Afrigather Keyla Monterroso Mejia is studying to not choose her characters — even when, at first, they appear a bit annoying.
After memorable visitor spots on Curb Your Enthusiasm and Abbott Elementary, the Baldwin Park native is main Freeridge, a by-product of the Netflix dramedy sequence On My Block. The present follows 4 highschool college students — Gloria (Mejia), her sister Ines (Bryana Salaz) and their pals Demi (Ciara Riley Wilson) and Cameron (Tenzing Norgay Trainor) — as they attempt to keep at bay a curse whereas coping with household well being woes, sibling rivalry and will-they-won’t-they relationship drama. Mejia’s character, Gloria, is a bit intense, although typically well-intentioned. The kind-A teen, sophomore class president and queen of devastatingly brutal clapbacks has taken on a maternal function in her household after the lack of her mom — however the viewers first meets her amid a no-holds-barred schoolyard struggle together with her sister.
“[Freeridge] does a beautiful job of coping with severe points in a lighthearted approach, whether or not it’s how being poor actually impacts the choices that you just’re in a position to make in the case of healthcare or coping with sexuality,” Mejia says. “It’s such nice writing. It’s such a humorous present and it has some great moments of honesty.”
Within the chat beneath, Mejia talks with THR about being complimented by Quinta Brunson on Instagram, her string of assured feminine characters and why she binged On My Block yet another time earlier than her Freeridge audition.
How did you get your begin in performing?
This has been a extremely lengthy journey, crammed with extra downs than ups, but it surely’s led me right here, which is a lot greater than I believed was potential. A lot to my dad and mom dismay, I used to be in a position to persuade them to let me audition for a performing arts highschool referred to as The Faculty of Arts and Enterprise in Pomona. They actually didn’t know what it was about, however they inform me now, “You had been so joyful and also you appeared so excited that, despite the fact that we had been uncertain of what this was, we didn’t wanna take it away from you.”
It simply kind of snowballed from one factor to a different. I used to be in a program after I was homeschooled for college students who needed to do performing and it kind of took off from there. I acquired an agent and a supervisor and I used to be in a position to get auditions from there, but it surely felt like actually nothing was occurring. Honestly, the silver lining throughout COVID was that casting administrators had been allowed to see so many extra actors than they had been earlier than and I used to be actually fortunate to be in that bunch. I used to be in a position to have this chance on Curb Your Enthusiasm that has fully modified my life, or not less than launched me in a approach that I may have by no means have anticipated or hoped for earlier than that.
How was engaged on Curb?
It was kind of trial by hearth and also you form of acquired thrown into the lion’s den. Not due to individuals — they had been great they usually had been the kindest individuals I’ve ever met — but it surely was simply an intense expertise to not solely be thrusted into certainly one of my first performing roles on an expert set, however to be thrown in with a number of the biggest to ever do it in comedy.
Then you definately additionally had an arc on Abbott Elementary. How did you land that function?
That additionally actually took me abruptly. I used to be an enormous fan of the present and so was my youthful brother. I keep in mind Quinta [Brunson] had commented on an Instagram publish that I did, and I didn’t suppose something of it. Then months later, there I’m on the set of among the best comedies, not even good now, however in my view of all time. It was a really surreal second to get to be part of a present that’s so nice, and that additionally reveals numerous range, not solely in entrance of the digicam however behind it. I simply have a lot gratitude for Quinta giving me that chance in a present that’s actually massive and is doing so nicely.
She discovered you on Instagram?
Sure! She commented on my Instagram. She mentioned one thing alongside the strains of “I feel you’re actually humorous.” That was that and I didn’t suppose something of it. Then months later she acquired involved with my brokers they usually mentioned, “Quinta Brunson needs to speak to you.” And I used to be like, “Excuse me? What? What do you imply? What’s going on?” I had a dialog together with her and she or he was very candy and was simply so sort. And I keep in mind getting off the telephone and telling my brokers, “Please ship me the supplies as quickly as you possibly can. I wanna be as ready as I might be for this audition. I wanna nail it.” And so they had been like, “No, I feel she has you in thoughts. I don’t suppose it’s important to audition.” I believed that was insane. I used to be so, so grateful. The truth that she simply trusted me from the start did a lot for my confidence.
How did individuals reply to that function? As a result of that character was … quite a bit.
Sure. Oh my God. She’s quite a bit, to say the least. It was actually cool. I knew individuals beloved Abbott and the way critically acclaimed it was, however I didn’t know the way a lot individuals discuss it and tweet about it. So, that was a world that took me by storm. A few of my pals had been sending me screenshots of tweets that they had been seeing and saying, “You’re form of going viral on Twitter.” It simply was insane. That was my first time seeing individuals actually discuss me in that approach.
What made you wish to tackle this function in Freeridge?
On My Block did a lot for me, personally, when it comes to illustration. The subjects that they had been taking up had been issues that I may relate to. To be part of the spinoff was a dream come true. To have the ability to be a part of the legacy for a present that did a lot for me was simply far more than I may have ever requested for.
What do you keep in mind most concerning the audition course of?
As a result of I used to be such an enormous fan of On My Block, I used to be so, so nervous. I’m not at a spot the place I’m mature sufficient to look at the initiatives that I don’t guide. So I believed, “Oh my God, I’ve to binge-watch On My Block yet another time earlier than the ultimate audition as a result of if I don’t get this, that present might be tainted perpetually for me with the ache of not getting this character.” So I keep in mind staying up the evening earlier than and having to love fully binge all of the seasons as a result of I believed, “That is gonna be so heartbreaking if I don’t get it.”
