Villains, Titans, and Trailblazers: Inside Aleks Paunovic’s Universe

By Kyra Greene

Aleks Paunovic has built a career on defying expectations. Whether he’s commanding the screen as a villain in Snowpiercer, a mythological giant in Percy Jackson and the Olympians, or a boxer in Amazon’s upcoming The Greatest, the towering 6’5” actor brings humanity, intelligence, and heart to every role. A former champion boxer turned Hollywood mainstay, Paunovic’s career is proof that depth and discipline transcend genres. From his collaborations with Anthony Hopkins and Jennifer Connelly to launching his sustainable water brand, LEGEND, Aleks continues to carve a space where purpose meets performance—and where storytelling becomes a reflection of who he is, both on and off the screen.

You’ve built a reputation for playing complex villains, from Snowpiercer to Hawkeye—what’s your process for getting into the head of a character that audiences love to hate?

That’s an interesting question. I love the idea that there are multiple levels to a character — villain or not. It’s the complexity of a performance that lets an individual audience member make a personal connection with that character. And I think a lot of it is in a look–a quiet moment after the character does that bad thing. There’s always humanity in every response, and the real work is not falling into a caricature. So, for me, it really comes down to taking chances, finding the humanity, and simply telling the truth.

In Percy Jackson and the Olympians, you take on the role of Polyphemus. How did you approach bringing such a larger-than-life mythological character to the screen?

I had some great help collaborating with Andrew Mcllroy, the on-set acting coach for the show. The great thing is, I’ve worked with him multiple times over the years, so we already had a strong friendship and working relationship. When I got the job and met with Andrew, he already had a 100-plus-page binder for me with all the mythological information on who Polyphemus was. Then we worked on voice and movement together. There’s nothing better than collaborating with people who pull ideas out of you through open-minded conversation. Everything we came up with was a blend of both of our ideas. Some worked, some didn’t — but I’m proud we found Polyphemus and had such a great time doing it.

You’re returning to your boxing roots as William Faversham Jr. in Amazon’s The Greatest. How does your personal history as a former champion boxer influence your performance in a story tied to Muhammad Ali’s legacy?

Oh man, you have no idea how excited I am about this project. I come from three generations of boxers in my family. Ali was my very first hero. I’ve been a fan for decades — I know everything about him. So, when I was lucky enough to get to play in that world, it was a full-circle moment for me.  And I’m not gonna lie, I was so nervous. Almost as nervous as the moment before you walk into the ring.  Seriously. I took a lot of pride in showing who he was to Ali in the show. The writing is next-level, and I owe a massive thank-you to Ben Watkins, the showrunner, for believing in me and being such a wonderful, calm leader. I can’t wait for the world to see what we did.

From sci-fi epics like War for the Planet of the Apes and Van Helsing to grounded dramas, you’ve spanned genres. What draws you back time and again to sci-fi and fantasy worlds?

It’s the unimaginable or unexperienced worlds that you just can’t comprehend in everyday life. We’re getting close now with what AI can do, but I love scenarios where you really have to use your imagination and personal experience in a world that’s so unworldly. Yeah — it’s the imagination of it all.

At 6’5”, you’ve spoken about redefining style for tall men. What advice would you give to men who want to embrace luxury fashion while staying true to their body type?

For me, it starts with asking the right people. Knowing what you like on others and finding the style that works for you — with someone who really understands fashion. I was taught about which colors complement your skin tone, and that honestly got me pretty stoked on discovering fashion. And what looks good on a smaller dude may not look good on a big dude. It’s all about navigating that. My favorite fashion season is fall. I live in Vancouver, and fall is seriously the most beautiful time of year — all about layers.At the end of the day, experiment and don’t get frustrated. As a big dude, that was my biggest hurdle. Once I calmed down, the fashion basically came to me.  I also recently discovered a great brand I love called Roots of Fight.  

You’ve mentioned Anthony Hopkins gave you advice that’s stayed with you throughout your career. Can you share what that was and how it shaped the way you work today?

Oh man, what a joy that was. He’s not only one of our generation’s best actors, but also such a kind human — and so funny. Working with him for the first time was pure awe. I couldn’t believe I had that opportunity. After a few days, I finally mustered up the nerve to ask him what he does to prep that others might not know about. When I asked, my hand gestures were up above me, like what I wanted to know was some otherworldly secret. He looked at me and said, “You’d never get it.”  My heart sank. Then he said, “When your hand gestures are above you while you’re trying to learn something from someone, you’ve already put it out of your reach. What we did in the scene yesterday was just two blokes playing and being curious about the scene. That’s it. Don’t put other people’s achievements above yours. It’s a recipe for disaster. Be true to you, do the work, and have fun.” I’ve lived by that ever since.

Beyond acting, you’re entering the brand space with LEGEND, your canned water that tackles both sustainability and mental health awareness. Why was it important to you to connect clean water with breaking the stigma around mental health?

I’m so proud of our Legend team. We really wanted to do our part in eliminating plastic use, and I partnered with some great people. The whole team is dedicated — from the front office to marketing to the folks in the warehouse. Having an inspired team is one of the biggest joys of the job. On set is a big reason I wanted sustainability to thrive. We had it on the set of The Greatest. But I’m also really proud of our “Legends Supporting Legends” QR code initiative. It connects people directly to a suicide crisis hotline and rehab facilities across Canada. We want to help take the stigma out of the embarrassment of just asking for help.We hope Legend can be a part of that. Plus, alkalized mountain water ice-cold out of a can ain’t a bad way to refresh.

Mental health is a recurring theme in your advocacy work. As someone who’s been open about this, what do you believe Hollywood can do better in supporting both performers and audiences when it comes to these issues?

Seeing so many stars advocate for mental health on social media is great. But I’d love to see Hollywood — studios, productions — be more proactive. It’s a beautiful thing when a production openly lets the cast and crew know they’re there for any kind of mental-health crisis, from addiction to depression. I’ve seen it more and more, and I hope studios keep that momentum going. It’s deeply appreciated. I’ve suffered from depression at different moments in my life, and knowing someone is there is half the battle.

You’ve worked alongside legends from Arnold Schwarzenegger to Jennifer Connelly—what’s the most surprising thing you’ve learned from collaborating with such an eclectic range of talent?

I loved how much they want to collaborate — and how intelligently and kindly they communicate their ideas. Jennifer Connelly was exactly that on Snowpiercer. Watching her work and learning from her was a real joy.

Looking ahead, you’ve hinted that your next project is unlike anything you’ve done before. Without giving too much away, what excites you most about breaking new ground in your career at this stage?

The next project is the one I mentioned earlier-The Greatest.  This one is different from my others roles because I’m usually in the sci-fi world, but playing William Faversham Jr. in THE GREATEST— a period piece, with the dialect and cadence of the 1960s, was a nice way to change it up.  And I’m not a villain.  This is the project I’m most excited about.

As Aleks Paunovic steps into a new era of storytelling with The Greatest, his journey feels full-circle—rooted in the discipline of boxing, elevated by years of bold character work, and grounded in a mission to use his platform for good. Whether he’s tackling mental health advocacy, building sustainable brands, or finding truth in his performances, Paunovic proves that real legends aren’t just defined by what they achieve on screen, but by the impact they make beyond it.