"Untitled Home Invasion Romance" star René Escobar Jr. | The Latest WIth Maya

 A conversation with René Escobar Jr..❤️


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Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:10

Hi Renee, welcome to The Latest to Admaya. You can see Renee Escobar Jr. in the movie Untitled Home Invasion Romance, which I loved. It was such a great movie. Um, so thank you so much for being on my show. I'm so excited to be talking with you.

SPEAKER_00 0:36

Thank you. Thank you for having me. I've been uh this has been on my calendar for a bit, so I'm just as excited as you are.

SPEAKER_01 0:43

Oh, thank you.

SPEAKER_00 0:45

And don't I'm noticing this my my camera for some odd reason is doing like a zoom in, zoom out thing. That's not me, that's just my camera doing whatever it wants. So just so you know.

SPEAKER_01 0:56

Okay, yeah. I've actually there's been a couple interviews that I don't know if it's like something on my end and the other person's end that I feel like both our cameras have been weird.

SPEAKER_00 1:08

So you never know with technology nowadays. It's it's out of control, Maya. It's completely out of control.

SPEAKER_01 1:15

Yeah. Um, so who has had the biggest impact on you professionally?

SPEAKER_00 1:26

Man. Um let's see. Well, this is random, but um I worked my first professional job was as I was I was an extra on a movie called Pixels with Adam Sandler. Uh I don't know if you've watched it. It was uh it's starring uh Adam Sandler, Kevin James, uh and it's it revolves around Adam Sandler being like this. Uh he was an arcade nerd back in the day, and then these uh new renditions of video games are coming to attack the world. And so they hired the CIA or whatever hires like the biggest nerd in the world, aka Adam Sandler, to fix their problems, anyways. So I was an extra, this was like over 10 years ago. I was an extra on that movie. I just played like a random soldier, and I did a scene with Adam Sandler, um, like in the foreground, and I was maybe like two feet behind him, and we were waiting to shoot, right? Like it's a lot of hurry up and wait, you know, uh, especially for night shoots. And uh he said something, he was having a conversation with one of the actors, and in the background, I was having a conversation with one of my uh extra buddies, and I just like I randomly did this uh Tony Montana uh impersonation from Scarface, and I was like, hey man, should know what I need, I need more money, mate. And he turned around out of nowhere, and he's like, ha ha, that was funny, man. And then he turned around, turned back around and continued doing his stuff. But like that was nothing to him. But to me, I was like, okay, Adam Sandler laughed at a random joke. I this is the universe telling me, you know, this is where I belong.

SPEAKER_01 3:00

Oh wow, I love that.

SPEAKER_00 3:04

So random, I know.

SPEAKER_01 3:06

I love that though. That yeah, I think I think that's great. I love that. Um, so who has had the biggest impact on you as a person?

SPEAKER_00 3:23

Ooh, that's um, I would have to say that's my mom and my dad. You know, I think that they're they're both 1A, 1B, you know. Uh I feel like my dad uh really instilled in me uh a hardworking mentality and to never victimize myself, you know, like if if I'm ever like down in the dumps, you know, I I still have the power to get out of there. Do you know what I mean? Like, um, no time for sulking, you know. Uh he my my mom, my mom and my dad like basically came from nothing and um worked their tail off to get to where uh where they are today and to be able to even give me an opportunity to pursue this as a career. Um so I I definitely learned the hard work ethic and and the perseverance from my dad. And then my mom was the artistic side. You know, my mom was like someone that I would always do like uh like silly stuff with and like explore that artistic side. And she was always someone who motivated me constantly to kind of pursue um whether it was professionally or like do like random like videos before YouTube was a thing, you know what I mean? And uh I think an amalgamation of them two, if they if they can make like a superhuman, uh, they definitely influenced uh uh me today.

SPEAKER_02 4:41

Oh, I love that.

SPEAKER_00 4:44

It happens to be true, so yeah, I love that.

SPEAKER_01 4:49

Um so what uh small things bring you joy on a daily basis?

SPEAKER_00 4:58

Uh my dog, my my three-legged whippet. Do you want to see her?

SPEAKER_01 5:03

I would love that.

