Aurora, Perro Amor and Corazon Apasionado are just some of the shows Kevin Aponte has demonstrated his acting chops on. For those who may not recognize his name at first glance, the 22-year-old actor is hard at work in hopes of changing that. Kevin can currently be seen week nights at 10 on Telemundo's Relaciones Peligrosas, on which he plays Alejandro Portillo, a young openly gay male who's coming to terms with his sexuality. I recently chatted with the actor who filled me in on his latest novella, why a BlackBerry is so important to his work and his guilty pleasure.

Congratulations on Relaciones Peligrosas. What’s the response been from the gay Latino community?
It’s been incredible. I am grateful with the response from the people on the street. They send us messages via Twitter and Facebook, which include how much they like the work we are doing.

How did you prepare for this role?
Before shooting began on the novella, all of the teen cast spent time in an intense four-month workshop, where we took many acting classes. We got to know the characters. The truth is I have many friends who resemble the person I am playing now. I spoke to them and asked how they felt during a situation like one of the many my character faced. He’s very similar to my friends and I.

What types of themes do we see in the telenovela?
We touch on actual things that are happening today, such as drug trafficking, abuse, racism and domestic violence. These are very real issues. Parents can understand what happens to children in school during these times. And I also think it's good for them to understand how times have changed and what it's like. The show is like a learning tool on the problems that are happening right now.

When you got the role, you also received a BlackBerry from production. Why was that?
This is something new that Telemundo is doing, which allows us to show behind-the-scenes footage and to interact directly with the fans. Everyone was given a BlackBerry that we can use to communicate with them at any time while recording, as well as the ability to send photos. I think it’s so nice to do this and they can ask for things they want to see in the novella. For example, who they’d like to see play a character or what they like and don’t like. I think it's great to be so interactive and to have so much communication with the people that are watching us.

Who would you like to work with in the future?
I love Penélope Cruz! I know she’s in her prime, if that’s OK for me to say. One must not stop dreaming big and thinking you will achieve what you want. So, I will work with Penélope Cruz one day and that’s what will happen.

What do you like to do in your spare time?
I have no free time because we are always shooting, but when I'm not, I like to go to the beach, reunite with my friends, eat, go to the movies, kayaking and sing. I love karaoke.

Does this mean we may one day hear you singing professionally?
It’s possible. It’s possible because aside from my passion of acting, I also enjoy singing.

What would you say is your guilty pleasure?
I’d have to go with coffee. I love coffee and I know it's not healthy, but hey, it's a guilty pleasure.

Are you still working as the voice for Samsung?
I’ve had a lot opportunities and I am grateful to God and the universe. I’ve had the pleasure of being the official voice of Samsung youth for a while, but also worked for other companies like State Farm, McDonalds. These were a few of the things I did when I wasn’t recording a novella.