Shooting During Tornado Season Had Me Wondering, ‘What is Happening?’

Anthony Ramos excitedly shows me the Google Maps layout of Stoke-sub-Hamdon in Somerset on his phone screen, explaining it’s his favorite spot in the UK that he used to visit with his ex. It’s quite a jump to picture the star of Broadway’s Hamilton relaxing in a quaint West Country village of just 1,358 people. Just a year ago, he was the face of the $200m blockbuster Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, and now he’s back again in Twisters.

Sitting beside me in a high-end London hotel suite, Ramos looks every inch a contemporary movie star, donning a sharp black jacket, a chain around his neck, and slicked-back hair. His freckles break the striking symmetry of his appearance. It’s tough to pin down exactly where Ramos will fit in the industry or what cinematic realm he will claim as his own. In another scenario, his role in the 2021 musical In the Heights could have been his ticket to stardom. As Usnavi, a self-made sweetheart, Ramos radiated charm. However, the movie musical faced challenges, including a pandemic and a simultaneous streaming release, resulting in In the Heights not reaching its full potential.

“Even at that time, the only movies really crushing were Fast and Furious or Marvel,” Ramos remarks. “But I’m really proud of In the Heights. Though it didn’t hit the box office expectations, when fans tell me they love and rewatch it, I feel like we won. We won.”

Ramos is much more than just a song-and-dance man, which is fortunate given the rarity of such roles. His profile outside theater started rising when he was cast in A Star is Born (2018) and later took a leading role in Netflix’s She’s Gotta Have It reboot series, collaborating with Spike Lee. In 2023’s Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, he proved capable as a blockbuster lead, although the film, despite earning over $439m, went largely unremarked. In Twisters, a reboot of the 1996 disaster film, Ramos plays a supporting role to Glen Powell and Daisy Edgar-Jones.

His character Javi is an old friend of Edgar-Jones’s weather-savvy lead, luring her away from desk life to storm-chasing adventures. Ramos initially sought Powell’s role as maverick tornado wrangler Tyler Owens but found himself drawn to Javi, originally named Mason. Director Lee Isaac Chung, nominated for a Best Director Oscar for Minari, worked with Ramos to flesh out his character. “Isaac was very collaborative,” Ramos says. “We combed through every scene meticulously.”

Shooting in Oklahoma’s scorching summer heat was challenging. “We drove two hours to remote shooting locations and stayed in the lone hotel in town. It was truly immersive,” Ramos notes. “We were also in tornado season, making the experience surreal with real tornadoes, rain, and even hail in summer.”

Chung favored practical effects over CGI, adding authenticity. “We faced jet engines blasting at us,” Ramos laughs. Twisters feels like a throwback—a disaster movie with modest stakes, credible scale, and an original sweeping score. “The film tackles larger themes without feeling like a meteorology class,” he says. “Ultimately, it’s a blockbuster. People come to see destruction.”

Ramos tends to give long, animated answers, in his Brooklyn accent, zipping around topics like a runner circling a track. It’s easy to see why Lin-Manuel Miranda chose him for Hamilton, where Ramos played dual roles as Alexander Hamilton’s son Philip and his close friend John Laurens. In the Heights cemented him as the perfect representative for Miranda’s immigrant-centric narratives.

Several times, Ramos refers to himself in the third person. “I’m focused on my next body of work. What is Anthony the artist doing?” he asks. Whether it’s movies, Broadway, or his side project as a musician, Ramos insists on a clear, long-term vision. “I’m not shooting anything currently by choice, waiting for the right project,” he says. “It’s not about role size but working with great directors. I’m building a portfolio of exceptional works.” Ramos is also thrilled about voicing in the upcoming Bob the Builder project.

Produced by Jennifer Lopez, the animation will feature Ramos’s voice for the beloved children’s character. “I’m excited to bring my touch to a well-known property,” he shares.

“But,” he continues, “I don’t want to take jobs just for the paycheck. I’ve done that and wished I was elsewhere the whole time.” When asked to name the film, he shakes his head with a grin.

Outside film, Ramos is also a burgeoning music artist, having released two R&B and soul albums with Latin and reggaeton flavors: 2019’s The Good & The Bad and 2021’s Love and Lies. He uses a video game-based metaphor to explain balancing his passions: developing one skill sometimes slows the progress of another. But he’s confident in his versatility, saying, “It comes with time.”

Music allows Ramos to open up about personal topics, including his fame and relationships. His single “Villano” addresses the media frenzy surrounding his breakup with fiancée Jasmine Cephas Jones. He defends himself in the lyrics, reflecting on personal growth.

“Reaching success means accepting what comes with it,” he says. “I realize it’s okay to admit when I’m wrong and defend myself when I’m right.”

Feeling “healed” and grateful for the support in his life, especially from his relationship with Spanish singer-songwriter Eva Ruiz, Ramos reflects on his journey with a sense of renewed purpose.

With an air of confidence, Ramos appears blessed, whether by divine grace or simply good fortune, ready to make strides through any challenge that comes his way.

‘Twisters’ is in cinemas from 17 July