Sunday, January 22, 2012

Eduardo Verástegui






It’s not hard to see how the handsome face above became a pop sensation and a soap opera star in his native Mexico. As he went up the echelons to star in the 20th century Fox film, Chasing Papi, people even began calling him the “Brad Pitt of Mexico.”

With his rising fame and ambition, Eduardo made the logical decision to work with an English teacher in L.A., but he learned more than English from the devout Catholic. Further influenced by Scott Hahn’s Rome Sweet Home, Eduardo did a 180, vowed to stay off demeaning roles, and even considered becoming a pirest. Those around him thought he was nuts, but he had undergone a true conversion: ...heaven is forever and that is my goal. I realized that I didn’t want to be a part of anything where the Blessed Virgin Mary or my mother would have to cover their eyes. 1

His spiritual director advised him to stay in Hollywood, but he did not get another role for three years. The dry spell ended when he met Leo Severino at a daily mass. Together they set out to form Metanoia, a film company that seeks to change hearts and affirm human dignity. Their first major production was the Toronto Film Festival audience favorite Bella (2006). In it, Eduardo stars not as a Latin lover, but as a young man who wants to help his female friend, body and soul, and to keep her from repeating his mistakes.


Metanoia’s next project is Little Boy, an adult fairy-tale about a boy who “struggles to achieve the impossible…bring his father back from WWII.”

In between movies Eduardo can be seen speaking out against abortion, inviting young Catholics to attend World Youth Day, and sharing the story of his personal journey. “We are not called to be successful, we are called to be faithful. I wasn't born to be famous, or rich, I was born to know and love and serve our Lord Jesus Christ.”2

More on Eduardo Verastegui:
1 Catholic Report Interview
2 Bella Star shares how God changed his live
IMDB
Today Show Interview
Mano de Guadalupe