Are there any frequent threads that you just see among the many characters that you just’ve performed?
They’re all these very assured girls. It’s humorous as a result of they’re kind of the identical lady in numerous conditions. They’re girls who usually are not afraid to take up house and they’re very assured in saying what they need and being open with how they really feel. It’s been actually enjoyable to play actually sturdy, assured girls. It’s given me quite a bit to study as a result of generally it’s simpler to play it than to really feel it in your on a regular basis life. In order that’s been actually enjoyable to have the ability to step of their footwear.
Keyla Monterroso Mejia as Gloria in Freeridge.
Kevin Estrada/Netflix
How would you describe Gloria?
Gloria is a strong-willed lady. She is kind of the glue that retains all the pieces collectively. She’s this actually impartial lady who needed to develop up and cope with the playing cards that she was handed, and I feel she does a extremely good job. She’s kind of just like the mother of the group.
They inform you to not choose your characters, however after I was first studying the scripts, I used to be like, “Oh dang, Gloria’s a bit annoying.” She’s doing quite a bit. She’s in everybody’s enterprise and she or he is taking up quite a bit 24-7. Nevertheless it was very nice to see her partitions come down in episode 4. It was an awesome present from the writers that you just’re in a position to see the explanation why Gloria is the best way she is. It’s simply actually great writing and it actually sneaks up on you, which is like actual life. Lots of the time we’re not in a position to see why somebody is the best way they’re. We simply take them for who they’re within the second and make judgements. Nevertheless it’s good that you just get to see these individuals and see the the explanation why they’ve these habits or these emotions.
This was my first time having a script that actually confirmed a personality’s hardships. Prior to now I’ve executed extra lighthearted and extra bodily comedy. It was actually scary at first to dive into one thing that was a bit bit extra severe as a result of I had been within the swing of comedy for thus lengthy. I used to be afraid I wasn’t going to have the ability to do it justice. However I noticed when you might have nice writing half of the work is already executed for you. It was extra enjoyable than I believed I used to be going to have with coping with robust subjects.
Do you might have a favourite episode or scene?
I actually love all of the scenes that she has together with her sister, [played by] Bryana Salaz, who’s an unimaginable actress. It brings out a aspect of me as an actress that I’ve by no means felt earlier than. You see us be actually indignant with one another, whether or not it’s bodily preventing or with the phrases that we are saying, however you additionally see us in these extra intimate moments. How on the finish of the day, it doesn’t matter what, she’s my sister and I like her and I’m gonna do no matter I can. Then you definately see us kind of come again and forgive one another and transfer ahead. It’s an sincere sibling relationship. I’ve a youthful brother and I fully perceive what it feels wish to be the older sister and the way we do a number of the worst issues to a number of the those that we love probably the most. I don’t know why, we simply do.
This season entails a mysterious field that the group thinks is cursed. Do you consider in curses?
I do. A hundred percent, I consider in curses. I consider in all of the dangerous juju. I consider that spirits are actual and I consider you possibly can catch a ghost, as they are saying within the present. It’s actually humorous, really. My mother is Mexican and in our tradition there’s this factor that in case you see an owl it’s an indication somebody put a curse on you. I didn’t know this, and I keep in mind driving with my mother and I used to be like, “Look! A reasonably owl. It has a white face and white feathers and it’s so attractive.” My mother freaked out and mentioned, “Flip the automotive round. We now have to go to the place you noticed that owl.” We didn’t see it once more. I’m going to work, perhaps that following week, and in my bed room [on set] there’s simply this big portray with three white owls. I keep in mind asking the director, “Hey, do you suppose there’s any approach we may eliminate this portray?” And she or he mentioned, “Sadly, we’ve already executed establishing photographs of this room, so we will’t eliminate it.” So I selected to consider these white owls weren’t dangerous luck, however good luck.
I don’t wish to get too spoiler-y, however what did you consider how the primary season ended?
I’ve numerous questions I need answered. They undoubtedly gave us a few cliffhangers. With out saying an excessive amount of, my character in all probability has probably the most heartbreak to undergo in each of the conditions that they go away cliffhangers with. So I’m very excited to see what’s going to occur sooner or later, but in addition very unhappy for what the chances are.
What sorts of initiatives do you see your self doing subsequent? Is there something you’ll undoubtedly by no means wish to do?
Sure, I by no means wish to do one thing the place my character is the butt of the joke, or persons are laughing at her expense. That’s undoubtedly one factor I’ll by no means do. I’ve been so fortunate that the characters I’ve performed are humorous due to the conditions they’re in and the way they reply, and never as a result of anybody is laughing at them they usually’re not conscious. I’ve seen additionally that I actually really feel fulfilled doing dramedies. I like comedy, however I additionally love when characters really feel multi-dimensional and also you’re not simply seeing one model of them. I actually wish to see the totally different feelings that they arrive with and the best way that they cope with life. I simply wish to be joyful and I wish to be fulfilled and really feel happy with the initiatives that I’m in. I’ve been actually fortunate to have the ability to say thus far that I’ve, and I wish to carry on that trajectory.
Interview edited for size and readability.
