With Sense8’s much-anticipated finale almost upon us, Attitude speaks to Miguel Angel Silvestre about playing gay, his admiration for show creator Lana Wachowski and why fans will be happy with the ending

Miguel Angel Silvestre

Words Tim Heap Photography Leigh Keily Styling Joseph Kocharian

Miguel wears knitwear, by Lacoste, shorts, by Gucci at MR PORTER, jewellery (throughout), by Cartier

You can only imagine the crushing disappointment when, after years of admiring Miguel Ángel Silvestre from a distance, I was told that I wouldn’t be on the sidelines of a rooftop photoshoot in Los Angeles, and instead would be speaking to the 36-year-old Spaniard on the phone. Still, perhaps not being distracted by the actor’s impossible beauty was for the best — I almost fell into a trance just listening to his voice on the line from the sun-drenched American city. Miguel is, of course, one of the stars of Sense8, Netflix’s too-short-lived sci-fidrama series that’s due to come to a close in June with a special featurelength finale, which will hopefully tie up loose ends.

The streaming giant’s initial plans to leave the show where it was were scuppered after a sustained and ferocious campaign by its die-hard fan base. For 23 (soon to be 24) episodes, viewers have watched as the central characters — a cluster of eight strangers from around the globe who share a psychic connection — explore the human condition and fight for survival.

Sense8 was created by the Wachowskis, the American directorwriter- producer siblings best known for the Matrix film series. Both Wachowskis are transgender, with Lana having gone public about her transition in 2008, and Lilly in 2016, while filming season two (before she took a break from the show).

At its best, Sense8 is an astute reflection of modern-day politics, identity, sexuality, gender and religion; at its worst, it’s bloody entertaining telly.

Integral to the collective voice that secured Sense8’s chance to bring the story to a close were the show’s LGBT+ viewers. It’s no wonder it resonated with the queer community: between them, the characters encompass all letters of the queer acronym. Most obviously, there’s whip-smart transwoman Nomi —played by trans actress Jamie Clayton — who’s in a lesbian relationship, and closeted Latino television star Lito, played by Miguel.

But beyond those, there are scenes where all eight central characters indulge in carnal telepathic orgies, a blend of racial, cultural, sexual, gender diversity, the likes of which has never been seen in a mainstream show before.