SPEAKER_00 5:04

Maybe we have time, okay. Candy, yeah, can we have candy? Her name's Candy, she has three legs and she is a Brindle Whippet mix. Oh, this is her first professional interview. Oh, she's so much joy. Oh, she's so cute, she's so adorable, and you know what? Like, she doesn't um she doesn't like toys. I know, honey. She doesn't like toys, she only loves people. That's all she cares about, you know. So she's she's so um, you know, everyone loves their dog and you know, all the power to them, but candy is so unique because she's been through so much. They and she got hit by a car and they had to amputate her leg. Um, but you would never know it. And for for how like humans took care of her afterwards, you know, whether it was doctors or or people at the uh before we adopt before my sister adopted her, and then I got her. Um, I feel like she just has like this unique connection with humans because she just loves humans and could care less about toys. Oh yeah, I I love her and she's grateful. She wanted to make her um, she wanted she always was like, you know, I want to do an interview, Pops. Please get me in there. And we finally did it. So thank you.

SPEAKER_01 6:31

Yeah, of course. I'm honored to be her first appearance. Oh yeah, I um I have a dog too, and she uh yeah, she constantly brings me so much joy.

SPEAKER_00 6:46

Oh what kind of dog is she?

SPEAKER_01 6:48

She's um oh my god, why did I just forget? Um she's a plot hound. Um, so cute. Yeah, so she also has a brindle coat.

SPEAKER_00 7:03

Um no way, yeah. Oh my god, maybe it's maybe it's Candy's long-lost cousin. I don't know, because she's a mix of god knows what. So maybe she's part pothound. I don't know.

SPEAKER_01 7:13

Oh yeah. We actually we have no idea what type of dog she really was when we got her. So we think she she's a plot hound, but we think she's like a plot hound boxer mix because she kind of has some characteristics of a boxer, and she's just the funniest. Um, she just constantly makes me laugh and brings me so much joy.

SPEAKER_00 7:40

So isn't it so funny how they could do like nothing? And we stare at them and we're like, oh my god, you're so cute. Yeah, I love you so much, and all they're doing is breathing. Yeah, it's so fascinating.

SPEAKER_01 7:54

Yeah. Yeah. Um so if you had a warning label, what would yours be?

SPEAKER_00 8:08

I love these questions. Um warning label. No, they're honestly so great. Like they're they're I I've never been asked like such you like unique, interesting get to know the person questions. You know what I mean? And I really appreciate that.

SPEAKER_01 8:25

Thank you. That's always my goal. So that means a lot to me to hear. So thank you.

SPEAKER_00 8:30

Oh, you're you're very welcome. I really appreciate it. Um, let's see if I had a warning label. Uh I would say um uh careful, very blunt. You know, like you know, it's I I feel like people that don't know me don't realize like I I obviously I have a filter in my head, but like uh if I think it, I'm most likely going to say it, whether that's good or bad. Um that's why like my friends and my family love me because I I'm you know I'm very upfront. And if you know I don't like an outfit, or if you know uh something's not going right, or you're not you're not, you're not on the right track, I'll be sure to let you know.

SPEAKER_01 9:12

Oh yeah, I love that. I yeah, my mom is the same way. My sister and I always joke that she has, I mean, she jokes too that she has no filter. Um she just says whatever. Um so yeah, now like my sister and I are basically the same way, which we love.

SPEAKER_00 9:35

So Oh, that's perfect. You know what? Like, I think if you if you meet relationships work because we're so different, right? I I feel like people that get along the best kind of bring out different personality traits uh out of each other. So like um, you know, I'm not I'm someone who's very upfront and and and and uh and blunt. Um, but then like I have a lot of relationships, whether it's friends or my partner or my family, with people who are like a lot softer and they're more uh you know, uh a lot a lot softer. And so like it definitely works because we can both kind of feed off each other.

SPEAKER_01 10:13

Yeah, I love that.

SPEAKER_00 10:15

Do you know what I mean? Because imagine if you had like a bunch of blunt, upfront people all in one room, it would just be a disaster, you know. Shut up. No, you shut up. I don't like you. Well, I don't like you. Get out, you get out, yeah. Terrible.

SPEAKER_01 10:33

Yeah, that's um, I mean, my my best friend and I are like total opposites.

SPEAKER_00 10:40

So here you go. Here you go.

SPEAKER_01 10:44

Yeah, exactly.

SPEAKER_00 10:45

Those those are the best, those are the best relationships I find.

SPEAKER_01 10:48

Yeah, definitely. Yeah. Um, so uh I am uh pop culture obsessed and I go in stages of shows that I cannot stop watching. Uh is there a show that you are currently obsessed with?

SPEAKER_00 11:07

Oh man, I'm so happy you brought this up. Entourage. I just finished Entourage. Have you watched it?

