Paolo Montalban Discusses Cinderella's New Life on Disney +, Whitney Houston, & Being Prepared!

I think I won't be the first to say that Paolo Montalban's career is nothing short of inspiring to me. When you can leave your fingerprints on something that everyone will not only remember forever but also be very passionate about, is a true reward in itself! Paolo is best known for his performance as Prince Christopher in the 1997 Disney Television Film Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella, coming to Disney+ on Friday, February 12th.

His other Television and Film credits include - Mortal Kombat: Conquest (a show I watched to death as a kid) as Kung Lao, Law and Order: SVU, Madam Secretary, Nurse Jackie, The Blacklist, Two Weeks, Just Wright, The Great Raid, and American Adobo. Along with reprising his role as The Prince at The Paper Mill Playhouse in 2005 and performing in the National Tour of Man of La Mancha, Paolo has also performed on Broadway in Breakfast at Tiffany's, Pacific Overtures, and The King and I.

I truly hope everyone takes the time to tune into Cinderella on Disney+ on February 12th or after that. When I found out that it was going to be added, it truly put a big smile on my face since it was one of the many movies and shows I grew up on. The cast is a director and producer's dream. For the first time in my life, it truly showed me as a young performer that I don't have to put myself in a box and that I can look at all types of roles that I am drawn too.

From Mortal Kombat to Cinderella, I am so grateful and honored that Paolo took the time to talk with me and that I am able to feature him! He honestly reminded me that the bigger the star, the more down to earth they are.

How old were you when you knew you wanted to be an actor?

My senior year in college, actually. I was 19 years old. I was doing my final musical in college at Rutgers, and an agent from New York came to see some other actors in The Rutgers Conservatory Mason Gross School of the Arts. I was not a conservatory student. I was a pre-med psych major who did plays and musicals because I liked doing them. An agent approached me after the show and asked if I would be interested in pursuing this professionally.

At that time, I had never thought I could make money or a career out of this. Luckily for me, my parents were there to see the show. We all went to the student union cafeteria afterward and sat down and discussed it. I ended up signing with him, and at the first audition he sent me out on after I graduated college, I booked a National Tour of Man of La Mancha. After that, I just start building my resume.

Paolo Montalban and Brandy in Cinderella

I think it is amazing as an artist when you are a part of something that is remembered forever. How exciting is it for you to see your Cinderella get this almost new life in 2021?

I can honestly say that every single day since the release announcement, I have shed tears of grace just from reading the comments and all the wonderful things that people are saying about the movie, how much it means to them, and how much it affected their lives over the years. The idea that we get to share that same feeling with a new generation is quite humbling.

When it comes down to it, this film was the originator of thinking outside the box when it comes to casting. The entire time you're watching it, you think to yourself that it works, this way of casting truly works. Have you been able to connect with any of the cast members since the Disney+ announcement?

Well, there was a reunion with the surviving members with Entertainment Weekly, and what I said was, "For all of you out there who are wondering how can an African American mother and a Caucasian father have an Asian son, it is because love plus love equals love."

From you to Brandy to Bernadette Peters to Whoopi Golberg to the late Whitney Houston among so many others, what a stacked cast! How does that happen?

Whitney Houston is how it happens! She truly made that happen! The producer Debra Martin Chase has always been a champion of the BIPOC Artistic Community as well especially with creating content for and showcase POC artists. Also, Neil Meron and Craig Zaden, who are truly musical theatre television royalty as far as I am concerned, were amazing.

I grew up on Mortal Kombat, so to be talking to Kung Lao puts a big smile on the face of the 13-year-old me. Your career, by no means, was a one and done with Cinderella. You have done film, television, and theatre, including a couple of stints on Broadway. Are there any projects, shows, etc., that will always be near and dear to your heart?

I got to be a part of this movie called The Great Raid which starred Connie Nielson, Benjamin Bratt, James Franco, and Joseph Fiennes among so many others. This cast was truly top-notch. It was a big World War 2 movie about the biggest rescue of Americans and allies behind enemy lines. It took place in the Philippines because that is where the rescue occurred, but it was shot in Australia. The cast was truly what made this experience so memorable, and what topped it off was the same trainer who worked on Saving Private Ryan was our trainer, so we spent 12 weeks doing a World War 2-style boot camp on the side of this mountain using only authentic World War 2 gear. It was so much fun.

What advice would you give any young aspiring performing artists who are pursuing a career?

Well, I have always been a big fan of the statement "Be Prepared." Just prepare yourself and learn your craft because I personally believe everyone in this business (in this world!) gets their opportunity with their one true dream, and it's only a matter of being prepared and being ready for it!

Check out Paolo and Brandy performing "The Sweetest Sounds" in Cinderella!