Meet Ivan Hernandez, Carrie Bradshaw’s New Love Interest on ‘And Just Like That…’


Craig Blankenhorn/HBO Max

I rewatched the last 15 minutes of the episode, and we should have known something was coming because when you first come in at the wedding and the couple kisses, Franklyn says, “That was a kiss.” Did Michael Patrick King give you any sort of instruction to make the kiss like that?

He didn’t say that, but I think it was referencing not just the wedding kiss, but the kiss between Carrie and Peter too, and the lack of chemistry. And so that line was referencing that. I knew that the last kiss between us, the last moment of the show was meant to be the opposite of the kiss with Peter, which you can’t really…I mean, you don’t know if it’s going to really work out, but I did my best.

Did you watch the scene, or is it too hard to watch you making out with Sarah Jessica?

No, I watched it. I like to see how it turned out. But it’s hard to judge. It’s hard to be your own judge. That’s for sure.

It turned out great. Have you thought of what comes next for them? 

I have my own ideas and thoughts, but it’s not up to me. It’s up to the writers. So I’ll be just as interested as anybody else to find out.

What are your thoughts? I need to know. [Laughs.]

Ha! I think I’ll keep them to myself. It could go anywhere. Who knows?

Okay, so switching gears from Franklyn to Ivan, where were you born and raised?

I was born and raised in San Francisco. I started up as a musician. I was playing piano and clarinet and saxophone and playing soccer. My dreams was to play soccer in Europe. But then during my last year in high school, I did a play and a musical and loved it. And then I got to college, and I started doing the shows there. I fell in love with theater and musical theater and became a total musical theater nerd, diving into that world. Then I moved to New York and did that for a long time until I got married and had two kids—two wonderful daughters. After that, we decided it was time to move to L.A. and have a more family-friendly schedule and do more television. 

How old are your daughters?

They are 13 and 10.

Have they watched any of And Just Like That…?

No, no, not yet. Maybe in a few years.

And what does your wife do?

Christina is a writer. She’s been finishing up a novel and also teaches German online because she’s from Germany.

So what did Christina think of your kiss with Carrie Bradshaw?

She’s going to be so mad at me, but she just hates to watch that stuff.

All you have to say is “Honey, it’s job security. This is great.”

Exactly. That’s what I always say, but she still doesn’t like it. Although she was happy it was nothing more risqué. She loves the show too, but she’d prefer if I don’t have to do that stuff.

What is the most romantic thing you’ve ever done for your wife, and what’s the most romantic thing she’s ever done for you?

I’d have to say it’s when we first met. She was visiting New York, doing an internship for three months, and she happened to answer my Craigslist ad for [a roommate]. I was leaving town, so she rented my room. And then I came back, and my [other] roommate was gone. So we hung out for eight or nine days, and then she had to go back to Germany. I didn’t know if I’d ever see her again, but we kept talking. It was right at the beginning of people using Skype, so at least we had that. And then I decided to fly to Germany and convince her to move to New York.

Back up. So she was a roommate that was temporarily living in your place for nine days?

Right. Yes. [Laughs.] Well, she was there for a couple of months, but I was gone. And then I came back a little earlier than planned. And then we hung out until she went back to Germany.

Were you romantic during that time?

Yeah, yeah. Maybe a little bit, eventually, but we were just hanging out and being in New York City. And then at the end of it, she went back. We didn’t know what was going to happen or if I’d ever see her again. I decided to fly to Germany and woo her and get her to move to New York. So she moved at the end of 2006, and then we got married almost a year later, in 2007.

So you guys are going on your 15th wedding anniversary. Congratulations!

Thank you. It’s nice to have a bit of a stability—and I have a home base with a family—when you’re going through a crazy acting career.

Absolutely. And speaking of, who’s the most surprising person you heard from after they saw you in the show?

Oh, that’s a good question. Nobody too surprising. Maybe it’s just some old friends from college.

Finally, what is your ideal day off? 

A nice massage and just hanging out and reading and having my coffee. And I love to go out to a really nice restaurant in the city and enjoy a nice meal with my wife or a good friend.

What’s the most romantic restaurant you like to take Christina to? 

Gramercy Tavern is probably my favorite and a romantic place and just really wonderful food. The people who work there are really nice. Oh, God, what else? I mean, we live in Los Angeles now, so I’m trying to think of what’s another little quiet place. But it’s been so long since we’ve been able to go out.

Would you consider yourself romantic in real life?

I’d have to say yes, I guess. Yeah, I am. I hope my wife thinks so.

For more on And Just Like That… including what worked, what didn’t, and the fashion secrets you never knew, click here.



Source link