Diego Calva opens up on obsession with failure

Diego Calva has admitted he’s “really attracted to failure”, a brutally honest confession from the rising Hollywood star who says he often finds himself drawn to characters “in the middle of a crisis”.

The 34-year-old actor, who broke through in Babylon, opened up about his latest role in Club Kid, a coming-of-age story about a washed-up party promoter suddenly forced to confront unexpected responsibility.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Diego didn’t hold back about what pulls him towards certain roles. 

He said he’s fascinated by flawed characters who seem stuck in cycles of chaos. 

In his words, he is “really attracted to failure”, especially people who are used to things going wrong but are suddenly forced to change.

The Night Manager actor explained that what interested him most about Club Kid was seeing a man in his 30s still behaving like an overgrown adolescent, only to have life abruptly demand maturity. 

He added that the story reflects his own generation, calling it a “30-something-year-old adolescent” experience wrapped in humour, heartbreak and self-discovery.

The film is written, directed and stars Jordan Firstman, who Diego praised for creating a collaborative and personal atmosphere on set.

Prison Cell 211 star revealed that the pair spent time-sharing deeply personal stories before filming began, including memories from his upbringing in Mexico City and his teenage years, which helped shape his character.

He said Firstman encouraged improvisation and openness, giving him space to “play and have fun” with the role, which he described as essential for such an intimate project.

Club Kid is set to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, and with its mix of messy humour and emotional truth.

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