Actress Cristina Rodlo on Being Bold, Rising above Stereotypes and Opening Doors for Others
Actress Cristina Rodlo is a powerful example that you should ask for what you want. Originally from Torreón, a small city in northern Mexico, at a young age, she had big dreams to act but it was out of boldness that she got the wheels in motion. We spoke to the actress, who stars in Paramount’s new series, 68 Whiskey about how it all began, working hard, combatting stereotypes in Hollywood and opening doors for others.
Photography by Alison Engstrom
Hair by Dominick Pucciarello; Makeup by Kim Bower
On How it all began in her Hometown of Torreón, Mexico and the power of asking for what you need and want
When I was 11, I came to my parents and told them that I wanted to be an actor and that I wanted to go to New York—they thought I was kidding—no one in my family was in the business. Every year, I just kept telling my parents the same thing and at some point I think they thought that I would move on and want to be something else. I never forgot; my last year in high school, I started looking for academies in New York. The American Musical and Dramatic Academy called me and said that they were having private auditions in Mexico City and Monterrey. I asked my parents if I could go and they agreed but said that I probably wouldn’t get in and that I’d stay in Mexico and have a normal career because they didn’t have the money to pay for me to go to New York. So my mom took me to the audition and it went great; I was so happy and excited. A month later, I got a letter that I was accepted and they offered me a scholarship. I was so happy, I cried. I told my parents but they said the scholarship wasn’t enough money. I asked them, what if I can find someone who can pay for it? My mom said, yes, if you can find someone to pay half then they would pay the other half. At that point I was 17, who was going to pay for a girl to go to New York to study acting? We shook hands and I started sending letters to politicians and big companies in Mexico and every one replied and said, no. Finally, one person got back to me and I got a meeting with him the next day. I went with my mom and we were there for five minutes and he asked me what I needed. I told him everything and he said, don't’ worry, I’ll pay for half—I see something in you with your drive to come here and ask for that amount of money. That’s how it all began. He was my angel.
On Finding Her Way
I always wanted to stay in the States—it was my dream to not even go back to Mexico—but it was very hard for me after I graduated. I stayed in New York for six months until I was tired of it; I wanted to be an actress on television and film and everything in New York, eleven years ago, was mostly theater. I came to LA and it was so hard to get roles because when they looked at me they were very closed-minded on what a Latino looked like. They were like, she doesn’t look Latino, we aren’t going to cast her. She can play an American but she has an accent—I was in the middle of nothing. I couldn't go for the roles that I was supposed to because they thought Latinos or Mexicans looked a very specific way. I stayed in LA for a year and a half, then I went back to Mexico City and started my career over there. I was there seven years working nonstop creating a huge résumé so that I could come back. I went back knowing that I had to come back to the States. I worked on TV shows and movies, it was an amazing experience; I worked 24/7 for all those years and it gave me technique, resources and I worked alongside amazing actors. It was the best thing that could have happened to me. When I got Miss Bala with Gina Rodriguez, everything changed and doors started to open for me. After that, I got Too Old to Die Young and that’s when I moved back to LA.
On Rising Above Close-Minded Individuals in the industry and INspiring others
Things are finally changing but it’s been a while. For me it was very hard, I was heartbroken in a way because I thought, what do you mean I am not Mexican enough? I was born in Mexico, my whole family is from there. How can you tell me this when you have never even been there? How can you decide who is Mexican or not? It was very tough. In my mind, I had another reason to come back and it wasn’t just because there were better projects in the US but it was also to change an idea and to put a different perspective on how they see us. To me that was also very important. I need to make a difference. We need to open the doors for everyone.
On Choosing Projects That Have Something to Say
It’s important that I am saying something and that whatever I am doing, it has a purpose and meaning. I’ve said no to many projects in Mexico that were just for entertainment—I am not against entertaining but it has to be so for a reason. It has guided my career since I started.
On Working With Super Producers Ron Ron Howard and Brian Glazer on ‘68 Whiskey’.
It’s been amazing, the fact that Ron Howard and Brian Glazer were attached to it you already knew that the project was going to be great and on another level. When I found out what my story line was about I needed to be part of it. It’s been great—the production, crew and directors were all amazing. We were all so lucky to be part of this show and to tell this story.
On the Importance of Her Character Confronting Issues like the Treatment of Dreamers, Deportation and Green Card Marriages.
We need these kinds of stories because we need to understand that all immigrants who come to this country—wherever they are from—come because we want a better future for ourselves, our families and for the country itself. We pay taxes and do everything right. We want to become citizens because we believe in this country, which is why I think that it’s so important to tell and why I wanted the role so badly. My character Rosa is fighting for her country, the US, even though she wasn’t born here, but she moved here when she was 2-years-old and she doesn't know any other country but this one. This is the lives of many people in the US and for me, it was that we needed to show this side of the story that we don’t see on TV or film. We need to show that this girl is fighting for her country, but her country doesn't want her, the government wants her to go back to another country that she hasn't even been before.
On Parallels Between Herself and her Character Rosa
I think that Rosa and I are both fighters. We both believe in something and that there is a better future in this country and we want to do good. What’s great about 68 Whiskey is that they risk their lives every single day, to me, it’s amazing what they do. They don’t have any protection and they try to save people they don’t even know—they are heroes. I could never do that which is why I love acting, where you can put yourself in a position that you might never be able to be in, which is why it’s more beautiful.
On Paying It Forward One Day
I would love to create a foundation to help people to pursue their dreams in my country, especially since we don’t have a lot of education for arts, like theater, music or dance. It’s very important to create those spaces for people to explore their imagination. As soon as I am able to do it I will.
On other Passions and What’s Next
Well, my profession is what I love the most, but I would love to direct and write my own material. I love watching and playing tennis and cooking. For what’s next, there are a few doors opening, I just don't want to say anything until we get it for sure.
You can follow Cristina on Instagram
Catch 68 Whiskey Airing Wednesdays at 10/9PM EST On Paramount Network
As told to Alison Engstrom. The story was edited for clarity.