Actor Tyler Alvarez is stealing tween hearts on the new Nickelodeon series, Every Witch Way.

Based on a successful, award-winning Latin American series, Every Witch Way tells the story of a girl named Emma who moves to a new town and discovers she’s a witch with magical powers. Tyler stars as Diego Rueda, a mysterious teenager on his own journey of self-discovery, complete with his own set of special super powers.

Diego is a “Churi Kanay” or “The Son of Fire”, which means he has the power to control the elements. Figuring out how to make use of his new-found abilities while trying to fit in is what makes Tyler’s character so interesting and compelling. Every Witch Way may be a show about witches, rivalry and magic, but it’s also one about the true power of friendship and love.

In real life, Tyler is a normal everyday sixteen year old who enjoys hanging with friends, going to concerts and tearing it up on Xbox One. I spoke to him about his role on Every Witch Way as well as what a typical day is like on the set and why he decided to make a career out of acting.

How would you describe Every Witch Way to someone who may not know about it?

It’s a show about friendship, love and a lot of magic gone wrong. That’s where a lot of the comedy comes from. It’s completely different from anything anyone has ever seen before in a kid’s television show.

What attracted you to the role of Diego Rueda?

I thought it would be fun to play a role where magic’s involved. Growing up, I always wanted to be one of those kids who could fly or have super powers and in this show, I have them. 

Was there something “magical” about how you landed the role?

I actually wound up booking the show on the same day the Mayans said the world was supposed to end [December 21st, 2012]. So there was a time where I was like, “Oh great, I’m going to book this job and then I’m going to die!” [laughs].

What can you tell me about Diego?

Diego is a Kanay and the Son of Fire. He’s the only boy on the show that can control the elements like fire, wind and ice. He just recently discovered that he has powers and is still learning how to use and control them. A lot of the time, it spirals out of control and actually endangers his friends and things go wrong. He’s funny and sarcastic. Unlike me, he’s also a clean freak. If he had a room, it would be completely neat and tidy, whereas my room right now looks like a war zone! [laughs].

What’s a typical day like on the set?

It depends on the day’s schedule. Usually, I’ll get there and we’ll have school for a few hours and then go straight to hair and makeup. Then we’ll run the lines a few times and finally, we’ll shoot. It’s very fast. On other sets you might have rehearsals and table reads, but we have none of that. It’s more soap-opera format.

Are there any differences between set school and regular school?

Absolutely. Number one is that there’s access to Kraft Services 24/7. So I’m usually eating my face off whenever I’m in school [laughs]. Another thing is that I’m allowed to have my phone, which I’m not allowed to have in regular school. But the thing I really love about set school is that I’m able to learn so much better because of the private one on one.

What’s the chemistry like with your cast mates?

The chemistry is great. We’re all really close and are like one big family. We all see each other six days a week and hang out together.

What do you like to do when you’re not acting?

I love going to comedy clubs, concerts and movies. Just doing random things with friends and being a regular teenager. Sometimes I love to get away from the entertainment industry and acting because I like to be grounded and remember just who I am.

What sparked your desire to make a career out of acting?

I’ve always liked to entertain people and make them laugh. When I was younger, my mom signed me up for an acting class and I remember it was so much fun that I knew right then that I had to continue on and make a career out of it. I really believe that if you love what you do, you’ll never have to actually “work” a day in your life.

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