Tonatiuh Reveals Montgomery Clift’s Influence on Their “Kiss of the Spider Woman” Role

Tonatiuh, the rising star at the center of the new film “Kiss of the Spider Woman,” recently sat down with Queerty to reflect on the creative and personal forces that informed their approach to the role of Molina, a character living at the intersection of fantasy, oppression, and queerness. In the candid interview, Tonatiuh revealed that the late Montgomery Clift—an Oscar-nominated actor whose queerness was an open secret in mid-20th-century Hollywood—was a profound influence on their performance, guiding both their emotional process and their sense of responsibility to LGBTQ+ history .

Montgomery Clift stands as a complex figure in Hollywood’s pantheon—celebrated for his talent and beauty, but also remembered for a life marked by secrecy, repression, and tragedy due to the homophobic climate of his era. Tonatiuh discussed how Clift’s legacy of navigating fame and desire within the confines of the closet offered a blueprint for capturing Molina’s vulnerability and resilience. “Clift’s performances,” Tonatiuh told Queerty, “always felt like they were about longing for something just out of reach. That’s Molina—a person whose dreams and desires are always being policed, who finds ways to survive by imagining another world” .

Tonatiuh’s admiration for Clift is part of a larger artistic tradition: many LGBTQ+ performers have looked to figures like Clift for guidance on how to embody characters who are both deeply human and shaped by the pressures of a heteronormative society. By invoking Clift’s name, Tonatiuh also draws attention to the silent struggles of countless queer artists whose stories rarely made headlines during their lifetimes .

The musical “Kiss of the Spider Woman,” adapted from Manuel Puig’s novel, centers on Molina, a queer man imprisoned under a repressive regime, who uses fantasy and storytelling as tools for endurance and resistance. The show’s recent film adaptation has been praised for its willingness to lean into the queerness at the heart of its narrative, building on the legacy of the 1985 film while offering a more openly LGBTQ+ perspective .

Tonatiuh spoke about how portraying Molina is both a privilege and a challenge, particularly given the character’s relevance to contemporary audiences. “There’s so much in Molina that’s about survival—about finding pockets of joy and escape, even when the world says those dreams don’t belong to you,” Tonatiuh explained, emphasizing the importance of bringing authenticity and empathy to the role .

The conversation with Queerty also touched on broader themes of representation in the arts. Tonatiuh acknowledged that while progress has been made in the visibility and acceptance of LGBTQ+ performers, the industry still grapples with the legacy of marginalization that defined Clift’s generation. “We owe so much to those who came before us, who had to hide so that we could be seen,” Tonatiuh said, highlighting the intergenerational connections that sustain queer communities on and off stage .

Recent discussions around the new “Kiss of the Spider Woman” have centered on its more explicit embrace of LGBTQ+ themes and the casting of openly queer and nonbinary actors in principal roles . This shift reflects ongoing conversations in the entertainment industry about authenticity, opportunity, and the power of seeing one’s own experiences reflected on stage and screen.

Tonatiuh’s reflections arrive at a time when queer stories are both more visible and more contested than ever before. The actor’s tribute to Montgomery Clift is a reminder that the work of representation is not only about celebrating progress but also about honoring histories of resilience. By weaving Clift’s legacy into their portrayal of Molina, Tonatiuh situates “Kiss of the Spider Woman” within a broader continuum of queer artistry—one that acknowledges both pain and possibility.

As the film continues to draw audiences, it stands as a testament to the transformative potential of LGBTQ+ storytelling: a space where the struggles and dreams of those once forced to hide can finally take center stage .