Benicio del Toro discusses his supporting role in Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another, which has earned 13 Oscar nominations including for best supporting actor. In a Hollywood Reporter interview, he shares insights into shaping his character Sensei and reflects on his career and personal losses. The film explores themes of migration and protection amid revolutionary turmoil.
Benicio del Toro arrived at the Peninsula Beverly Hills for his Hollywood Reporter cover story interview on February 23, 2026, wearing a black windbreaker and an Oakland A’s cap. At 59, the actor from Puerto Rico spoke candidly about his role as Sensei in Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another, a film that premiered on September 8 and addresses militarized oppression, revolution, and protecting the vulnerable.
Del Toro’s performance has placed him in the Oscars conversation for best supporting actor, alongside Sean Penn, with the movie nominated for 13 awards including best picture. His last nomination was for 21 Grams over two decades ago, following his 2000 win for Traffic. "It’s bizarre," Del Toro said of the attention, noting his limited screen time: "I came in to get Leo from point A to point D."
He influenced the script significantly, objecting to an early draft where Sensei committed a double murder. Instead, Del Toro proposed making the character a protector leading a migrant smuggling operation, likened by Anderson to a "Latino Harriet Tubman." This change shifted Sensei from plot instigator to moral compass, with the dojo as a refuge. The Baktan Cross sequence, set in a fictional border town based on El Paso, benefited from local talent and real locations during the 2024 shoot.
Anderson wrote the role for Del Toro, delaying production three months to accommodate him after Inherent Vice. Del Toro transitioned quickly from Wes Anderson’s The Phoenician Scheme, filming his first scene in a real El Paso store with non-actors. This fostered a bond with Leonardo DiCaprio, both guiding locals on set.
Del Toro’s background includes losing his mother to hepatitis at age 9, an event he still processes: "I’m still dealing with it." Raised expecting to become a lawyer like his family, he switched to drama at UC San Diego after a Sam Shepard play. He co-parents his daughter with Kimberly Stewart and maintains privacy about his personal life. On Puerto Rico’s U.S. status, he stated flatly, "That makes no sense," highlighting voting and representation issues.
Sensei’s altruism resonates with Del Toro: "When someone risks their life to save someone else, we clap." He sees such instincts in recent real-world acts of heroism.
