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

Mar 21 , 2025

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

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?

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 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

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.”

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

So what else do we know about the actor who Kendrick reportedly hand-picked for the part?

Daniel Zovatto is from Costa Rica

Daniel Zovatto. Photo: @thatzovatt/Instagram

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

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

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.