By Nikoleta Morales

Academy and Golden Globe nominee Adriana Barraza is one of the leads in the new upcoming Showtime series, Penny Dreadful: City of Angels, premiering on April 26. Adriana plays Maria Vega, the strong willed and protective matriarch of the Vega family. The series talks about the gentrification, racism and corruption in late 1930’s Los Angeles, pre-World War II and how it parallels what is happening in the U.S. and society today. Adriana spoke to Lawndale News about her character, COVID 19 and life.

Tell us about your character in Penny Dreadful: City of Angels?

Maria is a loving mother and a hard worker. She is also a super natural woman. She is like a good witch who communicates with the dead and her sister who is the evil incarnator. Maria wants to protect her family. I love Maria. She is a very realistic Mexican woman. I know Maria with my heart.

How is the series portraying the Mexican culture in a different light?

I was surprised when I read the first episode and had my first conversation with John Logan. The characters are so dignified. He did his research and really made all the characters with care, empathy, dignity and compassion. In one scene where Maria has to pray to Virgin Mary and Jesus asking for assistance, one of the things her character does is role her stockings down so she can kneel with her bare knees on the ground. This is something very traditional that Mexicans do and it is an old Mexican tradition. I think John Logan has a wonderful talent to make such deep stories.

What do you wish other Hollywood directors and writers do when portraying the Mexican culture?

I hope that our society, culture and filmmakers within the US and Hollywood start to change the way not just Latinos but minorities are looked at and stereotyped; to start casting actors and talent in the general market roles with roles that can be dignified and profoundly insightful so that we don’t continue using the stereotypes that have constantly affected us in this country, especially Latinos.

What can we take away from the series today and the situation we are going through with COVID-19? How is it similar?

John Logan shows in the series how pre-World War II in 1938 LA really mirrors what is happening within our country today. History repeats itself and mirrors what we go through today. That’s the reason why when I read the script and spoke to John Logan, I was honored to play Maria Vega. Right now what we are going through is difficult to put into words because history has taught us when something as tragic happens it is difficult to put it into words while it is happening. It is not until it passes that you can really put a true face to what is going on. Now we are in the middle of the storm and we need to survive. I am trying to survive. I am really lucky because I have my home, my family and I am safe. We have food, a home but there are people without these comfortable things. We can see how a lot of Mexican people, especially in NY, live in small apartments with a lot of people. People who are without papers fear to look for another place because of fear of being deported. Now the fear doubles – a fear of being sick and a fear of being deported. I think we need to think about how we can help everybody. My husband and I have a school. It is not important if they can pay or not, the most important is that we need to support them because we are a community. If you can do something for someone, please do it.

You have played among some of the biggest names in Hollywood, such as Brad Pitt. What is it like playing among such names?

The opportunity to work with the big actors was profound. I never had a bad experience. It was an extraordinary professional experience to work with these actors, especially Brad Pitt. I was also a big fan of Rory Kinnear in Black Mirror. I really admire his work. For the first time in Penny Dreadful everyone was amazing. Everybody was talented and professional. We filmed one scene for many days and most of the cast had the flu but everybody was there not complaining, working the same way. Eight months later I realized how lucky I was because our cast, the production, and everybody was such a hard worker. The professionalism I experienced in Penny Dreadful is what I always strive for and look for. I admire the dedication and appreciate it; it is not easy to work 10-12 hours a day for eight months.

You were nominated for an Academy award. How were you able to work yourself up to such a high level and what advice do you have for other Latinas who want to be like you?

My advice for everybody is based on my own experience. You have to be disciplined. You have to work very hard. You have to study. The main thing is not to believe you are invaluable. Everybody is valuable. You have to study every character, every day. In my long career I saw a lot of good actors without work. Many dropped out and started drinking. We need to think that my temple is my body and my temple is my work. You have to have dreams. You can never lose faith in your dreams – believe in them.

You have worked as an actress for 40 years. What have you learned about yourself as an actress, a person and Hollywood?

I learned the language because English is not my first language. The most important thing for an actor is when you work you need to understand the director’s directions. If you don’t understand you can act bad. Money will not give you success. Maybe you have a lot of money but your movies are not good. In every country I have worked in I find people who want to make their movie with a lot of heart and passion. The problems now that I have as a person and as an actress in general are a lot less than what I thought they were when I was younger. For example, when I work as an actress now I clearly understand I have to emotionally connect to each and every character in everyday life. You have to have compassion for them just like with any person when they make mistakes, which makes that character human.

How can more Latinos enter Hollywood and what challenges have you experienced as a Latina actress in Hollywood?

For those Latinas coming to the US and other parts of the world, and even here in the US, the most important thing that all actors need to do and I recommend is to educate yourself properly, take the proper classes and learn English. I have been fortunate and lucky with the breakthrough I have had in the US and my experience hasn’t been the same as most. Once you get an Oscar nomination it changes your career and it gives you the respect that you deserve in your career.

When did you first discover your love and passion for acting and how did you go about pursuing it?

I didn’t want to be an actress when I was a little girl. I wanted to be a ballet dancer. When I was 16 I needed to choose one of three different workshops in my school. One of them was a ballet dancer workshop, the second one was volleyball and the third one was theater. I wanted the ballet dancer one but it was full. I didn’t like volleyball so I went to the theater one. I remember my first theater class. I thought this was my place. My teacher said you don’t look for your profession, the profession is looking for you. I am very grateful for that advice. I had a hard life. I was a single mother. I struggled many years with no money and food but all the time I was doing theater because when you are on stage nothing matters. The stage gives you the best of the world.

What future projects are you working on?

I am working on a great movie with Robert Rodriguez about spy kids – We Can Be Heroes. My character Grandma Marino is a funny grandma and a trainer of superheroes. We don’t know when the premiere will be because of COVID-19 but we expect maybe later this summer.

Some of Barraza’s most notable film credits include Alejandro González Iñárritu’s feature films Amores Perros and Babel for which she received an Academy and Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress, Cake opposite Jennifer Aniston, The 33 directed by Patricia Riggen, Thor opposite Chris Hemsworth, the worldwide hit Dora and the Lost City of Gold and most recently Rambo: Last Blood opposite Sylvester Stallone. She’s also had a very successful career in television starring in successful series that include Capadocia, The Strain, Al Otro Lado Del Muro and Snowfall.