Eugenio Derbez On ‘Latin Lover,’ That Yellow Speedo, Salma Hayek & Rob Lowe [Video Exclusive]

While Eugenio Derbez has many fans throughout the world, fans in the U.S. may be unfamiliar with the Mexican film and television mogul. But this unfamiliarity won’t last for long as Derbez has found, what he believes to be, the perfect vehicle for his American crossover.

“I discovered there was this stereotype for the ‘Latin Lover.’ I realized there was something funny there. It’s like an international icon,” Derbez told uInterview exclusively. He is the producer and star of the new film, How to Be a Latin Lover.

In the movie, Maximo (Derbez) is an aging gigolo, who has found stability with a wealthy, older woman for the past 25 years. Unfortunately, she kicks him out after falling for a younger man. Maximo now has to reconcile with his age and his family (Salma Hayek) in order to get his life back together and to potentially score another wealthy woman (Raquel Welch).

But Maximo’s outrageous characteristics and extreme vanity are not necessarily all in the way of a gag.

Said Derbez, “The best way to break down a stereotype is to make fun of it.”

While breaking down this stereotype, Derbez found that he doesn’t necessarily share the same confidence the character exudes. In Latin Lover, Maximo is completely blind to his aging body and growing belly and still trounces around in a yellow speedo by the pool. Derbez, who had to gain over 20 pounds for the role, found wearing the revealing speedo a little more nerve-racking than his fictional counterpart.

“It was really embarrassing in real life to wear that speedo and walk through that pool full of beautiful women,” Derbez said. “It was really embarrassing!”

Luckily, Derbez was flanked by actors he made real connections with throughout the film – Hayek plays Maximo’s sister and Rob Lowe plays his best friend.

Derbez and Hayek, who like Derbez is from Mexico, have known each other for thirty years but Latin Lover marks the first time they have worked together.

Derbez was pleasantly surprised. “I didn’t know that she was that funny and that she was that relaxed and I enjoyed Salma as never before, really,” he said.

“We discovered each other and we realized that we have a lot of chemistry.”

The same can be said for Derbez’s perception of Lowe. “For me, it was another discovery because he is really, really, funny!”

“I was always making fun of him, I was telling him, ‘Wait! You have to leave me something! You’re handsome, you’re famous, you’re rich, and you’re funny! The funny guy is me!’”

How to Be a Latin Lover hits theaters on April 28. The film also stars Kristen Bell and Rob Corddry.