Manny Jacinto ‘Freakier Friday’ Interview

burt Reynolds’s 1972 centerfold in Cosmopolitan was, simply put, a major moment in pop culture. It was our magazine’s-any magazine’s-first time featuring a man in that kind of spread, and it cemented Burt’s status as one of America’s sexiest men. In homage,we’re continuing the Cosmo Centerfold series,in which we showcase the hottest celebs of our time. You’ll have to pick up an actual Cosmo to see it in the flesh. Enjoy!

There are lots-nay, tons-of reasons to swoon over Manny Jacinto: his acting roles, which range from lovable doofus Jason Mendoza on The Good Place to a Sith Lord on The Acolyte to his latest, Lindsay Lohan’s british chef love interest in freakier Friday, in theaters now. Then there are his dance moves, which would put every other person on any wedding dance floor to shame. Next, there are his cheekbones, which don’t require an description if you’re looking at these pictures (even though I’ll still note that they made the crew at his cosmopolitan photo shoot gasp).

But maybe his most swoonworthy quality is how hard he rides for his wife, fellow actor Dianne doan, which became very apparent during our chat earlier this spring. If you want to have one of those “I hope this love finds me” moments, keep reading.

Before a shoot like this, what’s your prep? What’s the routine?

I gotta give all

“it’s Really All About the Face” – Manny Jacinto on Dancing, Rom-Coms, and Letting Loose

“I was working with this guy, and we were in the same studio. And I was like, wait, when was this? And this was around the same time, like, summer of 2012, 2011.I think he’s one of the best dancers on the team. But I also just dig his music.”

[Image of Manny Jacinto with a quote about dancing and hips]

You yourself are a very good dancer, and you’ve used that ability many times onscreen. What would you tell guys who are not good at dancing? Which is almost all of them.

It’s really all about the face, to be honest. When you’re on the dance floor, it doesn’t really matter how well you move your body. I mean, sometimes it does, sure. But if people see you having a good time and they see it in your face, they connect with that and they find so much joy in that. When somebody’s a good dancer,but they’re completely blank up top,there’s a disconnect. You gotta feel it.It’s all in the face.

But also, loosen up those hips.I think a lot of the guys tend to use the arms a lot or think it’s leg movement. but hips don’t lie.

I hope enough men read this story to take that to heart. What is the most romantic movie you’ve ever seen?

A Walk to Remember. I think I first saw it in eighth grade. I remember seeing it with one of my closest friends during the time.

A Home-Cooked Date for Dianne

I think for her it’d be a really incredible,well-cooked meal at home. I wish I could cook,but she comes from a family that does a lot of cooking,and a lot of the connection has been made at the dinner table.

If You’re Gonna Try to Cook a Date-night Meal, What Are You Pulling Out? What Are You Doing?

For Dianne, it would be something Vietnamese as she’s Vietnamese. Whether it be pho or Bún Bò or something that’s comfort food for her. Or I would try and do something Filipino and bring that in to feel like it’s home. Have you ever tried filipino spaghetti? Filipinos, they like to have sugar on everything. So instead of tomato paste, they use this thing called banana ketchup. I think it might be banned in the States now. It’s essentially just ketchup, but it has almost a banana flavoring, and it’s very sweet. So you put that in the spaghetti, and to some, it turns them off completely. But some people really love it. It’s a love-hate. But I grew up with it, so I love it.

!Anything That Brings Someone Mentally Home Is So Romantic. Do You Think Romance Can Be Taught?

Yes, I think it can be. It’s just learning.”That it’s work.You have this idea,especially in all these movies that we watch,that it’s gonna be a happy ending forever,but there’s a reason why it ends on the happy ending,because there’s other chapters that unfold.It takes work, time, and dialog, but it’s worth it. If it was easy, everybody would stay married. But it’s not easy.”

!Manny Jacinto on Love, Happiness, and Prioritizing Well-being

Manny Jacinto, known for his roles in “The Good Place” and “Brand New Cherry Flavour,” recently opened up about his viewpoint on relationships and happiness.He emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and personal well-being as foundational elements for a healthy partnership.

Jacinto acknowledges that his own emotional state directly impacts his relationships. “If I don’t get a good amount of sleep or if I’m hungry, if I’m having a bad day, that gets passed on to our relationship,” he explained. This highlights the crucial connection between self-care and relational health. it’s a reminder that bringing your best self to a relationship requires actively tending to your own needs.

Though, Jacinto doesn’t shy away from the effort required in love. “But love is work. you gotta work at it.” He balances this acknowledgment with the immense rewards: “But it’s the most lovely thing and you get the most special moments.” Ultimately, he believes sharing life with someone substantially enhances happiness. “Life is just so much more happy when you can share it with somebody.”