UNPRISONED BY LABELS: FALY RAKOTOHAVANA ON RACE, REPRESENTATION, AND RESILIENCE IN HOLLYWOOD

BY: IRVIN RIVERA

PHOTOGRAPHER: IRVIN RIVERA, FASHION STYLING: ANDREW PHILIP NGUYEN, GROOMING: CHRISTOPHER MILES, DIGITECH: PHIL LIMPRASERTWIONG, PHOTO ASST: ANDREW LOPEZ, LOCATION: GM STUDIO DTLA

Faly Rakotohavana is on the brink of something extraordinary. The rising star, who captured hearts as Finn in Hulu's "UnPrisoned," is all about pushing the boundaries of his craft while keeping things real. "I'm so excited!" he shares when asked about the whirlwind of publicity, but behind that excitement is a young actor committed to staying grounded. Between gym sessions, rock climbing, and traveling with his family, he's been quietly absorbing life, adding layers to the characters he plays. "Living everywhere broadens your horizons," he reflects, and it’s this diverse life experience that has helped shape his approach to acting.

Faly's connection with his co-stars, Kerry Washington and Delroy Lindo, has been a cornerstone of his performance in “UnPrisoned”. "Creating an authentic relationship...is what helped me the most with giving an honest performance," he explains, offering a glimpse into his thoughtful preparation for the role. But for this young actor, it’s not just about the technical aspects; it's about the emotional truth of each moment. "Being present is actually a lot harder than you would think," he muses, a lesson he’s learned from his time with Delroy Lindo. And that authenticity, much like Faly himself, is refreshingly genuine—grounded in experience, humor, and a curiosity for the next adventure.

Faly! How are you? What’s been keeping you busy recently?

UnPrisoned publicity has been keeping me busy…I’m so excited! I’m staying in my acting classes, going to the gym, and rock climbing. I’ve been traveling with my family and just trying to gain a little more life experience.

How did your childhood experiences, moving from Madagascar to the US and living in different states, shape your approach to acting?

Well, getting to live everywhere broadens your horizons a little bit. I think meeting different people and being in different environments is great for the mind and influenced my approach to acting.

What was the most important part of preparing for your role as Finn in "UnPrisoned.”                     

I think the most important part of developing Finn was the chemistry between me and my costars, Kerry Washington and Delroy Lindo. Creating an authentic relationship between the three of us is definitely what helped me the most with giving an honest performance. The energy was always great, and it was such a blessing getting to work with them.

How did you balance your studies and acting career, especially during your time at Santa Monica College?

I put school on hold immediately! I got a job at Shake Shack and focused fully on acting classes. I told myself “If I don’t book something in the next year I will go back to school.” Then I booked this beautiful film called Cricket and then landed UnPrisoned right after! After season 1, I tried to go to Los Angeles Recording School and then season 2 got picked up so I put that on pause as well.

In "UnPrisoned," Finn navigates complex family dynamics. How did you relate to his character, and did any of your personal experiences influence your portrayal?

I have a very supportive and loving family, but of course we fight occasionally. UnPrisoned actually made me appreciate my family even more! Finn is a 17 year-old kid and he’s growing up. Everybody was that age once, so I hope everyone can relate to Finn a little.

The show discusses the concept of "Nigrescence." How has exploring this concept through your character impacted your personal understanding of racial identity?

The show has taught me the importance of learning who you are and where you came from. I think that is something everybody should search for.

 What drew you to the role of Finn, and what do you hope audiences take away from his journey?

I take any role that comes my way, but to see Kerry and Delroy attached definitely piqued my interest further. I hope people can relate to Finn. He’s finally learning who he is and what it means to grow up. Everybody goes through that. 

Can you share a memorable moment or lesson you learned from working with Delroy Lindo?

Delroy Lindo taught me a lot about just being in the now! Being present is actually a lot harder than you would think. One of the big themes in the show is being present. I hope that is something that a lot of people resonate with as well when watching the show.

How do you approach preparing for emotionally intense scenes, such as those in "UnPrisoned"?

I read my script over and over again. Being an actor is detective work sometimes because you have to find the truth about the moment. I also listen to music to put myself in the right mindset.

What advice would you give to aspiring actors about handling the pressures of the entertainment industry?

Be patient and flexible! Acting feels like gambling a lot of the time and you don’t want to quit before you win big.

You've mentioned in interviews wanting to play more villainous roles. What aspects of such characters intrigue you the most?

It just looks really fun! I haven’t gotten the opportunity yet to play a darker role like that and I’m curious to see what I would do with it.

What social causes are you passionate about, and how do you integrate them into your work and personal life?

I support whatever I can when I can. Searching for a cause is not something I have really dove too deep into yet, but I’m always down to support important causes.

How did working on "Secret Society of Second-Born Royals'' prepare you for your role in "UnPrisoned"?

I mean Finn and Matteo are kind of similar in ways. Both are a little introverted and keep to themselves. I think Finn is a little cooler, though.

What has been the most rewarding part of your acting career so far, and why?

Well, I still don’t think I’ve done much yet, but to be blessed with UnPrisoned and its amazing cast and crew is definitely very rewarding. I mean, I get to go to work and have Kerry Washington and Delroy Lindo as coworkers!                                                                         

How do you stay grounded and maintain a sense of normalcy amidst your rising fame?

I wouldn’t say I’m famous by any means, but being in this industry is pretty crazy. Surrounding myself with grounded friends and keeping my family close definitely keeps me in a good mental place.

What role does social media play in your life, and how do you use it to connect with your fans?

I’m not good at social media. The only thing I really use it for is funny videos and stuff, but I try to reach out to people and connect whenever I can.

How did you develop the dry sense of humor and sarcasm that you bring to your characters?

I’ve always had a dry and sarcastic sense of humor. It’s a little piece of myself that I brought to Finn.

How do you navigate the challenges of being a mixed-race actor in Hollywood, and what changes would you like to see in the industry?

As someone that is not really white or black, I think people don’t really know what to do with me. That’s why I stay in my acting classes and work hard so hopefully my work can speak for itself. Of course films and TV need diversity because representation is important, but I also think that hard work should not be overlooked.

As a young actor in Hollywood, what challenges have you faced, and how have you overcome

them?

The sitting and waiting around part is definitely challenging. I had to sit through Covid for two years and that was hard. I was ready to quit after that, but I persevered and stayed in my acting classes, then I got UnPrisoned! The strike was also pretty difficult to get through but, once again, I persevered and then UnPrisoned was renewed for season 2! Good things come to those who wait.

How do you handle the expectations and pressures that come with being an emerging talent in the industry?

I choose not to think about it. I always try to push my work away from myself. After I’ve done something, I try my best to forget it because I don’t want to overthink it. I am just a person that enjoys acting like someone he’s not.

How do you think the industry can better support young actors in their career development?

I’m not really sure. I think if there’s anything that can be done in terms of financial stability then that would be great. I know a lot of younger actors that have moved across state lines to pursue a career in this industry and seeing them with any financial stability is kind of rare.

What role do you believe mentorship plays in the success of young actors, and who has been a mentor for you?

It’s definitely a nice thing to have. Kerry and Delroy have been amazing examples and mentors for me. I want to achieve success similar to what they have.

If you were a book, what book would you be and why? 

Maze Runner because I am always lost and have no idea what is going on. Also, I just like to run sometimes. Not running like an exercise, but like running at the beach or down a hill…just to remind myself that I have freewill.