, he wouldn’t believe me for sure. It’s wild that I get to be here, so I’m taking in every single moment,” Jacinto adds.
Jacinto also reflected on another major milestone in his life: the upcoming 10-year anniversary of the premiere of The Good Place, in which he played fan-favorite character Jason Mendoza in all four seasons of the show.
“Thank goodness for that show because I was able to buy groceries,” he says, adding, “I just remember living in a five-bedroom house with a bunch of nurses and just trying to make it work. […] When that audition came through and when I was able to get that [part], [it] changed my life, It really did.”
“[There were] so many special moments,” he recalls.
“Getting to work with Ted [Danson] for the first time, meeting Kristen [Bell] and all the babies in the crew, whether it be Jameela [Jamil] or D’Arcy [Carden] and Will [Jackson Harper]. And just being on the lot in Universal and seeing the trams go by — so many special moments,” he continues.
I know they can be a dime a dozen, but I like hearing the happier stories success like Manny’s. He’s had such a well-deserved career, and I hope his theoretical younger self can see it! I can’t believe that it’s been almost 10 years since The Good Place’s premiere, but the pandemic lockdowns really did mess with my sense of time. I looked it up, though. The Good Place debuted in September 2016 and the finale dropped in January 2020. To me, the series starting just before the 45th president’s election and ending just before the pandemic started really puts it in a special bubble that has proven to really encapsulate our current times. Is it possible that we’re all just in the Bad Place right now?
I’m calling my shot now – he’ll win an Emmy one day. He’s hardworking and talented… I think his time is coming.
Photos credit: Jennifer Graylock/Avalon, James Warren/Bang Showbiz/Avalon