László Mátray

Born smack in the middle of Targu Secuiesc, Romania, back in ’76, László Mátray has this raw, magnetic energy that just sort of bleeds out in every scene he’s in. He’s not your cookie-cutter leading man—there’s something gritty and real about him that sets him apart from your average pretty face on screen. If you’ve caught him in “One and a Half Prince” (2018), you know what I’m talking about. The guy’s got range. He slips into complicated roles like he was born for them, one minute mysterious, the next minute painfully vulnerable. It’s that unpredictability that makes you want to keep watching, even if the plot gets wild. Then there’s “Hab” (2020), which—let’s be honest—wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but Mátray? He just owns it. He brings this intensity that makes you question what’s going on in his character’s head, and you can’t look away. And don’t forget “Kojot” (2017). The whole film is charged with this restless energy, and a lot of that comes straight from Mátray’s performance. He’s fierce, raw, and you can tell he’s not afraid to get his hands dirty. You get the sense that he’s lived a lot of life off-screen, and it spills into his work. He’s one of those actors who doesn’t just play a part—he gets under your skin. If you haven’t watched him yet, honestly, you’re missing out.