Whole Lotta
Lana
Actress Lana Parrilla heats things up.
PHOTOGRAPHY Barry Rosen
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There was a time not too long ago when a new Latino face appeared on a major network show about as often as Haley's Comet comes around. Thankfully, those days appear to be behind us as more and more Latin faces pop up to surprise us on TV shows every season. Of course some surprises are more pleasant than others, and none could be considered more pleasant than Lana Parrilla. Lana first appeared on Spin City shortly after the departure of Michael J. Fox and is now starring in NBC's highly anticipated new drama, Boomtown. Lana looks poised to open more than a few eyes with her wit, charm, beauty, and acting skills. I caught up with her recently for an interview and was pleasantly surprised. You're a Brooklyn girl transplanted
to L.A. Which do you like best?
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So what do like so much about
the Big Apple?
I think one of the nice things about New York is that you can get a hot
meal at three o'clock in the morning and not have to travel 40 minutes away
to do it. And I love that you don't have to drive. I think that it helps you
stay less stressed out. The other great thing is that you know everyone. It
has more of a neighborhood feel, I feel like I know everybody. I feel safer
in New York, because you know people and people know you. Whereas here in L.A.,
I mean thank God I've created [a circle of friends] in my environment, but before
that I didn't know anybody. I didn't know who my neighbors were. But at least
I live in a five-unit building, so I've forced everyone to know me. I'll scream
their name out the window if I have extra food.
Free food? I need to move into
your building...
Now, you are of mixed Puerto Rican and Italian heritage, were you pretty conscious
of your heritage growing up or were you more of an All-American girl? I was
never really too aware of it. I lived with my mother who's Italian for the most
part until I was ten. Once I hit ten I started living with my father who is
Puerto Rican and they spoke Spanish in that household.
So that's how you learned Spanish?
Well, no. Because at that age I was like, "I don't want to learn a language,"
who wants to learn a language when they're 11 years old. At that age, you want
to play, you want to hang out with your friends, go out and get Icees and stuff.
You don't really want to learn a language. That's why I don't speak Spanish
fluently, cause I was never really taught it. But all my friends were Dominican,
Puerto Rican, black...I didn't really have many Anglo friends because of the neighborhood
I grew up in. Most of my friends were ethnic, so I guess I was aware of my heritage
because of the area where I lived and the fact that I was surrounded by a lot
of Latins and ethnic people. So I felt like, yeah I'm Latin, this is where I
belong.
As you've grown up, is your heritage
something you've become more conscious of or do you feel it's just a matter
of "happen to be" Puerto Rican and Italian.
It is definitely something I am more conscious of. I think it started probably
about five years ago where I started really going, "Okay you know what?
I'm Puerto Rican, I'm Italian. I need to learn my languages." [laughs]
It's something that is still a process, because it's hard to learn a language.
It's hard to dedicate the time and the patience. So I am more aware of it and
I'm proud. I'm proud to be a Latina. I'm proud to be...and I also consider Italian
Latin...so I'm proud to be Latin. And now I see it more in me. Before, I was
more like whatever, but now I see it more in me. I own it, even with what I
cook. Like now I'm starting to realize...I never paid attention to [Hispanic
spices] and sazon, but now I'm like, let me throw a little sazon
in the spaghetti. I can mix the two.
Have you been to Italy or Puerto
Rico?
I've been to Italy, but sad to say I haven't been to Puerto Rico. I'm making
my way over there when I go on hiatus. My uncle says, "Come live here." My great
grandmother is still aliveÑshe's in her late ninetiesÑand we still have a house
there.
You're only half Puerto Rican
and you're pretty fair skinned. Do you think casting directors and people in
Hollywood see you as a Latina?
I don' really know what they see me as. I don't know. I've played both parts.
I've played Latin, I've played Italian. And I've played the all-around regular
girl. I think the thing about the way I look, is that I can look like many different
things. People sometimes ask me if I'm Russian. I don't think I specifically
look like a Puerto Rican or an Italian. Wouldn't you agree?
THE COMPLETE INTERVIEW
WITH LANA PARRILLA APPEARS IN ISSUE 2.1
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