shirt. Dolce & Gabbana
ear cuffs, bracelet + ring. Elena Matallana
After a celebrated first season, Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power is back. The acclaimed series, based on the work of J.R.R. Tolkien, gained not only the approval of Tolkien enthusiasts but also attracted new fans longing for a well-written, thrilling fantasy. At the center is Ismael Cruz Córdova, an actor with warmth and depth to him, qualities that the producers and team were looking for when searching for their new Silvan Elf, Arondir.
However, fans had to wait until the third episode for Arondir’s entrance in the second season – something that felt deliberate. It did not disappoint — feeling as a grand homage to Orlando Bloom’s Legolas. “Learning about my entrance…I was very excited,” Córdova says, smiling. “I wanted to make sure it would be an undeniable entrance, with a sense of ‘he has arrived’ and have it felt [to the audience] that’s our guy, but with the wonder that there is something a little bit off with him from what we are used to seeing.”
Getting into the role of Arondir he describes as a ‘muscle memory’ now. “I go through a process that is like around 4 hours.” Córdova says. “From getting to set, getting my make-up and costume done, to finally putting the ears on. At that point, it feels like a muscle memory. My voice begins to drop, and my body begins to transform. I begin to walk differently.” he says while showing me how his posture changes. “You can see me shifting from more joyful as I am personally, to becoming more serious. I am very impressed and impacted by the costumes, prosthetics, makeup and set designs, it’s all masterful what they have created, they are brilliant magicians.”
coat. Dolce & Gabbana
sweater. Versace
trousers. Sandro
boots. Diesel
opposite
sweater. Versace
When discussing the change of his character this season, Córdova says Arondir was on a journey trying to figure out what his place is in the world. “He is an elf, but not like others in the show,” he says. “He [Arondir] is not royal; he does not hold a high political position. He’s essentially following orders, but he’s also extremely curious and completely taken by humans. With questions such as, what is it that they do, how they feel and who all these beings are. He feels a bit envious of how bright and hopeful they can be despite everything.”
Córdova notes that Arondir can come across as quite complex to the audience. “I wanted to make it great just because I know the character resonates with a lot of people. I feel very close to him. He’s a character that goes through all these things and really has a lot of questions, a lot of curiosity, and a lot of care. He wants to do right by his people.”
The popularity of Arondir has not gone unnoticed by Córdova and wants his voice to represent Puerto Rico, his homeland, and to represent those who feel marginalized. “He is undeniably a popular character and the message I get is that he resonates with a wide range of people,” he says. “I have learned that the character resonates in a sense that people see themselves in him, beyond the colour of his skin and gender. He is dealing with what we all must deal with in our everyday lives. Art allows you to have a personal journey and I always feel that I am representative of that. I am the one that got to escape and wave a flag to say, ‘We are here!’ I feel that wholeheartedly.”
vest. Diesel
bracelet. Versace
Córdova references the hashtag #NossoElfo, which began out of Brazil. It means “Our Elf,” which has been translated into different languages around the world. “I get emotional hearing people talk about what it means and how they explain their own take on the character,” he says. “It’s very beautiful to have a character that is dealing with different things, being that popular. I think it reflects on our humanity. It all comes down to being able to see yourself in another light. To see yourself, for example as Puerto Rican, on-screen with other emotions than the stereotypical types we regularly see.”
Referencing being present and seen across billboards in cities across the globe, he shares on social media. “I know I am the one up there in the photo, but it’s much bigger than me. That’s why I post and repost when people send me images. The visual of how I look has never been seen like an elf before, it means something: a strong hero that is very heroic has not been seen in that context. I am very happy to revert the narrative. People just want to be seen for who you are, and you want to be able to exist in different ways.”
Córdova says he fought for the role and is very proud of his acting journey leading up to this moment. “It’s a big part of me, but it’s no longer a photo of Ismael. It’s people pointing and saying, ‘that’s our elf’, and that’s my people. People just want to be seen for who you are, and you want to be able to exist. I am part of that change. I hope they feel that it’s us up there, the Puerto Ricans, Latin, everyone that feels marginalized. The geeks, weirdos and nerds.”
coat. Brunello Cucinelli
turtleneck sweater. Sandro
ear cuff. Elena Matallana
opposite
shirt. Dolce & Gabbana
ear cuffs, bracelet + ring. Elena Matallana
While playing a hero on screen who embodies confidence, Córdova admits that he hasn’t always found it easy growing up. “There is a duality to confidence,” he says. “I grew up with very little confidence, but I realized it was coming from the outside, coming in. “It came from what society reflected onto you. The feeling of people telling you that you are not the right skin color, or that you are ugly. When I was younger, I was often told that. I would hear that I was weird, and because I liked art, I was seen as feminine.”
