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Its her!Valentina!
How did you first get involved withIn the Heights?
The director of the movie really wants you.
Would you want to do this?
I was like, Absolutely.
I was honored because I did hear that everybody in it was Latino.
Anything thats Latino Im all about.
Just to know that Jon Chu thought of me was really sweet and special.
Had you seenCrazy Rich Asians?
The director ofSex and the City[Michael Patrick King] was like, I needed you here.
How familiar were you with the musical before shooting, and did you do anything special to prepare?
And how was it when you finally showed up to set?
Obviously, Im a Latina and I love anything thats Latino.
I knewHamiltonand Lin-Manuel Miranda, but [my] song I had to learn pretty quick.
I was only in one number, but it was all happening so fast.
It was two days of filming for me.
When I first arrived, peopleknowthe diva!
It was so much fun.
I was learning it from the choreographers, who were super-patient and lovely with me in the moment.
You better hold yourself accountable.
I need to apply them right now!
Did you have any actual context to this New York City geography?
Im born and raised in L.A., so public transit here is not as developed.
New Yorks train system is super-intimidating to me.
So Im going to have to be honest and say I had no clue.
In other roles weve seen you in, youre in the full Valentina glam with the wig and everything.
Here, you arent.
What was that like?
I had an exchange with Jon Chu on Instagram.
We were just talking about the ending credits.
I was like, Oh, I love that.
Its so validating to feel acknowledged for this persona and this name that Ive built under Valentina.
Its so validating, especially somebody like me as a nonbinary person we dont really have too much representation.
On top of that, aLatinasalon.
Latinas really rely on glamour, on their hoops, on their hairstyles.
A lot of my life consists of getting ready and getting done up.
It was just an overwhelming amount of glamour, joy, production, movie, Hollywood.
It just felt like everything Id ever worked for.
Youre finding out all the secrets to how everything works the lighting, the PAs, the craft services.
All that kind of lifestyle of being on set lights, camera, action I live!
In your scene, you and Dascha Polanco work a lot off each other.
What was that like?
That was a kiki.
It was so much fun.
When it comes to Dascha, I really got a full taste of her energy.
That woman is so charismatic; charisma just oozes out of her pores.
I learned so much being in the chair with her doing my hair.
Being surrounded by her energy was such a reward.
I really got to be in the presence of a star when I got to work with her.
Since then, were always super-lovey to one another whenever we interact online.
Supporting each other always, we have this secret like, Keep going sister.
I can only dream of being able to work with her again.
What do you hope this movie achieves for Latinos in entertainment?
Im excited knowing I got to be a part of something for ourculturathats so special.
I really wish [for] this movie to be super-iconic, because I already see it that way.