SPEAKER_01 11:15

I haven't, but there's um an uh actress in the show that um I really like, uh Perry Reeves, that I've seen her and other things that I really like.

SPEAKER_00 11:28

Who does she play? Do you know?

SPEAKER_01 11:31

I don't. I just I remember looking, I saw her. There was a show uh that was on several years like 10 years ago that I watched.

SPEAKER_00 11:43

Oh my god, Perry Reeves. I love her. She was she's uh yeah, she plays um Ari Gold's wife on the show. Like she, oh, her character is amazing.

SPEAKER_01 11:55

Oh, cool. Yeah, I I've heard so much about the show, but I've never watched it.

SPEAKER_00 12:02

You 100% have to watch it because do you know what the show is about?

SPEAKER_01 12:08

Not not really.

SPEAKER_00 12:10

Okay, so the show is uh four guys from Queens. Um it's the everyday life of four guys in Queens in Queens that are uh that are that have made it in Hollywood. So uh it stars Vincent Chase, who's like supposed to be this like the next Hollywood star or a Hollywood star and his three childhood friends, and they all live in a mansion. The thing about the show is that it's executive produced by uh Mark Wahlberg, and it and it's a fictional reiteration of Mark Wahlberg's life. So wow, yeah, because Mark Wahlberg has an entourage. So um he, I guess it's it's it's his show. It's his show, and um the number of cameos that you will see in that show is wild because they play like fictional actors or uh fictional celebrities, right? So, like you know, and in a random episode, Matt Damon will be there and LeBron James, and you name the celebrity that are on the show, but it's it's HBO, it's from like the early 2000s when you know uh Sopranos was finishing up and The Wire was finishing up. I binge that show nine eight seasons in maybe two weeks.

SPEAKER_01 13:28

Oh wow, it's so good. Oh, okay. I'm writing it down. Um yeah, thank you. Yeah, I um yeah, I'm excited. I'm definitely gonna um check it out. I right now I'm binge watching um Ugly Betty, so after I finish that show, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 13:55

Are you you're the same as me? Like I have to watch one show, yeah, and then I can hop on. I can't do more than one.

SPEAKER_01 14:02

Yeah, I I just tried that recently, and so I was watching the show Franklin and Bash, and then I started watching Ugly Betty too, and so then I like my focus was on Ugly Betty, and then I saw Netflix was taking off Franklin and Bash, so I was like, I have to finish this before it leaves. So then I just I binged watched all of Franklin and Bash and not I think like two weeks or something.

SPEAKER_00 14:33

So wow, yeah. And which one which one did you like better?

SPEAKER_01 14:38

Oh, that's so hard to say. I'm still watching Ugly Betty, and they're both so different. Right, right. And I just they're both so good, they're so funny, and yeah. So yeah.

SPEAKER_00 14:54

Yeah, well, let me know which one you end up liking more when you finish Ugly Betty. I actually want to know.

SPEAKER_01 14:59

Okay, I will. I'm not sure I'll have an answer for you, but um, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 15:06

Well, that's fine. You know, you uh if you want to be Switzerland, stay, you know, completely neutral, completely up to you.

SPEAKER_01 15:12

Okay, thank you.

SPEAKER_00 15:13

That that's an option.

SPEAKER_01 15:15

Yeah, thank you. Um so what is uh the best advice you have ever gotten?

SPEAKER_00 15:26

Best advice I've ever gotten. Let me think about this one. I've been I've received a lot of great advice throughout the years. Um, in lieu of giving you a a corny answer, I really want to think this one through. Um the first thing that comes up is whenever a character is presented to me, whether it's in an audition or uh something that I'm oh your audio just cut out. Can you hear me?

SPEAKER_01 16:11

Yes, now I can.

SPEAKER_00 16:13

Okay, when when did you lose me?

SPEAKER_01 16:15

Um right uh as you were saying you were thinking of an answer.

