Ep 986: From 300 to RUNNER: Rodrigo Santoro on the Roles That Changed Him

What happens when every second counts—and someone else’s life depends on what you do next?

On this episode of The Sisterhood of S.W.E.A.T., Linda Mitchell sits down with internationally acclaimed actor Rodrigo Santoro to talk about his new action thriller, RUNNER, directed by Scott Waugh and starring Owen Wilson and Alan Ritchson.

Rodrigo takes us behind the scenes of the high-stakes film and discusses what drew him to a story built around danger, trust, betrayal, and a desperate race to save an innocent life.

But this conversation goes beyond RUNNER.

Rodrigo reflects on an extraordinary career that began in Brazil and grew into international roles in projects including 300, 300: Rise of an Empire, Love Actually, Westworld, Focus, Che, The 33, and Project Power. He talks about what continues to challenge him as an actor, approaching complex characters, and the kinds of stories he still wants to tell.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• What attracted Rodrigo to RUNNER
• The human story underneath the action
• Working with Owen Wilson, Alan Ritchson, and director Scott Waugh
• Trust, betrayal, and what pressure reveals about people
• Rodrigo’s journey from Brazilian cinema to Hollywood
• How he steps away from intense characters when filming ends
• What keeps him challenged after an extraordinary career
• The roles he still hopes to explore

RUNNER opens in theaters September 11.

 Summary

In this episode, Rodrigo Santoro shares insights from his diverse acting career, his preparation for action roles, and what it takes to portray complex characters on screen. Discover how his background and experiences shape his approach to acting and stunt work.

 Key Topics

Rodrigo Santoro's transition from Brazilian cinema to Hollywood
Preparation and training for action roles, including workout routines
Collaboration with stunt coordinators and directors like Scott Law
The importance of authenticity and technical skill in stunt work
Themes of trust and betrayal in the film Runner
The complexity of portraying morally gray characters
The role of discipline and focus in acting and stunt performance
Insights into the film industry and international acting careers

 Sound Bites

"It's about the combination of workout and diet that makes the result."
"Working with Scott Law changed the way I approach the physical side."
"Runner is about trust and betrayal under pressure."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Rodrigo's diverse career
01:52 Training for 300 and the discipline involved
04:12 Transitioning from non-stunt roles to performing his own stunts
05:28 Working with director Scott Law and the technical aspects of action scenes
06:59 Themes of trust, betrayal, and moral complexity in Runner
08:35 Rodrigo's journey from Brazilian cinema to Hollywood
10:07 The importance of character depth and humanization in acting

 

 

Check out this episode!