James Martinez on Becoming Angel Batista & Honoring Dexter’s Legacy

Actor James Martinez opens up about stepping into the shoes of young Angel Batista, Miami connections, and the challenges of bringing a beloved character’s past to life.

Stepping into the shoes of a beloved character is no easy feat, but James Martinez has done just that with his portrayal of a young Angel Batista in Dexter: Original Sin. As a longtime fan of the series, Martinez approached the role with both admiration and precision, carefully capturing Batista’s signature warmth, humor, and moral compass. In this exclusive interview, he shares how he prepared for the role, his conversations with David Zayas—the original Batista—and his personal ties to Miami, a city that plays a pivotal role in both the Dexter universe and his own life.

Miami Living: Fans of the original Dexter series have praised your portrayal of a younger Angel Batista as being spot-on. How did you prepare for the role, and what do you think contributed to your ability to capture the character so seamlessly?

James Martinez: First of all, thank you for having me, my wife is from Miami, and I love it there. I’m so relieved that the reception of the show and my portrayal of this beloved character has been so positive. My wife turned me on to Dexter when it first came out and I instantly became a big fan of the show and the characters. The key, I felt, to Batista, was to not only look and act like him, but to also capture his essence, his heart, his moral compass. I essentially looked for everything I had in common with Angel personally as well as physically and built it from there.

Miami Living: You have a connection with David Zayas, who originally portrayed Angel Batista. How did you two first meet, and what’s your relationship like?

James Martinez: David and I met in the NYC theater community. We had many mutual friends and would always cross paths at plays, theater events and even got to work together. I feel like reprising his iconic role has brought us even closer as friends.

Miami Living: Did you have the opportunity to discuss the role with Zayas? If so, what kind of advice or insights did he share that helped shape your portrayal of young Angel Batista?

James Martinez: When I got the news about booking the role of Angel Batista, I knew of a theatre fund raiser that was happening in Manhattan which David would be attending. I immediately bought a ticket. So many incredible artists were there, including David. When I saw him, I b-lined through the crowd to tell him the news and he immediately smiled and gave me one of those long Batista hugs. He was so happy for me. Just being around him was incredibly helpful. He’s such a great guy, a beautiful person and very much like Angel. One piece of advice he gave me which was very helpful was that “Angel does not have a cynical bone in his body.” Those words really stuck with me throughout the production.

Miami Living: We know Angel Batista as a seasoned detective in the original Dexter series. How did you envision his character as a younger man, and what aspects of his early life or career did you focus on when building your portrayal?

James Martinez:  I felt like Angel was in a very different place in his life professionally and personally as a young man. He’s obviously not a very seasoned detective when we see him in Original Sin, but he’s eager to learn and be better. Personally, I feel like he’s in his 30s, single in Miami, working hard and playing hard living out his “PASIÓN” lifestyle, but always open to love and finding a connection.

Miami Living: What aspects of the Dexter universe did you find most intriguing when stepping into this role? Did you rewatch some of the older seasons to get a sense of Angel's evolution, or did you focus more on where he was at that particular point in his life.

James Martinez: Well, I’m always happy to rewatch Dexter and of course I ended up watching the whole series again. It's that good. Although this time I watched it through a different lens. The characters in the show are so colorful and they each serve a purpose. I felt like Angel was the moral compass in the show. As flawed as Angel was, he always came from a good place. It was helpful to see his evolution so that I could get an idea of what direction I was going in from the start.

Miami Living: If you could choose one aspect of young Angel Batista’s journey to further explore in future Dexter projects, what would it be? Would you like to dive deeper into his personal life, his early career decisions, or something else entirely?

James Martinez: The great thing about Original Sin is that we get to explore these characters we’ve come to know and love on a much deeper level. Because there were no flashbacks in the original series, it left a lot of room for exploration. I would definitely be interested in what made Angel want to become a cop, as well as his relationship with his family, particularly his sister. I would also love to find out how he met his ex-wife and how his job and lifestyle affected his marriage.

Miami Living: The city of Miami plays a pivotal role in the original Dexter series, with its heat, intensity, and underworld of crime. How does young Angel Batista navigate these challenges in the early days of his career? What aspects of Miami’s environment did you draw upon to shape his character in those formative years?

James Martinez: I feel like Angel is very much part of the Miami community, in fact he thrives in it. He knows the people, the clubs , the restaurants and he uses that to his advantage to be a better detective. Miami and his Cuban roots are very much a part of his life and upbringing. His style, his taste in food, music and how he relates to people all make Angel who he is. I myself come from Colombian descent and although there are similarities, I definitely had to do my homework to make it look authentic and recognize the differences.

Miami Living: Do you have any hidden talents or hobbies fans would be surprised to learn?

James Martinez: Actually, when I was a kid my family and I realized that I was a good mimic. My family got a kick out of watching me impersonating other family members and different celebrities. That definitely came to play when it came to studying David’s speech and mannerisms. I actually did open mic stand up in NY for a few years doing impressions where I would act out what it would be like if different celebrities or movie characters would meet each other.

Miami Living: What are your thoughts on Miami—any memorable moments or challenges you've experienced while being there?

James Martinez: Miami has such a different vibe than NY and was definitely a city I would visit a lot growing up for the weather and change of scenery. My wife and I both have family in Kendall. I’ve always loved the authentic old school feel of little Havana and hopping around to places like La Trova and Old’s Havana Cuban Bar & Cocina for the live music. The city has changed so much over the years but lately I’ve come to appreciate the art and culture that Wynwood has brought to the city. Makes me feel hip and cool lol.

Watch Dexter: Original Sin on Showtime weekly, or stream it on various platforms. Follow James Martinez on Instagram @urjamesmartinez. 

By Morgan Harms