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Sarah Keenlyside

Few characters are more chilling than Rodney Alcala – the real-life subject of A Simple Favor 2 star Anna Kendrick’s directorial debut, Woman of the Hour. The 1970s serial killer was known to have murdered at least seven women – potentially dozens more – and died in prison in 2021.

The man tasked with portraying evil Alcala in the Netflix film? Actor Daniel Zovatto, who couldn’t be sweeter in real life, according to his co-stars. “Danny is just the nicest guy on the planet,” actress Autumn Best, who plays Amy, said of the 33-year-old. “He’s so friendly and warm and supportive.”

So what else do we know about the actor who Kendrick reportedly hand-picked for the part?
Daniel Zovatto is from Costa Rica

While the serial killer he portrays in Woman of the Hour was from Texas, Zovatto is Costa Rican. The actor told Zay Zay Aquino last year that he had an “amazing childhood” and was blessed to have grown up in such a naturally beautiful country.
“Costa Rica feels like a big farm with beautiful beaches … I always think about going back home in a few years and having a life back home. I miss it for sure,” he added.
He has well-known parents

Zovatto’s mum is Latin American TV personality Sylvia Blanco, as reported by People magazine. She’s hosted everything from talk shows to telethons and game shows over the years, including Compartiendo la Noche … con Sylvia Blanco (“Sharing the Night … with Sylvia Blanco”) and La Rueda de la Fortuna (“Wheel of Fortune”). Meanwhile, Daniel’s father is the Argentinian politician Daniel Zovatto Garetto.
Leonardo DiCaprio inspired Daniel Zovatto to be an actor

Zovatto’s father was something of a film buff, and would often rent films from Blockbuster, per People. Zovatto said that it was only when he watched two films starring a young Leonardo DiCaprio that the power of acting fully hit him.

“I remember watching What’s Eating Gilbert Grape and then Basketball Diaries, and I was like, who is this? This is the same kid?” he told People. “And my little kid brain, I didn’t compute what that was, but my mum’s like, ‘This is acting.’ And I was like, ‘Holy s***. Well, I want to do that.’”
He moved to the US to pursue his dream

As soon as he turned 18, Zovatto moved to the US to study theatre in New York. On virtual chat show When Zay Zay Met, he told host Zay Zay Aquino that he’d always dreamed of living in the city, but after six years in the Big Apple, began getting jobs that eventually took him to LA.

Since landing his first role in a big-name project – Marvel’s Agents of Shield in 2014 – he has appeared in a number of TV series and films including Greta Gerwig’s Lady Bird, Station Eleven and Penny Dreadful: City of Angels. His first major role was alongside Russell Crowe in horror flick The Pope’s Exorcist.
Who is Daniel Zovatto’s wife?

Zovatto has been married to LA born actress Tara Holt since March 2023. Holt has had small roles in shows such as Californication, NCIS and How to Be a Bookie, per IMDB, but as seen on her Instagram, also works in real estate on the side.

The couple wed at a resort on Laguna Beach in California and welcomed their first child in July 2024 – a daughter named Kaya. Holt gave birth at home as Zovatto looked on, and described the experience as making her “feel like a warrior goddess”.
What’s with all the horror films?

To date, Zovatto’s best known works have been in the thriller/horror genre. “I love to scare people,” he told Zay Zay Aquino in their interview, adding that he finds the characters he gets to play really fun. However, he told People that he’d like to mix it up at some point and do some animation voice-over work for the sake of his daughter.

“I’ve always been a huge Pixar guy. I love those movies, I grew up watching them,” he told the outlet. “It’ll be exciting to do movies for her one day.”


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Fame and celebrity

Meet Daniel Zovatto, star of Netflix’s Woman of the Hour: the Costa Rican plays serial killer Rodney Alcala in Anna Kendrick’s directorial debut, and says Leonardo DiCaprio inspired him to be an actor

Woman of the Hour actor Daniel Zovatto. Photo: @tvimpactopr/Instagram

The real Rodney Alcala (left) and Daniel Zovatto, the actor who plays him in Netflix film Woman of the Hour. Photos: @all_thats_interesting; @contodonetflix/Instagram 

Anna Kendrick and Daniel Zovatto. Photo: @thecinescape1/Instagram

Daniel Zovatto. Photo: @thatzovatt/Instagram

Costa Rican TV host – and Daniel Zovatto’s mum – Sylvia Blanco. Photo: @sylviablanco/Instagram

Daniel Zovatto (left) in Penny Dreadful: City of Angels with Nathan Lane. Photo: @danielzovattoig/Instagram

Johnny Depp (left) and Leonardo DiCaprio in What’s Eating Gilbert Grape. Photo: @lets_talk_about_movies000/Instagram

Daniel Zovatto (in black) with fellow cast members from Penny Dreadful: City of Angels (from left), Dominic Sherwood,  Lorenza Izzo and Johnathan Nieves. Photo: @danielzovattoig/Instagram

