Interview: Ricky Martin Talks His Return To TV in ‘Palm Royale’

Ricky Martin is a triple threat. He’s one of the biggest Latin crossover recording artists of our time, he’s been acting for decades, and he’s even been on the Broadway stage as Che in Evita. Aside from a guest stint or two, Martin primarily focused on his singing career until he made his official return to television in the critically acclaimed and award-winning The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story. In the Ryan Murphy-produced show, Martin played Antonio D’Amico, the partner of the late Gianni Versace. With a sizable role, the performer left audiences wanting more.

Cut to five years later, and Ricky Martin is back in Apple TV’s Palm Royale. Set in the 1960s, Martin is picture-perfect as Robert Diaz, a bartender and close friend of the regal Norma Delacourt (played by the legendary Carol Burnett). In the show, Martin plays a closeted gay man who’s struggling with identity but finds a close community with the ladies who live on the fringes of the socialite circle of Palm Beach, Florida. The show is a dark comedy, which, at its best, skewers the opulence of the late 60s and early 70s. 

It’s a pleasure to see Martin back on the screen again. He nails his dramatic scenes just as much as he throws himself into the show’s zany comedy beats. One of the highlights of his performance is seeing the bond Robert has with Linda (played by Laura Dern), a second-wave feminist and bookstore owner who also hovers around the Delacourts.

Awards Radar spoke to Ricky Martin about breaking into the music scene as a kid, his experience acting, and his thoughts about being an icon in the LGBTQ community.