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She knows what its like to be a permanent cast member on a major series.
But like so many actors, shes also had plenty of experience with the pop-in, a.k.a.
taking on recurring or guest-starring roles that involve a few episodes of work.
How did theJane the Virginrole come about?
I forget how I met Gina [Rodriguez] shes just a sparkling little light.
I believe I met her through Eva [Longoria] at an event.
From the first season they had invited me to come on.
The show was just such a huge hit, and so terrific and original.
I was like,Of course Ill be part of it.
And they just kept inviting me back, which I was so grateful for.
So many people just know me from that show.
[The role] was something fun and different: a successful television exec who has a romantic side.
A lot of the times when youre asked to be a guest, you only see one particular side.
But it was a terrific opportunity to play something really fun that Id never tried before.
But what did they tell you about the character?
I dont even remember asking what it was about.
Because I just loved all of them on the show.
It was an honor to be a part of it, to be truthful.
The character you played, Dina Milagro, was the showrunner of a telenovela.
Were you able to pull from your own experiences with showrunners?
Was it interesting to explore that side of the process?
Offscreen and on, as a matter of fact.
You dont get to see a Latina showrunner at all.
Dina was like that, your role onSuccessionwas like that.
Even onClaws, your character has a great deal of strength.
That just didnt feel right to me.
I come from a group of actors from a theater company that are constantly challenging themselves.
It takes a brave choice.
You have to challenge yourself first.
What are the challenges of doing a recurring character or a guest role?
Are those hard to do when the ensemble is already pretty well-established?
It is challenging, but thats why you do it, right?
I think it gets really old to play the same thing all the time.
It gives people permission to see me in a different way other than how they learned about me.
I think that certainly has something to do with it.
Theres a little bit more of everything.
I cant say that its enough, you know, especially for women or Latinos.
But I think there is so much more out there.
As a result of the variety of roles that Ive played, I get asked to do different things.
Sometimes you just have to say no to things that feel like theres not enough.
I think that takes experience.
I do take even more chances the older I get instead of worrying so much about not working.
I agree, 100 percent.
When you do take those risks, you have an idea.
Its like,Im not doing that shit.Oh, but Id love to do that.[Laughs.
]You know its true.
Im sure there have been times on other shows when you were the only Latinx person in the room.
Particularly onJane, it was a very welcoming, very supportive environment.
Same thing withClaws, with such a diverse cast, in front of and behind the camera.
Because youre outnumbered, and youre used to it.
Having played a showrunner onJane the Virgin, would you ever want to be a showrunner yourself?
Oh, God no.
That is one of the hardest jobs Ive ever, ever seen anybody do.
Its really, really hard.
You have to have an energetic, micromanaging personality thats intuitive and on top of everything.
Its like the mom for a show.
A producer I wouldnt mind.
But not a showrunner.
Wow, what a good question.
A recurring role on a show that I havent been on yet …Bridgerton.
Why cant you have a Dominican girl onBridgerton?
I know, I would love to.
Are you kidding me?
That was such a fun talk about over-the-top and sensual and crazy show.
I just loved it.
Well, well put that out in the universe and see what happens.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
