Lately Martin, now 49, has been thinking a lot about hisothercareer, as an actor. It’s been 25 years since he parlayed his performative sexuality — honed on girl-packed stadiums across the world as a teen — to a different market: The women who watch soap operas. For two years in the mid-’90s, Martin and his leonine, shoulder-length hair were a part of the cast ofGeneral Hospital. He starred as the oft-shirtless bartender Miguel Morez. “I learned a lot,” he says now. “But, honestly, it was insane.”
Martin remembers the two years as a cast member as good for his acting skills — an altogether different course in seduction — but hard to connect with the cast. “I hated going there every day.” It did, however, expose him to more audiences in the US. And he became a graduate of a school of acting (of sorts) with some famous alumni. “Demi Moore,” says Martin, thinking of other former soap opera stars. “Who else? I think Liz Taylor did soap operas as well, andMeg Ryan.”
After a little time on Broadway starring inLes Miserables, he hit the top of the Billboard 100 — and led the way for the late-’90s so-called “Latin explosion” that dominated pop music into the new century:Shakira,Enrique Iglesias,Marc AnthonyandJennifer Lopez.
Ricky Martin.Matthew Brookes
He appeared on Broadway again in 2012, starring inEvita, and the same year appeared onGlee. (He played a Spanish teacher and sangMadonna’s “La Isla Bonita.") His next major acting gig, in 2018, was also aRyan Murphyproduction,The Assassination of Gianni Versace.He scored an Emmy nomination for the role — and after the laudation was hoping for more prestige acting offers. He’s still waiting.
“I love acting,” he says. “I’m waiting for those scripts, for those great scripts. I can play gay, I can play straight, I can play a serial killer. I can play Latin, but I can also play European. I am ready. Just give it to me, man. Give it to me.”
“I just want to tap into anything that has to do with acting. I love theater, too,” Martin says. “I want to tell a story. That’s what I want. I want to tell important story, and I want to change the way people see life in general towards some more optimistic way.”
“I don’t know if I’m not getting parts because I’m gay,” he admits. “But if that’s the case, it’s really sad. I’m going to keep working until life is different.”
For more from Ricky Martin on the cover of PEOPLE, pick up our Pride Issue, on newsstands everywhere Friday.
source: people.com
