Being part of a franchise as iconic as Star Trek is incredible enough. Making history on the show? That’s just epic. Fans know the phenomenal Blu del Barrio for their remarkable work in Star Trek: Discovery. del Barrio took on the role of Adira, the franchise’s first-ever non-binary character. He wowed fans with his outstanding performance and proved to be a truly brilliant addition to the Star Trek family.
However, del Barrio’s passion for acting began long before their time on Star Trek: Discovery. With a love for theater running through his veins, this magnificent actor has been showcasing his unparalleled talent since the young age of seven, performing in theater productions. During their final year of study at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, del Barrio ultimately auditioned for their now-famous role in Star Trek: Discovery, and the rest is history.
Since then, del Barrio has continued to make waves in the acting world. He recently starred alongside Dave Bautista in the action-packed film Trap House. They have also taken on various voice-acting roles, including work in fan-favorite projects such as Max & the Midknights, Primos, and The Owl House.
With del Barrio’s extraordinary talent, we know that 2026 will be another successful year for this shining star.
I had an exceptional time interviewing Blu del Barrio about what inspired them to dedicate their life to acting, a standout moment from working on Star Trek: Discovery, what it was like to work on Trap House, and so much more only in our VIPAccessEXCLUSIVE interview. del Barrio even revealed what he would love to see happen if a spinoff series centered on Adira were ever created. Read more in our interview below!
AlexisJoyVIPAccess: Congratulations on all the fantastic success you’ve had in your career! To start, can you tell us what inspired you to center your life around acting?
Blu del Barrio: Thank you so much! I started acting very young, but I don’t think I knew I wanted to pursue it as a career until I was a teenager. I always knew I would end up somewhere in the arts, though. I think at my core, I’m an extremely passionate person, and nothing ever made me feel quite as passionate as film. Theater was always my safe space, but around 16 or 17, I started working in front of a camera. I completely fell in love with it. I’ve always had a huge love for film and television, but I never really thought it could be my actual job until my late teens. I stayed with theater, part of me always will, and then went to a conservatory for school with the hopes of performing on screen at some point.
AlexisJoyVIPAccess: You starred as Adira in Star Trek: Discovery. Is there a moment from working on the series that stands out to you the most?
Blu del Barrio: Yes, definitely. I know I’ve probably talked about this moment before, but it was one of my first few weeks on set. I believe it was also the first day my friend and co-star Ian Alexander and I got to work together. We were filming a flashback scene, just the two of us. We were on a ship in a beautiful little room. Gray plays the cello and Adira gives him a gift they’ve made him. It was a very simple, quick scene, but it was so sweet and beautiful. The room was silent, there were nervous jitters for both of us which lended itself beautifully to the scene. It just felt like there was a little magic in the room.
AlexisJoyVIPAccess: You made an incredible impact on the franchise as the first non-binary character in the Star Trek universe. What does that representation mean to you—both within such an iconic franchise and for viewers around the world who watched the show?
Blu del Barrio: Being a part of Trek in that way, playing Adira, and going through a transition in my own personal life is something that is still affecting me to this day. Everything in my life felt massive during that period of time. I felt and still feel incredibly grateful that I got to be part of the growing trans and nonbinary representation we’re seeing in the media. It was also very meaningful to me personally since I started gender affirming care and surgery while I was on the show. I hope that young trans and nonbinary people watching Adira flourish and stepping into themselves was helpful, hopeful, and affirming.
AlexisJoyVIPAccess: What was it like for you to work on such a legendary franchise as Star Trek?
Blu del Barrio: It was genuinely unbelievable. Going to work was like stepping into a huge Hollywood movie. The hundreds of people on set, the impeccable wardrobe, the sets which were nothing short of magical. This sounds like a cheesy interview-y answer, but it truly was incredible. There were some sets that will be ingrained in my mind forever, but I think the piece that I will never find on any other set was the community. Everyone I meet who’s worked on a Trek project says the same thing: “Trek is family, and you’re part of the family now.” You felt that when you walked on set. So many people there had such a deep love for the franchise. It was a really warm, beautiful thing.
AlexisJoyVIPAccess: Fans around the world have been hoping for a spinoff series based on your Star Trek: Discovery character. If a spinoff were created, what would you like it to focus on?