SPEAKER_00 16:21

Oh, okay, okay. Um, yeah, so I I thought about it. Um I could sit here for hours and tell you all the great advice that I've received, but the the one that sticks out to me the most is uh I can't tell you who told me this, but it stuck to me. Uh just be yourself. And I know that's corny and super general, but what that means to me is when I get an audition, when I get uh what whether I get a part, the writers have have brought the bones of the character. And it's my job to put the soul. So if me and you went out for the same role and we were both amazing actors, if we both played ourselves, we have different energies, we have different auras, we have different intangibles that we can't change, right? It's a it's a it's a it's a it'll be a completely different performance, even though it's the same script. So maybe it maybe the role wasn't right for me, maybe the role was right for you for this one. But as long as I am Renee in every role, then that's something that I can present to the table and I know what my strengths are. And something, it's not advice to me, but it's something that I watched in an interview for Matt Damon, who's one of my favorite actors, probably my favorite actor. Um, he said something uh never genuflect, which uh I didn't know what genuflection meant, but uh when you genuflect, it's like a it's an archaic term of when uh jesters used to like kneel for the king, right? So like you know, genuflecting basically like don't put yourself, don't sell yourself short, right? Believe in yourself, you know, you're you belong in the room, whichever room that may be. I'm not just talking phone, talking about life. Never genuflect. If you've gotten to a place, you are where you belong, you deserve to be there. Get that imposter imposter syndrome out of your head and and do the job. You'll be much more respected that way.

SPEAKER_01 18:24

Oh, I love that. That's great that right, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 18:28

Yeah, like I I loved it. I loved it so much when I when I heard Matt Damon say it.

SPEAKER_01 18:33

Yeah, I love that. Yeah, I I um love uh Matt Damon too. I always I mean I know he's done he's been in so much that I love the there's one role that always like immediately comes to mind, and it's so funny because it's um he guest starred in one of my favorite shows is Will and Grace, and he guest starred in one of my favorite episodes. So that's always yeah, that's always the role that comes to my mind first, even though he's done so many amazing things. Um, it's like Will and Grace, that's always the first thing.

SPEAKER_00 19:19

I used to watch that show back when it aired. Oh wow, back when it aired, and I loved it, it was so funny. I that I'm glad you brought that up because I feel like that's a show that I can totally re-watch.

SPEAKER_01 19:34

Oh yeah, definitely. I've seen every episode so many times I've lost count. Um and yeah, I remember when my mom introduced me and my sister to it, and I just became so obsessed with it. It's one of my comfort shows.

SPEAKER_00 19:54

Oh, it's so good. It's so good. What's it on? Do you know what streamer it's on?

SPEAKER_01 19:58

Oh, now it's on Hulu. Or yeah, the yeah, Hulu Disney Plus since Hulu's shutting down.

SPEAKER_00 20:08

So they're all they're all just shutting down, they're all just consolidating.

SPEAKER_01 20:13

Yeah, yeah. Um, so uh sorry, I just completely lost track of fourth question.

SPEAKER_00 20:23

Oh, you're good. You are good.

SPEAKER_01 20:26

Thank you. Um so what has been the biggest obstacle, either personally or professionally, that you've overcome?

SPEAKER_00 20:39

An obstacle that I've overcome. Um, I think I'm at peace when things aren't going well. You know, as an actor, you know, it's it's a lot of ebbs and flows, right? Like a lot of lot of valleys and a lot of peaks, peaks and valleys, right? So like to me, the easiest part of this job is the audition. The easiest part of the job is to be on set. The hard part of this job is when there's nothing coming in, when you know it's bone dry, you know, you haven't worked in a bit, and uh, or like you, you wish you were getting more auditions, you wish you were getting a little bit more offers. It's during that time that I would be like, man, what the hell am I doing? Like I uh I need I need this audition. I need no, now I've I'm at a place uh where at least I think so. Maybe, maybe I maybe I'm not, but like I'm I'm genuinely at a place where like everything's gonna work out, you know, and during the times where I'm not uh you know in inundated with with work, um, I can work on myself, you know, I can work on my health, I can work on my body, I can work on my relationships, I can be happy uh where I am. Do you know what I mean? Uh I used to be at a place where I needed to be, you know, constantly stimulated by things in the acting world. And I'm I'm not. Like I'm totally okay when, you know, I'm very fortunate that I am working. But you know, if there comes a time where like I won't be working for six months or something like that, I'm okay with that.

SPEAKER_01 22:22

Yeah. Wow.

SPEAKER_00 22:23

Well, yeah, like coming to terms with it.

SPEAKER_01 22:26

Oh yeah. Well, that's yeah, I think that's so important, and I think that's impressive that yeah, you you're like able to sorry, all my words. I'm like I don't know.

SPEAKER_00 22:45

You just caught me on a good day. Like usually I'm just like, you know, half asleep and can't even put to can't even uh string a sentence together. I'm a stuttering queen. So don't even worry about it. All right. Okay, quit quit drilling. You already struck oil.

SPEAKER_02 22:58

Thank you.

SPEAKER_00 22:59

I just have like three cups of coffee. That's the only reason that I can actually even be remotely eloquent today.

