BY IRVIN RIVERA

Rising star GRIFFIN SANTOPIETRO stars as Anthony LaRusso in the highly acclaimed series COBRA KAI. For 4 seasons, Santopietro has been steadily playing his character on screen, evolving and exploring his character arc further.

Santopietro is a star poised to rise- brimming with a lot of potential as one of tthe next big leads of his generation. 

In this exclusive interview, the young star spoke on playing his character and evolving his story, the challenges and the highs he experienced in filming, his acting journey, inspirations, life lessons and more.

How has it been for you since the new season of Cobra Kai dropped?

Due to Anthony having a much bigger role and the sheer number of people who watch the show, it’s been a little life changing and I couldn’t be more thankful. One of the very cool things has been seeing the response from the international audience. I am kind of loving the response to Anthony.

How was your character, Anthony LaRusso’s evolution throughout the seasons of the show?

I would say that the coolest part of Anthony’s evolution is that we get to watch him grow up. When we saw him as a kid, he was nothing more than some brat who was being raised by his iPad rather than his parents, but this season we got to see the effects that have had on him, and like most kids, we get to see him face the social anxieties that we have all faced. And, as an actor, I was happy to finally get to explore more of the character.

What’s your favorite part of playing his character?

I think that for me to divide playing Anthony into two parts. When I was younger and just started on the show and in the business in general- it was great to get some funny lines and play sort of a foil to many other characters. And then there is the character in Season 4, where I get to explore some of Anthony’s emotions and realizations about being left out and left on his own in many respects. I think Season 4 was a full-circle moment and I enjoyed exploring Anthony.

What are the challenges and the highs that you experienced during filming?

I would say that one of the biggest challenges I faced during the filming of season 4 was the increase in anxiety that comes with having a bigger role. I knew as an actor I could do it, but since it was such a departure from previous seasons, I felt I had a little bit to prove so to speak. It was also a challenge to film during Covid.  We tried to be so extra careful because we did not want anyone to get sick and halt production. The highs of filming season 4 were related to the cast for sure. I finally got to work with Ralph more which was important to me. Also, with the introduction of the new younger cast, I had so many people on set my age and we had a blast.

How did you manage to rise above the challenges?

I’ve always dealt with feelings of anxiety by simply trying my best to live in the moment, the here and now. I tend to keep my anxiety to myself and mentally coach myself through the moments when I am nervous. I also prepare a lot- the preparation helps with any anxiety.

What’s the most memorable moment for you throughout the whole process of making the series?

I made so many amazing memories, but I would say what I remember most from season 4 was constantly playing Frisbee on and offset. It just became a ritual by the end and it was a great way to keep us occupied during long set hours.

How did acting start for you?  Was it something that you’ve always wanted from a young age?

Yes, I used to watch the Disney channel and imagine being on the shows. This is funny considering I get to work with some of those kids I watch on TV like Peyton and Jacob.  But how it happened was I started doing plays at school and taking acting classes with my older brother. And when I was about 9 or 10, we did a talent Showcase for young actors to meet agencies and management. And only about a year or two after that I booked Cobra.

Who and what inspires you?

I’m often inspired by actors I admire, people I know, even movies I like but, what inspires me the most are Orca Whales because in a world in which most animals live only to eat and breed, Orcas go out of their way to be a menace to the ocean and I’m so very much inspired by that.

What scares you?

To be 100% honest there are lots of things that scare me, things like our environmental crisis, the divide in our country, and covid all scare me regularly. But what tends to scare me the most in life is the idea that humans are inconsequential to the grand scheme of the universe and that nothing we do matters…… so I’ll leave you with that lovely thought.

What’s your dream project?

Being a big comic book fan, I would love to be in any comic/superhero project but another big goal of mine is to one day write and direct my film.

What’s a valuable lesson that you’ve learned that you always carry with you?

I think as an actor you learn from anyone you work with, but I would say the biggest thing that I have learned from working with such great people is how to find that perfect balance between fun and professionalism.  As an actor you must be professional and prepared on set- there are the jobs of dozens of people connected to what you are doing on set and their livelihoods are connected to what you are doing. I take that part very seriously. Also, while on set there are many hours of waiting- it is knowing when you must work hard and when you can take advantage of the downtime to have fun and let off steam with the cast and crew.  I think working from a young age has taught me how to have balance.

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

I would hands-down be a comic book/graphic novel. That style of storytelling is my favorite. I think it’s only appropriate that this is the style that dictates my own adventures. I would want this story to depict my real life but with a more stylized Scott Pilgrim-type vibe.