Blu del Barrio: That’s the first I’ve heard of that! That would be amazing. I would love for Adira to show up in the future of Trek whenever the timing is right. If there were a spinoff, I think I’d like going back to the Trill planet to reconnect with Gray. The two of them being faced with a mission would be really fun to play with. I’d also love anything based around Adira and Tilly. I love Mary more than words can say and we’d go kind of crazy improvising on set. I would drop everything to get to work with her again.
AlexisJoyVIPAccess: You also star in the recently released film Trap House. What was it like for you to work on that project?
Blu del Barrio: Trap House was my first feature film, and as a whole, was a lovely experience. We filmed in New Mexico which I loved, and the cast was a dream. I played one of the teens and what largely made the film so fun was the other actors in the teen group. There wasn’t a ton to do where we were, so we just hung out a lot in our downtime. We played games, got lunch, and just spent time together. It was the best group of people, so that just felt like an added gift of the job.
AlexisJoyVIPAccess: Is there something you learned from working with Dave Bautista or the rest of the Trap House cast that has stayed with you?
Blu del Barrio: I didn’t get to spend a ton of time working directly with Dave, but what I will say from the time I did have around him is he’s so, so hardworking; and not in the way that you see a lot in big productions. He’s soft spoken, kind, and very mindful of everyone in the room. It sets a precedent. If you have someone sort of rude in charge, people turn insular. With someone like Dave, people follow suit. Everyone puts energy into being kind, staying patient, and generally being more empathetic and tuned in to others in the room. He was wonderful to work with, and he made the set feel comfortable as well.
AlexisJoyVIPAccess: In addition to your many talents, you’ve also lent your voice to the animated series Max & the Midknights, which you’ve mentioned on social media is a very special project for you. What was the experience like working on that?
Blu del Barrio: Max has been something so close to my heart. I first auditioned for Max in January of 2021. I was in Toronto at the time filming Trek. I met David Skelly, one of the creators of the show alongside Sharon Flynn, on a Zoom call in my little Toronto apartment. I loved David’s energy immediately. I could tell how much he loved and cared about this project; and this was just for the teaser that they were going to pitch! They brought me on as Max and everything that followed was a dream. I quickly developed the same love for the character and story that David and Sharon had. I may be biased, but the show is amazing. The characters, and my co-stars who voice them, are all so unique and wonderful. The animation is gorgeous. The whole team making this show come to life are at the top of their game. I am endlessly proud of it. I hope that we get to keep making episodes/seasons in the near future.
AlexisJoyVIPAccess: What is your dream role to portray next?
Blu del Barrio: I don’t know if I have a dream role. I know that I’d like to start creating my own projects. Maybe that’s more of the dream. There is a very obvious lack of trans characters on screen. I am also autistic and it’s the same story there. It’s been a goal of mine for quite a long time to start planning/writing work that centers characters that should be seen more.
AlexisJoyVIPAccess: What other projects are you working on that fans can look forward to?
Blu del Barrio: I’m shooting a film this month with a director I really admire. I can’t mention the film just yet, but I’m very excited! There are also a couple of independent films I’ve been attached to for a while that I’m thrilled about! Pink Moon is one and Blue Balls is the other. Both scripts are excellent, and I’m just really happy to be getting into film, which is where my heart is.
AlexisJoyVIPAccess: Lastly, if you could share one message with all your fans, what would it be?
Blu del Barrio: I think that we’re all overly aware of how hard it’s been in the U.S. and the rest of the world recently. I know nothing I can say here will fix anything, but I think what I will talk about is mental health and community. I struggle a lot with my own mental health and tend to self-isolate. If I can share any meaningful message right now, it’s to try our best to be around community whenever we can. Show people you are there for them, and reach out when you need help. Everyone is going through it. Whether it’s in person or online, try and be there for someone else. If you have the capability, find out about your local grassroots groups. Donate to organizations that you care about if you’re financially able. Involve yourself in supportive communities. And if you don’t have one and are in need, the internet is very useful for finding support groups, gatherings, and even classes where you can find other folx looking for the same thing. People need people. That is especially true at this moment in time.