From Broadway to the silver screen, Latin actress Danielle Larracuente takes a moment to sit down with Nuovo and reflect on her career journey. Beginning with her notable roles in Broadway's ‘The Lion King’ and beloved TV series such as ‘This Is Us’ and ‘Saturday Night Live,’ Danielle delves into her latest endeavor, portraying ‘the fighter’ in Jennifer Lopez's film "This Is Me…Now."
A driving force behind Danielle's ambitions lies in her dedication to elevating the presence of the Latino community in the realms of TV and film. In this interview, the actress candidly shares the highs, lows, and invaluable lessons learned throughout her career.
Photographed by Jared Schlachet
Q: Your career spans modeling, Broadway, and now film. What have been some of your most memorable experiences along the way?
A: I would have to say starting with Broadway. That was definitely the catapult to opening my eyes to all the amazing opportunities and characters I could play. Once I started in film, I found so much gratitude in really playing so many diverse roles. I have been very lucky.
Q: Your role in Jennifer Lopez's film "This Is Me…Now" is generating buzz. Can you tell us a bit about your character and what drew you to this project?
A: Yes, well my character is “the fighter.” At first the role was basically viewed as a friend who likes to start fights or argue. However, as the scenes and dialogue moved forward, I jumped into the role, realizing it was so much more and actually a multi-dimensional character. Although she is a fighter, because she loves so hard, she is really a girl’s girl. You see “the fighter” in the film really goes to bat for Jen and has her back no matter what. For instance, the quote “I’m your girl I don’t care who you love!”-expresses just that sentiment.
Q: What was your experience like collaborating with Jennifer Lopez and other esteemed cast members such as Trevor Noah, Post Malone, Sofia Vergara, Jay Shetty, and Ben Affleck on"This Is Me…Now"?
A: It was honestly a dream come true! Being in the room I felt like a sponge trying to soak up as much experience and knowledge as I could.
Q: Your role as Paulina Calderon on Amazon Primes, "Bosch: Legacy" adds another layer to your diverse portfolio. What drew you to this character, and how does the experience of working on a crime drama like "Bosch" differ from your other projects?
A: Well, both of my parents are retired NYPD police officers, so that was a huge motivation for me. Being able to portray their line of work was such an honor. Working on Bosch differs because it is very grounded in real life and procedure. Also, the show does a great job of being relatable to all walks of life.
Q: Being part of NBC's acclaimed drama "This Is Us" surely offered memorable moments. Could you share what it was like on set and your favorite memory working with the cast and crew?
A: It was truly a magical experience. I felt like working with that cast and crew was a masterclass in acting. They are all amazingly kind and talented. One of my most memorable scenes was at the end when I had to tell the family that it was time to say goodbye to their mom. This scene was so powerful and so emotionally charged and heartfelt.
Q: Outside of your acting career, you're known for your advocacy work. What causes are particularly important to you, and how do you incorporate them into your life?
A: Anything having to do with the Latino Community is very important to me. I make it one of my own personal missions to push the narrative to create more opportunities for us! Also, I am very involved in setting examples and being a role model for young girls and boys especially in the career/entertainment field.
Q: What's next for you?
A: You guys can catch me on the latest episode of Chicago Med on NBC. I had the amazing opportunity of guest starring.