How has your acting career evolved over time, and what goals do you still have for the
future?
When I started, I just wanted to book anything, anytime, anywhere. Now, I choose things that are interesting to me. That will help me to grow as an artist and as a person. But because I don’t like to be away from my daughter for long periods of time, I won’t accept a job that shoot for months that are far away. I need to be able to fly back in a few hours. Also, I am producing a lot more. I am not seeing as much representation of brown folks in a positive light that I would like to see. So I have been busy creating content that will lift us up.
Describe how you typically celebrate the holidays with friends and family and any traditions you still hold onto.
Since childhood, we would go to midnight mass. It was actually at 10:00pm and went to midnight. I remember the mass being very beautiful with a lot of singing and incense. My brothers and I still do Christmas Eve mass, but we go to Holy Name Cathedral and not our childhood church. On Christmas Day we lounge around and have a huge lunch.
What motivates you to give back, and what causes are closest to your heart?
I think if you are blessed with a lot or even a little, it’s our duty to give back. That’s something that has always been a part of my family. But, my father would say that you need to start at home first and spread your wings from there. So, I’m not one of these people who takes photos with people in need, but leaves her kids with nannies all day. When I was single and not a mommy, I volunteered at the Humane Society, my local Veterinarian, an animal rescue in Palm Springs and of course,
Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles. I since have become a
Board member of Children’s Hospital. I was on the Board for
18 years. After I had my daughter, I was not able to keep up most of my efforts. Now, I am a Board member of the Service Club of
Chicago and I give money to several charities, including City of Angels orphanage in Tijuana. But that’s it. I don’t have time to volunteer any more. My family comes first and I don’t have time and energy outside of that.