After swapping an Albanian childhood for three gruelling years of kung fu mastery at a Chinese temple, London-based actor-producer Arnaldo Stafa didn’t wait around for the industry to notice him. Instead, he founded Aki Studio London, bringing his lethal martial arts skills and razor-sharp discipline straight to the international festival circuit.
You went to a temple in Shandong, China at 19 expecting to stay for a month and ended up staying nearly three years, training kung fu for eight hours a day. What happened that made you decide to stay?
Arnaldo: It all started when I became a runner for a movie filming in Malta. That was the exact moment I discovered the world of film. Before that experience, I had really struggled to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. Falling in love with filmmaking changed everything, but I quickly set my sights specifically on being an actor.
Going to China was my strategic way of improving my USP (Unique Selling Point). I had always practiced kung fu, but my training had completely stopped at that point in my life. Living at the temple for three years allowed me to truly grow as a person.
I deeply enjoyed it because I was there for one reason only: pure self-improvement. Eventually, I knew I had to come back and return to the path I originally set out on. I returned to London in 2017 to start applying for drama schools.
You were the only foreigner competing and won national medals in China. What was that experience like, and did you ever feel like you had to prove that you belonged there?
Arnaldo: Because I was the only foreigner – and everyone around me had been training since they were five years old – I really had to push myself. However, that environment taught me a valuable lesson. It is not about how long you have been doing something. It is about the absolute quality of the time you spend doing it.
I gave 110% every single day because I knew my time there was limited. I had to force myself to improve as fast as possible. Ultimately, that drive is what made me stand out. My movements weren’t robotic. I was telling a story every single time I performed. That story showed my determination and exactly how much I wanted it.
You came back to London and studied drama at Regent’s. Did your time in China change the way you approached acting when you returned?
Arnaldo: Yes! The story takes a major turn right when I came back. In 2018, I became a father. I rekindled a relationship with an old friend, and we started our family. As a result, I actually began my university degree with a six-month-old child.
My daily routine was intense. My day normally started at 5:00 AM after spending the night feeding my son. From there, I would head straight to the gym so I could be completely ready for my 9:00 AM acting class. I operated with a military-style discipline. After graduating from Regent’s, I attended a traditional drama school situated right in the middle of a major group of filming studios.
My China training still stays with me today, particularly in how I run my company. I initially fell in love with film because of the family aspect and the beautiful memories you get to create on set. When I manage Aki Studio London, I always keep enjoyment in mind.
However, I anchor it with the structure and inner calmness of a temple. My specific USP on set is my ability to solve complex problems in seconds while remaining entirely calm. For me, it is always about the intention rather than the outcome. A crew member might fail at a specific task, but if their intention was to be their absolute best, that is all that matters. We all make mistakes. I could go on forever about this, but I’ll leave it there!
In 2021 you set up Aki Studio London, partly so you could create your own roles rather than wait for someone else to give you one. What made you realise you needed to take that control yourself?
Arnaldo: My background was originally in business, so I always knew deep down that I would run my own company. When I produced my first film, My Hero, I initially refused to be referred to as a producer. I was just so fiercely set on being an actor.
Now, I have learned that I can successfully be both. However, I am still very strict with my boundaries on set. I only focus on acting and producing, but I ideally prefer never to do both on the exact same production. I am only as good as the team around me. Because of that, I always try my best to involve another producer so we can collaborate and train together.
Filmmaking is a team sport, and I intend to play it like one. I originally started producing just to give myself acting roles. Now, I produce simply because I love the craft of producing. I have a very clear plan in mind for where the company is heading.
Your kung fu training is now becoming part of your work on screen, including My Hero. What is it like finally being able to use something you spent so many years mastering as part of your identity as an actor?
Arnaldo: It’s an interesting feeling. I don’t train physically as much as I used to because my primary focus has shifted toward scaling the company into feature films. Looking back, every single experience in my life has helped me become a better person. For me, the past is a lesson, the future is planned for, and the present is the only thing that truly matters. I take that philosophy very seriously.
So, what is it like? It makes me feel like a complete person. I know exactly who I am, what I am, and what my purpose is in life. When I walk into an industry room, I am entirely confident in my goals and my abilities. Walking around as a complete person is the best way to describe it.
You’re currently taking work to festivals across three countries, with My Hero, Untouched and Poppy all finding audiences. Has building your own company changed your definition of what “making it” as an actor looks like?
Arnaldo: “Making it” as an actor is an internal feeling rather than a checklist of what you have done. Personally, I already feel like a successful actor. I don’t worry about the trajectory of my acting career, nor do I worry if my producing responsibilities are taking over. I always keep a strategic card in play for my acting, which keeps the anxiety away.
That security is exactly why I don’t just jump on any random acting role, nor do I force myself into characters within my own productions. My time will come. I view myself as a distinct brand as an actor, so I choose to be incredibly selective.
If you could go back and speak to the 19-year-old who got on that plane to China thinking he’d be home a month later, what would you tell him?
Arnaldo: Enjoy every single moment because your life is about to change completely. The more diverse skills you gain along your journey right now, the more use you will find for them as you get older.
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