"Rocking Debut!"

Mexican actor Diego Boneta originally got his start on telenovelas like Alegrijes Y Rebujos, Misión S.O.S., and Rebelde and has gone into singing, becoming popular in Latin America. He also gained recognition in the U.S. for his roles in the teen series Pretty Little Liars and 90210, as well as the direct-to-video release Mean Girls 2.

Now the 21 year-old Mexico City native makes his Hollywood film debut as Drew Boley in the highly-anticipated film adaptation of the of the popular 1980’s rock jukebox musical Rock Of Ages. Boneta talks about first auditioning for the film and being paired up with the film’s leading lady, Julianne Hough.

“After six weeks of auditioning and back and forth, it was a crazy process,” Diego remembers, “And I didn’t know that I was going to be reading with Julianne. It was a surprise. I read for Adam and they said, ‘Diego, stay for a little bit.’ And then, all of a sudden, slow-motion, door opens, red high heels, jeans, blonde beautiful girl walks in, big blue eyes, and big hair.”

“And then, we did the scene together and it was so easy and the chemistry was there,” he continues, “And then, when we were in Miami, it was really she became like my sister. We were both on the same page. I mean we both wanted to do our very best working on this big movie with huge actors and that’s what really brought us together.”

Diego talks about the experience of having done his first Hollywood feature film.

“Everything and more,” Boneta describes of it, “Shooting this movie was honestly the best time of my life. We had so much fun. Everyone’s been saying that it was crazy hours and a crazy shoot. I don’t have anything else to compare it to, but if I had to relive the whole experience again, I would stay in those five months forever.”

“The saddest moment was wrapping this movie and it was very, very humbling,”

"Rocking Debut!"

he continues, “And it was an amazing learning experience and I hope every other movie is like this and I hope people enjoy the film as much as we enjoyed filming it. We all became a family and like I said, I’m very lucky and very humble to be part of this and for this to be my first movie. I can’t believe it.”

Boneta talks about working one of the film’s biggest stars, Tom Cruise, who plays famous rock singer Stacee Jaxx.

“Really, really good voice and not only his vocals, but his performance,” he says of Cruise, “That’s not something you can really teach someone, to be a rock star and to move like that on stage, he’s a movie star, he’s a rock star, there’s nothing he can’t do.”

“And the coolest thing was watching him on set,” Diego adds, “He was treating this movie like it was his first movie. He was so excited and it was so inspiring. This is my first movie and to see a veteran like Tom, to see the biggest movie star work that way and be so humble and so thankful was very inspiring.”

Diego talks about what it was like to revisit the stage.

“We’re singing with Tom Cruise,” Boneta adds, “We’re singing with Julianne and a live audience. Tom Cruise is Stacee Jackson in “Don’t Stop Believin’”. I don’t know what else could make it any better.”

Boneta, being born after the 1980’s ended, was asked if he found it difficult connecting with Rock Of Ages assortment of classic 1980’s rock hits.

“My parents only listened to eighties’ bands,” Diego says, “So growing up, my favorite bands were The Police, Queen, and U2. And I’d be talking to my friends in second grade like, ‘Guys, do you know who Freddie Mercury is? He’s awesome! He’s really cool!’ And they’d all look at me to be like, ‘Freddie Mercury? We’re listening to Britney Spears. What are you talking about?’”

“The older I

"Rocking Debut!"

got, I started listening to other 1980′s bands,” he says, “And it got to a point that even before I auditioned for this movie, I knew every single song, which is awesome. And I feel like the 1980′s music has timeless songs, amazing, epic melodies, and I really hope that this movie helps really bring some of that back for today’s pop music.”

Diego also weighed in on the fashion of the 1980’s.

“I really like those small, high bikinis,” Boneta notes, “I think those should come back. Guys would be very happy. That boy band look, come on, guys. That wig and those clothes. That was awesome. I kept that wig and I’m going to burn it.”