Ben Daniels as Santiago in Interview with the Vampire season 2. Photo: AMC
When Interview with the Vampire season 2 premieres May 12, fans will see quite a few new faces joining the IWTV family. We’re excited to get to know Ben Daniels, the charismatic actor who will bring the vampire Santiago to life.
Introducing your host. #InterviewWithTheVampire pic.twitter.com/WwhMRZiThw
— Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire (@Immortal_AMC) April 29, 2024
All it takes is one look at Daniels and there’s no question he commands a scene. His beguilingly devilish Santiago has no trouble ruling the stage at the Théâtre des Vampires every time he’s spotted in teasers and trailers for Interview with the Vampire season 2.
Daniels is known for playing a variety of roles. Some of his previous work includes roles in the following movies and series:
- The Exorcist (Father Marcus Keane)
- The Crown (Lord Snowdon)
- Argylle (Bartender)
- Foundation (Bel Riose)
- Jupiter’s Legacy (Walter Sampson/Brainwave)
I went back and watched season 3 of The Crown where Daniels plays Lord Snowdon, husband to Queen Elizabeth’s sister, Princess Margaret. If you want an amuse bouche of what’s to come in IWTV season 2, watch Daniels’ arc in The Crown. From the first episode of season 3 to the powerful season finale, Daniels commands every scene he’s in; while The Crown’s Lord Snowdon lives in the shadow of his famous wife, Santiago is a true thespian whose place is in the spotlight.
Santiago’s role in Anne Rice’s stories is pivotal. He leads the charge against Louis and Claudia, and Claudia’s new vampire companion, Madeleine, ultimately ending in Claudia and Madeleine’s sunrise demise.
It’ll be interesting to see how Daniels’ Santiago fits into the story being told in the series, as the IWTV writers have made a few changes so that show canon doesn’t necessarily match book canon. Though Santiago is known for one of the most heinous acts in the Vampire Chronicles, what we’ve seen of Ben Daniels’ performance is enough to have us wanting more.
Interview with the Vampire season 2 premieres Sunday, May 12, on AMC and AMC+. The series stars Jacob Anderson, Sam Reid, Delainey Hayles, Eric Bogosian, and Assad Zaman, with recurring guest stars Roxane Duran and Bally Gill. The series is executive produced by Mark Johnson, showrunner Rolin Jones, Mark Taylor, Christopher Rice and the late Anne Rice.