SPEAKER_01 23:04

Oh, okay. Well, thank you. That makes me feel better.

SPEAKER_00 23:09

So trust me, trust me.

SPEAKER_01 23:12

Um, so what movie, book, uh, song, play, or show has had the biggest impact on you?

SPEAKER_00 23:24

Oh, first thing that comes, you know, I like to answer things again very genuinely. So I go by what first pops up. And the first thing that popped up is Goodwill Hunting by Matt Damon. I know it's like everybody's favorite movie. I get it. But that movie to me, it literally I watched it quite late, right? Like I watched it maybe like 10 years ago, over 10 years ago for the first time. And it really changed my life. Not only as like an actor, I'm watching one of the best performances I could watch, but uh so many reasons. Like the fact that Matt Damon and Ben Affleck wrote that movie, right? Like they wrote that movie and they didn't want to just sit and wait for something to happen. They made it happen. Um, the character arc, the understanding the complexities of that particular character who's like this like super tough guy on the exterior, but inside he's just a little boy who wants a hug, you know? Um, and has to be one of the best, like one of the one of the best movies for monologues of all time. I could probably like I could regurgitate one of the monologues for you like on the spot. That's how good it is.

SPEAKER_01 24:42

Oh wow, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 24:44

I actually that movie means so much to me.

SPEAKER_01 24:46

Oh wow, I love that. I actually I didn't know that Matt Damon and Ben Affleck Affleck wrote that movie.

SPEAKER_00 24:56

They won an Oscar, they won an Oscar for best screenplay.

SPEAKER_01 24:59

Oh, that's so cool. I should I feel like I shouldn't admit this, but I haven't yet. I haven't seen it yet.

SPEAKER_00 25:08

Um, but oh no, that's wonderful, that's perfect. Because you will you'll be able to actually watch a masterpiece, an absolute masterpiece of a movie.

SPEAKER_01 25:21

Oh, okay. I'm I'm excited to watch it.

SPEAKER_00 25:26

Yeah, watch it. Like it'll it's just it's even if it's like one not what not gonna be one of your favorite movies, it is a brilliant, brilliant filmmaking, brilliant storytelling, brilliant everything, everything, everyone was just so great.

SPEAKER_01 25:39

Oh wow, yeah, there's been like so many references to it and um and things that I've watched. So that's right, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 25:49

It's like everywhere.

SPEAKER_01 25:51

Yeah. Um, yeah. So what uh genre of movie would your life story be told as?

SPEAKER_00 26:01

Ooh, uh horror, a terrible, terrible horror movie. It's scary out here, Maya. It is scary. There's zombies, there's people with their heads cut off walking everywhere. There's it's it's just a tragedy. I'm joking. Um, I would say it's just a giant comedy, man. It's a giant comedy. Everything's fun. Everything's fun. Like whether I'm like talking to my dog uh when no one's in the room and I'm in, you know, pretending that I'm speaking on behalf of my dog. Um it my life is literally a sitcom. That's that's what I'm gonna say. It's a sitcom, uh, funny, depressing, all in one. Um, but we're here to watch another episode.

SPEAKER_01 26:49

My mom actually does the same thing with i dog.

SPEAKER_00 26:53

So exactly, exactly. As long as I'm not the only one.

SPEAKER_01 26:57

Yeah, no, not at all. I feel like that's probably most dog owners.

SPEAKER_00 27:05

Oh yeah, oh yeah. I'll I'll tell you, I'll tell you a secret. So when I'm like uh when it's just me, my girlfriend, or my dog, and like uh I'm doing a self-tape, like I'm doing an audition, and I'm it's just not going well. I'll in my in my dog's voice, which she happens to be like from Sweden, I'm not sure, but she I'll be doing a take and then I won't get it, and I'll be I'll be beating myself up, right? And then uh in Candy's voice, I'll be like, Well, pop, maybe you should just try to be a real actor. Candy, stop it. Okay, I feed you, right? You pay absolutely no rent. I give you pro plan, uh like ultimate premium salmon for healthy skin, sensitive skin, and this is how you repay me. Well, potentially maybe you could be a good actor. I don't know, pop. You know, it's uh that's what I'm saying. It's uh it's a real comedy up in here.

SPEAKER_01 27:58

Yeah, yeah. I I would like my dream is for my life to be both a musical and a rom-com.

SPEAKER_00 28:08

Okay. So yeah. Okay, favorite rom-com of all time. Go. Don't think go.

SPEAKER_01 28:14

Home again.