Córdova adds that a lot of “outside voices” shaped his confidence. “What was beautiful for me was that I had a flame inside of me that made me slide over it and keep flying over the hurdles and try to be my own cheerleader from within.” He remembers one of his “biggest mentors” Felix Jimenez, who helped him grow his confidence in later years. “I recently lost one of my biggest mentors. I was around 17 years old, and he told me, ‘You are weird [and that’s a great thing], your writing is incredible, you are a writer,’ which was such an incredible moment for me. It was the first time someone told me that. He was a novelist and professor at Harvard. He saw me for my creativity and never talked down to me. He blew my mind. While I feel more confident now, I still believe it’s a daily practice to stay confident. It takes a community too and it’s important to hear it from other people, and it can be just one person who tells you that you’re great. You latch onto that and continue your journey.”
Fans of Tolkien will know that the author’s storylines are all interconnected; old bonds, strangers becoming friends, and the overall community of the characters they meet on their Middle-earth adventures. They all help each other for good, even if you are a dwarf or elf. The importance of community and acceptance from others is something Córdova talks about dearly. “We’re taught to be individuals and to find compliments within ourselves. We talk about self- discovery and self-help, which is beautiful, but we don’t exist without a community and sometimes that can through wanting to receive compliments or affirmations, or simply to be noticed,” he says. “But sometimes we’re told we shouldn’t need that anymore, that we should just have it inside of us, but we don’t always have that validation within ourselves. We should provide comfort and compliments to each other, that’s how we can help each other feel like we exist and matter in the world.”
coat. Dolce & Gabbana
sweater. Versace
trousers. Sandro
boots. Diesel
opposite
full look. Versace
Before his casting in Rings of Power, Córdova did not find it easy to find his way. He first moved from his home in Puerto Rico to New York for university, later couch surfing throughout his twenties while looking for work. Now, at 37, he has roles under his belt that he has fought tirelessly for. How does mindset play into this? “Journaling has helped me quite a bit,” he says, adding that noting down your dreams is a good way to compile your thoughts. “I think there’s something very special and ancient about seeing your own writing and putting it to paper. I can’t tell you about manifestation because I can’t deny or confirm if it really works but I can tell you that I’ve done it and it works. “You know what exactly it is you want to do, write it down.”
Being on set is a varied experience for Córdova. He loves being on set and being around “the large community” that consists of the crew, extras, stuntmen, and beyond. He takes it as a chance to do some lurking. “I love to sneak into other people’s set when I can because it’s just so masterful and impressive. I want to cherish and embrace everything I can. I can’t be in the Lord of the Rings and not try to see everything I can, when I have the opportunity.”
On the other hand, he also ensures his mental health is at the top of his mind when shooting long days on set. “I have to mediate quite a bit, to be honest,” he admits. “This season we were shooting in very low temperatures, I was very very cold. In Episode four, you will see. We had to stop a few times because my jaw wouldn’t stop moving because it was so cold. Not to mention, I am sleeveless, and wet at some points. So, I need to learn how to breathe, and calm my mind and body.”
sweater. Loro Piana
trousers. Paul Smith
opposite
vest + trousers. Diesel
boots + bracelet. Versace
Talking about his dreams, outside of the love growing and developing his acting, Córdova imagines being able to give back to the land that nourished him. “I am very proud. I just bought some land in Puerto Rico which I am very excited about. I hope to protect the land and nature that has given me so much and saw me grow,” he says. “We have had some problems with the land being taken away from the locals and people living in that area. My hopeful contribution is to go back home, create a space there and take care of the land, eventually open it up.”
Córdova is a creative soul, with his warmth and interesting reflections. He loves all artistic expressions where he can be creative. “I love making art. In any form,” he says, showing me an impressive sculpture of clay he made. “I love painting a lot and making music. I used to dance a lot before, and I have had this feeling that I want to dance again, so now I’ve been feeling like I want to dance and sing. Just to take more time to create art.”
It’s not always easy to be a public figure, especially in an era of social media where everyone has opinions. How does he stay grounded with his goals and ambitions with all the outside noise? “Opinions are not a thing. You must follow whatever it is you want. I’ve tried to do that every day and I am still on my journey to move through that fear,” he says. “Because it’s mostly about fear. We fear what people might think, but you must be kind to yourself and follow your vision. “Just go for it and have fun. You’re always going to find your people; the weirdos find the weirdos.”
jacket, shirt + trousers. Giorgio Armani
shoes. Loro Piana
necklace. Jonas Studio
Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is streaming now on Prime.
photography. Matallana
fashion. DaVian Lain
talent. Ismael Cruz Córdova
grooming. Luis Guillermo Duque Using Oribe + Dr. Jackson Skin Care
casting, production + post production. Brooklyn Story Studio
fashion assistants. Taylor Adams + Tiffany Addams
interview. Yasmine Mubarak
