Actress Gabriela Milla chatted about “Acapulco” Season 2 on Apple TV+ and the digital age.
What was it like to be a part of “Acapulco” Season 2?
Unbelievable. I was already such a huge fan of the show before joining this season. Watching Acapulco made me so happy, I felt like they got it, Acapulco gets what’s funny about that crisscross of two very different cultures.
So you know, joining something you already love and having the cast and crew, the writers and everyone involved welcome me with open arms was surreal. I think that’s why the show has such a lovely spirit because every person who is a part of it is so grateful to be there. We really do feel like one big family.
Shooting it was so unique too because we were all living in the same hotel, bonding on and off camera. It’s really like a “summer camp” type of experience. It’s a “Las Colinas” behind “Las Colinas” and it was so much fun!
What did you love most about playing your character, Isabel?
How cool and badass she is, she is so well-written. Everything about Isabel is strong; her sense of self, what she believes in, her confidence, her sense of humor… It’s so cool to play a role like that, especially being a Latina in this industry.
These kinds of roles are never offered to us, I think they barely exist (for women of any race). Isabel is a fully formed person- not a shallow stereotype made to “fill a gap” on a show. I learned so much from her every day, and I feel so unbelievably grateful to have played her.
How does it feel to be an actress in the digital age? (now with streaming and technology being so prevalent)
There is one side of it that is amazing because there are so many more opportunities to make content. I would say the downside is that sometimes really good content gets lost in that sea of content.
People’s attention spans are also getting shorter, which leads a lot of content creators to want to catch people’s eye with a quick “catchy” scandalous headline or image.
Then, on the other hand, you have content creators who are focusing on creating things that really feed people’s hearts. The key is for those stories that are being told with a lot of heart to get seen by the people who are looking for them, and that can be hard when options are so saturated.
But I am a firm believer that good content finds you, and that the energy that a good show like Acapulco emanates attracts viewers seamlessly.
What is your advice for young and aspiring actors?
Create, create, and create. If you like writing- write, if you like comedy shoot a sketch, if you like getting to know people, interview someone. We all have something to say, and in this industry, it’s easy for us as actors to wait for an opportunity and wait for someone to give us something to say.
We already have something to say and now in the digital age, we have the tools to say it. I don’t need to wait for an opportunity if I am already creating something I love. I wouldn’t get too caught up on questions like “how do I produce it?”, “how do I raise a budget?”, etc I would just go out and do it. Use your phone. Whatever. Just create.
Which actors would you like to someday work with as your dream acting partners?
I am a huge fan of Issa Rae, she is hilarious. I think “Insecure” is one of the best shows of all time. I’ve re-watched that entire show three times and am about to start my fourth. I love her type of comedy, her characters are so endearing and relatable and all she’s really doing at the core of her comedy is telling a genuine story- I really connect to that, she is one of my heroes.
What does the word success mean to you?
Owning who you are and where you are in life with joy. When I embrace and love all of my colors “the good the bad and the ugly”), I feel unbelievably comfortable in my skin. That to me is a success. It really comes down to: do I feel successful? And honestly, that’s a choice, success is so subjective. Sure we have these standards of success that include money, fame, or beauty.
I know so many people who have some or all of those things and feel miserable. So what it comes down to for me is- how happy am I feeling about myself? How much do I accept and embrace myself? How much do I love myself today?
What would you like to tell our readers about “Acapulco” Season 2?
Oh my gosh! I would say, if you liked Season 1 you are going to love Season 2. Also, if you haven’t watched the first season what are you waiting for?
What you will love about Season 2 is how it’ll put a smile on your face from start to finish. The characters we fell in love with in Season 1 just get funnier and their stories go deeper.
In Acapulco you fall in love with the people on screen, they become your friends, you want to know what they’re getting into and you can’t help but root for them. The show just has so much heart, and that heart grew so much in the second season. It really transcends languages.
At the end of the day, it’s a feel-good show like “Ted Lasso.” You just feel lighter after watching it. In this world, it’s good to remind ourselves that the best things happen when we follow our hearts, and I think this show is a really good reminder of that.
To learn more about Gabriela Milla, follow her on Instagram.