Daniel Zovatto and Tara Holt. Photo: @taraholt/Instagram; Getty Images

Tara Holt and Daniel Zovatto had their first child in July 2024. Photo: @taraholt/Instagram

Daniel Zovatto as Money in 2016 psychological horror Don’t Breathe. Photo: @simply_blissfull/Instagram

Daniel Zovatto and Tara Holt. Photo: @taraholt/Instagram

Who are Twilight actress Anna Kendrick’s parents? Her late father William was ex-Navy, while her mum Janice once gave her advice for The Accountant … and now has an idea for Pitch Perfect 4

Actress Anna Kendrick, who remains close to mother Janice. Photo: @AnnaKRocks/X

Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively in A Simple Favor (2018). Photo: TNS

Anna Kendrick at the premiere of Another Simple Favor at the South by Southwest Film Festival. Photo: AP

Anna Kendrick’s father William was a teacher and US Navy veteran. Photo: Handout

Meet Christina Ricci’s celebrity hairstylist husband Mark Hampton: he joined the Yellowjackets actress as she received her Hollywood Walk of Fame star – and has worked with brands including Hugo Boss

Meet Christina Ricci’s husband Mark Hampton, who recently joined the Yellowjackets actress as she received her Hollywood Walk of Fame star. Photo: Reuters

Christina Ricci with her husband Mark Hampton, and children Freddie and Cleopatra, as she received her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame this month. Photo: Reuters

Mark Hampton and Christina Ricci on the Hollywood Walk of Fame this month. Photo: AP

Christina Ricci has called her husband, Mark Hampton, “the absolute love of my life”. Photo: @markhamptonhair/Instagram

Who is The White Lotus star Michelle Monaghan’s husband, Peter White? The Australian designer started a skincare firm – and rooted for his wife when she skipped their honeymoon to kiss Tom Cruise

The White Lotus star Michelle Monaghan has been married to Peter White for almost 20 years. Photos: @likesbywhite, @michellemonaghan/Instagram

Michelle Monaghan at the Baby2Baby charity gala in Los Angeles last November. Photo: AFP

Michelle Monaghan and daughter Willow during New York Fashion Week last September. Photo: @michellemonaghan/Instagram

Peter White is a designer who hails from Australia. Photo: myherbitual.com

Michelle Monaghan’s husband, Peter White, is the founder of a skincare company. Photo: @michellemonaghan/Instagram

Michelle Monaghan and Peter White have two children. Photo: @michellemonaghan/Instagram

Peter White and Michelle Monaghan have been together almost a quarter of a century. Photo: @michellemonaghan/Instagram

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Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang at the 97th Oscars on March 2. Photo: Getty Images

Matt Rogers recently accompanied his friend Bowen Yang to the Oscars. Photo: @mattrogerstho/Instagram 

Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang are besties – and podcast co-hosts. Photo: @mattrogerstho/Instagram 

Matt Rogers with his No Good Deed co-star Poppy Liu. Photo: @mattrogerstho/Instagram

“We are halfway done with the tour,” Matt Rogers enthusiastically captioned this Instagram pic in December 2024. Photo: @mattrogerstho/Instagram 

Matt Rogers grew up on Long Island. Photo: @mattrogerstho/Instagram 

Matt Rogers is 35 years old. Photo: @mattrogerstho/Instagram

Matt Rogers is a comedian, actor, podcaster and TV host, among other things. Photo: @mattrogerstho/Instagram 

Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers at the US Open Tennis Championships in September 2024. Photo: @mattrogerstho/Instagram 

Matt Rogers has acted in over 50 productions to date. Photo: @mattrogerstho/Instagram 

Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang met at NYU but didn’t get on at first. Photo: @mattrogerstho/Instagram 

Matt Rogers has interviewed some of America’s biggest stars on his podcast. Photo: @mattrogerstho/Instagram 

Matt Rogers decided to come out as gay a year into university. Photo: @mattrogerstho/Instagram 

Matt Rogers decided to switch from journalism to acting. Photo: @mattrogerstho/Instagram 

Meet Netflix boss Ted Sarandos’ wife, Nicole Avant: from the Hollywood nepo baby’s Beverly Hills childhood to becoming US ambassador, backing Barack Obama and coping with grief after her mum’s murder

Ex-US ambassador Nicole Avant and Netflix boss Ted Sarandos, husband and wife since 2009. Photo: @nicoleavant/Instagram

Nicole Avant supported Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton. Photo: @nicoleavant/Instagram

Nicole Avant (right) grew up in Beverly Hills. Photo: @nicoleavant/Instagram

Nicole Avant (second right) became a prominent political voice in 2007. Photo: @nicoleavant/Instagram

Nicole Avant was the first African-American female US ambassador to The Bahamas. Photo: @nicoleavant/Instagram

It was love at first sight for Nicole Avant and Ted Sarandos. Photo: @nicoleavant/Instagram

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Entertainment

The 33-year-old’s chilling portrayal of real-life killer Rodney Alcala follows a starring role alongside Russell Crowe in 2023’s The Pope’s Exorcist – so why is he aiming for a Pixar film next?
