“The Residence” is a highly anticipated Shondaland production. What drew you to the role of Elsyie Chayle, and how did you prepare for such a high-stakes character caught in a murder investigation?

I fell in love with the script and I loved the role that Elsyie plays in the story. It was really important for me to portray her tenacity, her social skills with the rest of the staff and her work ethic while she’s also very private. Paul William Davies wrote an incredible arc for her that gave me the chance to play with all her contrasts and I think is going to be very fun and surprising for people to get to know her better.

You share the screen with incredible talent, including Uzo Aduba and Barrett Foa. What was the energy like on set, and did any moment stand out as particularly powerful or unexpected?

First off, I’m in awe with their beautiful performances. I love them and I’m so grateful I had the opportunity to create with them. Uzo is a force, she is professional, kind, respectful, also a new mama so we created a special bond because of that. But I must say that what stood out for me the most was sharing a project, and having scenes with such generous actors who were thinking about elevating the project as a collective and putting the relationships we all had first because we all knew that was going to serve the story.

Shonda Rhimes has a reputation for creating dynamic, layered characters. What was it like working with her team, and how did they shape your experience on set?

I think a good word to describe how it was working with the team that Shonda and Shondaland put together would be: Exquisite. Every day on set was truly a joy. Every detail was covered and well thought through. The diversity and inclusion I saw everyday was very reassuring and inspiring. I felt taken care of and specially, because I just had a baby, they made everything really easy and comfortable for me. I really appreciate the support and the camaraderie on set and the freedom we had to explore with our characters within such a complex story where we all play a role in the puzzle. 

Many audiences first recognized you in “Griselda,” which was a massive success on Netflix. How did that role change your career trajectory, and what was it like portraying Marta Ochoa in such a high-profile series?

It was really fun working with Sofia Vergara and being directed again by Andi Baiz. I have the best memories from that shoot. Griselda has opened new doors for me here in the States and I’m really grateful for that. I feel like it put me on the map and allowed people from different parts of the world to see my work. I love that I’m so different from Marta that people don’t recognize me immediately when they see me in person but they get really excited when they discover I was Marta. I can tell they really enjoyed the show and my performance and that means the world to me. 

Your work often involves complex, multi-dimensional female characters. Do you seek out roles that challenge stereotypes, and if so, what kind of stories are you most drawn to telling?

Definitely. I’ve pursued acting because I want to explore different lives, different worlds and seek humanity through them. I’m always looking to portray women with complexity, layers, real women that are not either good or bad, that face dilemmas and ask the audience questions. I’ll be always interested in playing roles where I can challenge myself, break boundaries and hopefully I light a spark in someone in the audience that feels related. 

Your film “Unidentified Objects” has been critically acclaimed and widely screened. What was the most rewarding part of bringing that project to life?

We shot it during COVID, August 2020, against all odds. It was the first feature we produced as a company. Our Director and Producer Juan Feliz Zuleta, came to us with the story and we fell in love with it. I’m so grateful we got to be part of it as Executive Producers and helped to make it possible. The response in festivals and screenings all over the world has been so rewarding because it reflected what we felt when we read it for the first time, it touches on so many important issues we face as humanity and the recognition our actors have received with the film, speaks about the heartfelt performances they gave. 

You founded your own production company, Blue Rabbit Films. What inspired you to step behind the camera, and how do you choose the projects you want to produce?

I’ve been producing since I was living in Colombia so when I moved to LA in 2015 I wanted to continue creating opportunities and not sit around waiting for them to come. In 2020 my husband and I embarked on this journey and I have to say it has been one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. Me as an actor and my husband as a composer, we are storytellers and having the chance to create, put projects together, develop ideas and being more in control felt like the next step. 

When it comes to choosing a project to produce I always need to feel inspired by the story, I ask myself if that’s something I would like to see on the screen and if we can open a conversation through that project. I need to feel moved and it doesn’t matter what the genre it is, I always make sure that this is a story that is contributing to the world in some way.

Do you see yourself producing more content that highlights Latin American stories or talent, and are there any upcoming projects from Blue Rabbit Films that you can share?

Blue Rabbit Films is about inclusion, diversity, community and that’s something we really want to portray in our stories with cast and crew from different parts of the world.

Right now we are submitting our latest short film RODRIGO BRANQUIAS (a children’s short film) to festivals around the world. The short was one of the recipients of a grant by the government in Colombia in 2023 and it was shot there last year. I co-wrote a feature film called BROKEN IN PIECES, a drama based on true events that takes place between Colombia and Los Angeles and we’re looking for the funding at the moment.  And we are developing a miniseries called MALCRIADAS, a dramedy in Spanish, based on a play I co-produced a few years ago.

What advice would you give to aspiring Latina actors looking to make their mark in Hollywood while staying true to their roots?

Don’t give up. Sounds cliche, I know, but it’s really challenging sometimes being rejected and not knowing what to do. We need to remember that there is space for ALL of us, it’s just a matter of time and every NO we receive, gets us closer to the YES we will eventually get. Every time I decide to embrace who I am and where I come from is when life has presented me with the most beautiful opportunities.

If you could play any role—real or fictional—that you haven’t yet had the chance to, what would it be and why?

There are so many. But I’d definitely love to play a character like the one Uzo plays in the Residence. It’s such a complex, layered, funny, honest and powerful character that I know it would be so fun and interesting building that up.

We’ve seen glimpses of your life as a mother on social media. How has becoming a parent influenced your approach to acting and the types of roles you choose?

Being a mom changed my life and the way I see things. I have more perspective now. I am more conscious about the time I put into my work so I’ve become more selective with the choices I make because I don’t want to lose the balance of being with my baby, with my family and being on set. 

We as women and moms are so capable of doing everything. Since I’m a mom I feel stronger than ever to face any kind of rejection and at the same time I can recover easily because at the end I want to be strong for her. I know she’s learning from me so I want to be a good role model for her. I wouldn’t change for anything in the world this vulnerability and the strength I found on this journey of being a mom. 

Balancing a successful acting career with motherhood is no small feat. What have been some of the biggest challenges, and what has surprised you the most about juggling both worlds?

I don’t think I was mentally prepared to be so tired. Especially during the first year. Also the mom guilt is real and I’m glad I have a supportive husband and an incredible community and family that have helped me through those times where I was figuring out who I was as a new mom.

When I booked the Residence, my baby was only 3 months old, I had no plans on coming back to work so soon but I was really excited to be part of this story. So I ended up juggling both worlds much earlier than I expected but it was such good training for me and my husband because since then we’ve been able to do both. I wouldn’t know what to do without Sebastian’s support. He’s been my biggest cheerleader so we both juggle and somehow we make it work. That said, I’m striving to do it on my own terms, being kind with myself as I learn along the way.