Manuel Kornisiuk draws attention with his impressive acting skills as well as through his talent as a songwriter
For Argentinian actor, singer, songwriter and model Manuel Kornisiuk—who goes by the stage name “Manúk”— recognition for his talents really started growing after he moved to Australia. He garnered significant attention for his role as Hunter Rodriguez in the film “The Winner Takes It All” (2023), where he showcased his profound acting skills. At the same time, Kornisiuk’s single “Overstimulated” surpassed 100,000 listeners online, marking a major milestone in his music career. Reflecting on his pursuit of perfection across multiple artistic fields, Kornisiuk shared the story of his life journey and experiences with DA MAN.
DAMAN: You originally came from Argentina and then moved to Australia, where you’re currently residing. What brought you all the way to this part of the world and what was it like to build a career so far outside your home country?
Manuel Kornisiuk: I come from a small city called Santa Rosa. For a long time, I felt like something was missing and that I didn’t quite fit in. There was this internal struggle within me that drove me to explore new places. I believe that many people go through similar experiences at least once in their lives. I spent the first few years after high school in Argentina, but eventually, I decided I wanted to move somewhere completely different. So, here I am!
DA: All in all, how do you like living and working in this country?
MK: I love Australia. This country has been kind to me. Since I’ve been here, I have done a wide range of work. I’ve been a bartender, receptionist, personal trainer and even took on dance jobs for bachelorette parties. I’ve always created songs but felt scared to dive fully into music. Now, I’m glad I took the leap because it brings me more happiness than anything else.
DA: You have a wide range of talents, from singing and modelling to songwriting and acting. Which of these fields is your main focus right now? And what will you likely focus on moving forward?
MK: I enjoy any artistic expression. It’s super different and you get to know yourself from various angles. However, music has always been a deep passion of mine. It brings me immense joy.
DA: On a related note, what was it that inspired you to branch out from music into the world of acting?
MK: Actually, the director of “The Winner Takes It All,” James Demitri, reached out and offered me to feature in a movie. He said he pictured me as one of the characters in the movie. It was super fun! I loved the experience, and it opened a door I never thought possible in my life and career.
DA: Did acting come naturally to you, or was there a significant learning curve involved??
MK: Nothing comes without sacrifice. I worked hard and kept working towards what I wanted to do with my life. If the opportunities don’t come, I put myself in the right moments and situations, create the opportunities, push and fight for what I want.
Nothing comes without sacrifice. I worked hard and kept working towards what I wanted to do with my life
DA: Were there any specific challenges that you had to deal with in your acting journey?
MK: I had to practice a lot and work on my accent. There were words on the script that didn’t roll out my tongue as well as I would like. So, I put a lot of time on that.
DA: Does your background as a model help you as an actor?
MK: It’s tricky and a little bit limiting. Having an accent sometimes limits you to a Latin character. I still need to work on my accent to be more versatile and get different roles.
DA: Circling back to music, can you give us a brief overview of your musical career so far?
MK: I’ve released several singles and “Overstimulated” has surpassed 100,000 listeners, which I consider a massive achievement. I am working hard to release my first EP this coming year, and I’m super excited!
DA: Speaking of which, can you tell us what “Overstimulated” is about and what it means to you?
MK: It’s about falling in love and jumping into something super scary, like how it is when you give yourself to a new person. It relates to this person feeling a lot of things at the same time, and he knows how to manage it.
DA: As a songwriter, who or what inspires the songs you create?
MK: I love to write about drama in relationships. I am Latin, after all. I think emotions are the base of everything while you are writing, so it has much to do with how you feel in the moment.
I think emotions are the base of everything while you are writing, so it has much to do with how you feel in the moment
DA: Which genres of music do you especially like?
MK: I love RnB and Pop. I’m happy with what I’m doing, but I wouldn’t mind trying different things.
DA: You also ventured into fashion by collaborating with Australian underwear brand Teamm8. Can you share the story behind this team-up and how it came about?
MK: Teamm8 Team are like my family in Australia. I did a couple of campaigns with them as soon as I arrived, and we always stayed in touch. It’s been a pleasure to share that campaign with them and to know that it performed amazingly well. I feel honored and I love them; they’re beautiful people.
DA: Were you actively involved in any part of the creative process for the Teamm8 campaign?
MK: I brought the idea of underwear that would make me feel comfortable and sexy at the same time. I choose the type of fabric that I would like them to feature, and the brand designed it and brought it to life. It was awesome!
DA: On a more personal note, what has been the most significant decision that now defines you?
MK: Jumping to move away from my family was a massive challenge that taught me a lot. That was the most significant change in my life.
DA: What has been your biggest achievement so far?
MK: That I started releasing music. As dumb as it sounds, it is the most amazing thing that has happened to me. I have wanted to do it for so long.
DA: Last but not least, what’s next for you? Are there any new projects or goals on the horizon that you’re excited about?
MK: I am working on releasing my first EP this coming year, and I know a couple more projects in the film are going to be great and super fun.
Photography & Styling Ronald Liem
Model Manuel Kornisiuk