Actress Julieth Restrepo of “Griselda” chatted about starring in the new Netflix drama “The Residence.”
The synopsis is: 132 rooms. 157 suspects. 1 dead body. 1 wildly eccentric detective. 1 disastrous State Dinner. The Residence, a new series from Shondaland, is a screwball whodunnit set in the upstairs, downstairs, and backstairs of the White House, among the eclectic staff of the world’s most famous mansion.
It stars Uzo Aduba, Giancarlo Esposito, Randall Park, Susan Kelechi Watson and many others. “The Residence” will premiere on March 20th on Netflix.
Restrepo plays Elsyie Chayle, a White House housekeeper who is entangled in a murder investigation.
How was your experience in “The Residence”?
Unforgettable and unique in so many ways. Having the privilege to be a part of a Shondaland show was definitely a dream come true.
The cast and crew were so generous and welcoming. I was working with my heroes every day. I really enjoyed the experience and I couldn’t be more proud of what we all did.
What do you like the most about your character? (What drew you to this script)
The script is so funny and smart, it’s not like anything I’ve read before. I started reading the story and I couldn’t stop.
Playing Elsyie gave me the chance to explore the life of the White House from a very different perspective. I love that she is very professional, hard working and private.
The way that Paul William Davies wrote her says a lot about the challenges she faces everyday and how meticulous she is at her job.
She is also a great mom and she gets to keep a balance between work and her amazing relationship with her daughter.
What motivates you each day as an actress, storyteller, and performer?
Acting makes me feel so alive and gives me the chance to connect with the world.
I have a need to tell stories. It’s been a part of my life since I was little. Even when I didn’t know that I could be an actor, I wrote stories and poems in my notebooks.
I love giving life to different people and making them feel relatable to an audience. I learn a lot from the characters I play and I grow so much just from trying to understand the role they play in society.
How does it feel to be an actress and artist in the digital age? (Now with streaming, technology, and social media being so prevalent)
I love that we all have a chance to share what we do and create in a much faster and easier way. Thanks to the streaming services our projects are seen worldwide and that’s really special. But I find it overwhelming sometimes, especially with social media.
We keep comparing ourselves to people we don’t know and many times we use it as an escape. I love sharing stuff from my work and I hope that could inspire someone that’s going for similar dreams and many, many times I’ve felt inspired by someone else’s post as well.
It’s definitely a tool to promote what you do or share how you feel, and connect with the people you care about but I’m very aware that even though social media plays a big part in our lives now it doesn’t really define who we are.
How was your experience in “Griselda”?
Incredible. It was great working with Sofia Vergara and being directed by Andi Baiz. I had so much freedom when I was playing Marta Ochoa.
Knowing that she was a real person gave me the basis to play her and the script also added some elements to her world that helped me understand where she was coming from.
Having Camilo Jimenez Barón (Rafa) as my partner in crime allowed me to take more chances because I knew I was surrounded by amazing actors that were ready to take risks and give it all.
Oh, and the costumes and make-up department elevated any idea we had around Marta’s world so, yeah… it was so much fun!
What was it like working with Martín Rodríguez on “Griselda”?
Martín Rodriguez is awesome! It was my first time working with him.
I loved the moments we got to share on and off the screen because he is so real and honest about his work, so we had a great time connecting and learning about each other’s paths.
What does the word success mean to you? (My favorite question)
For me, it’s having freedom to make my own choices, being able to do what I love the most (acting) while I can spend time with my family.
What would you like to say to your readers about “The Residence”? (What’s the one thing you want them to get out of it)
Be prepared to resolve the case alongside the greatest detective of all time. You’ve never seen what the White House really hides… until now.
I promise you it’s going to be a really fun and unforgettable ride!
To learn more about actress Julieth Restrepo, follow her on Instagram.
