More Conversations with the Cast of ‘Heels’

Key Art from ‘Heels’ Courtesy of STARZ.

Note: These interviews were conducted on June 21, 2023, before the start of the SAG-AFTRA strike and during the WGA strike. Also, without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the series being covered here wouldn’t exist.
​
Truly, the STARZ series, Heels, boasts one of the most incredible ensembles of actors out there. For this team of actors truly brings their A game to the table for the show and exude nothing but passion for their work. Something that was evident when we at NTG had the opportunity to sit down with Stephen Amell (Jack Spade), Alexander Ludwig (Ace Spade), Robby Ramos (Diego Cottonmouth), Allen Maldonando (Rooster Robbis), and Trek Tucker (Bobby Pin), and for proof… well here is what this talented troupe had to say about what this show and their characters means to them. 

---

Stephen Amell and Alexander Ludwig

John Betancourt: What does it mean to each of you to be back for a second season?
​
Stephen Amell: Second season is the toughest season to get. Well, I guess, like actually getting something off the ground and getting to shoot it in the first place. Probably technically more challenging, but you know, bridging that gap from a first to a second season… you know, I don't know, it just… it seems to always be where the show takes off, where you have some time under your belt to see what works, you also have the real benefit of, of audience interaction and seeing what pops for people and what doesn't. So, you know, I've been very fortunate. This is the second time I've gotten a second season. And I hope that very shortly that we get a third.

Alexander Ludwig: Yeah, I mean, it's, it's very humbling. And it's, you know, when I first read the script, and I think I speak for Stephen as well, like, there's not a lot of shows like this. And there's not a lot of shows that are made like this. And that's what drew us to it is that we were like, “when will we ever get a chance to do something like this and tell this kind of a story for hopefully, you know, six years plus.” It's so far and few between, these are the kinds of, you know, back in the day, this would have been the kind of movie that would have made me want to be an actor, and now it's TV shows, right? And I just, I love everything about this. I love that it's flawed characters. I love that it's a world I'm not super familiar with, and that I've fallen in love with simultaneously.

Robbie Ramos, Allen Maldonaldo, and Trey Tucker

John Betancourt: What are each of you most looking forward to audiences experiencing in season two?
​
Allen Maldonaldo: Ah man, shout out to Mike O'Malley and the entire writing staff. The importance of storytelling in wrestling, I think that's what you're going to really see. Just what goes into behind the scenes and what goes into building these characters and building these worlds, building these you know, these leagues. I think you get a, you know, behind the scenes scope of what that is and what it takes in order to be a wrestler in order to be a part of a league even on an independent level.

Trey Tucker: I think the way that, you know, season one, we kind of got set up to understand the world of wrestling a little bit more, the behind the scenes, pull the curtain back a little bit. Now I think you walk fully through the curtain, and you get to see what this thing does to the lives of the people who are in it. And we get to go into a lot more nuance and detail about that. The effects of loving wrestling on each individual life and story and that's really fun. And yeah, shout out to (Mike) O'Malley and everybody in the writer’s room because they knocked it out of the park.

Robbie Ramos: Yeah, I think the family drama aspect too, of this whole thing, and, and having it relate to people that don't necessarily know much about wrestling. It might be like a fun show for like a super wrestling fanatic to watch with somebody who doesn't know much, and that they love you know, it's that kind of show where you can watch that kind of thing with somebody, so, for me it's that aspect, and it’s the family drama and kind of how it meshes into the world of wrestling.

John Betancourt: What is it you all enjoy the most about playing your respective characters?

Allen Maldonaldo: Man, Rooster’s just… big and fun, man. He gets to you know, express himself in such a colorful way in and around the ring, man, it’s such an emotional sort of roller coaster that you get to have with Rooster. From his pain, his joy, his desires, his passion. That's what I get excited for, you know, and then sharing the screen with these incredible actors. Everybody on the show… are dogs man, they love acting.

Robbie Ramos: Thank you, bro.

Allen Maldonaldo: So, when you get to set, you got to come ready to perform. It's just like, if we were all wrestlers, everybody's coming to bring their A-game and steel sharpens steel. So, that I think that's what you see on screen as well, is just a group of artists that are portraying wrestlers but are living that dream that they're pursuing in the show in real time.

Robbie Ramos: Hmm. Yeah, man, I think to like, you know, to get to say some of these lines that Diego gets to say From Mike O’Malley and from (Michael) Waldron and all the other writers, it's, it's fun, you know? Diego gets to be kind of the icebreaker at times, but then gets a little serious at times too. So, to kind of play that duality is kind of a is a great thing as an actor, you know? Trey?

Trey Tucker: I don't enjoy it. (Laughter from all) Kidding. I love it. Honestly, it's, I mean, I'm a bit of a renaissance guy like I, you know, my background. I'm a coder. I've been writing code for 15 years and I was a carpenter for a while and loads of other things. This is my favorite job. Because of these guys here, everybody who works on the show, this character is super fun to do because he's so… he's so positive. And I love getting to do that, and be somebody who's just excited to be there, supportive, and enthusiastic. It's really, it's fun to do man, and to deal with these other great actors and great team and… it's fantastic. It's my favorite thing I've gotten to do.

These interviews have been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.