SPEAKER_00 28:16

Which one?

SPEAKER_01 28:17

Home again with home again.

SPEAKER_00 28:19

Which one's that one?

SPEAKER_01 28:20

It's with Reese Witherspoon.

SPEAKER_00 28:22

Oh, of course it's with Reese Witherspoon. Of course.

SPEAKER_01 28:25

Yeah, it's I've seen that movie like I think over a hundred times, and I've interviewed a whole bunch of people from the movie.

SPEAKER_02 28:35

Oh, that's so cool.

SPEAKER_01 28:37

Yeah. So it's yeah, really. Uh yeah, it's one of my all-time favorite movies, and yeah.

SPEAKER_00 28:47

Oh, that's fancy. Okay, in two sentences or less, tell me what the movie's about.

SPEAKER_01 28:51

Uh, it's Reese Witherspoon is her character's recently divorced and moves back to her.

SPEAKER_00 28:59

This is more than two sentences, but it's a it's a long sentence. Uh, you you're playing within the borders.

SPEAKER_01 29:06

Okay, thank you. Uh, she moves back to her childhood home in LA with her two daughters, and then she meets these three guys who are um filmmakers, and they end up living in her guest house. Um, and it's it's such a fun movie.

SPEAKER_00 29:30

Um, so does she like get romantically involved with all three and she has to pick?

SPEAKER_01 29:35

No.

SPEAKER_00 29:36

Oh no, it's just the one guy in there.

SPEAKER_01 29:38

No, there's three guys uh living in her guest house.

SPEAKER_00 29:42

But but who does she fall in love with?

SPEAKER_01 29:45

There uh there's one of the guys who moves in.

SPEAKER_00 29:52

Um okay, okay. So it's not like the three filmmakers like they're all like falling in love with her and she's picking the best out of the litter kind of deal.

SPEAKER_02 30:01

No.

SPEAKER_00 30:02

Okay, that's how I would have made it, but that's fine. What's it called? What's it called?

SPEAKER_01 30:09

Home again.

SPEAKER_00 30:10

Home again too. We'll make home again too. Home again again.

SPEAKER_01 30:14

Yeah, yes, I like that. Yeah. Actually, I one of the actors from the movie has become um a really good friend of mine. So I'll text him and tell him that um you're gonna make a sequel to it.

SPEAKER_00 30:33

Oh, please, yeah, we'll talk. Tell him my people will reach out to his people, we'll make it happen.

SPEAKER_01 30:37

Okay, I will. So do you have any irrational fears?

SPEAKER_00 30:51

Uh irrational fears. Oh man. Um, I don't think so. I don't think so. Like I I used to, like, I I don't nothing's coming up right now, but I I definitely used to. Like, I used to think like, oh man, like I'm never gonna reach the level uh that I want to reach, you know, in my brain, like I want to be the like a uh a rendition of Leo DiCaprio and Matt Damon because those those are the people I idolized. Um, but I'm you know, I'm totally okay, you know, making a living out of this thing and and doing what I do now. And you know, it's like I'm happy, but I'm not satisfied kind of thing. So like I had this irrational fear to get back to your question, that like I'll never reach that level, but that's no longer a factor. Like I'm very uh I'm I live by the mantra like be happy but not satisfied. Do you know what I mean? Yeah, like want more, but be okay with what you have, because yeah, we we can we can we you can be in a perpetual cycle of just um constantly wanting more and more and without having without appreciating what you have. I think it's like it's called hedon hedonistic uh hedonistic something, anyways. Um just like basically wanting more and more, not being uh satisfied with what you have. If if I remotely answered your question.

SPEAKER_01 32:19

Oh yeah, definitely. Yeah, I'm actually uh I when you were saying you don't really have any irrational fears, I'm jealous because my brain is basically one big irrational fear.

SPEAKER_00 32:32

So you think so? Yeah, yeah. Oh, that's that's okay too. Like maybe I do, you know, like maybe I do have irrational fears, but maybe they're just rational to me, you know. Like maybe it's like totally justified, but I'll I'll have to give that more thought to think like, you know what, maybe this fear is just absolutely like it shouldn't be here, you know what I mean?

SPEAKER_01 32:52

Yeah, yeah. I always will be like if I'm kind of spinning out about something and I say it out loud, my mom will say, You understand that's irrational, right? And like I do when I say it out loud.

SPEAKER_00 33:12

Maybe, maybe um because this is something that I do as well. Uh I I start like really stressing about things that I cannot control. Do you do the same?

SPEAKER_02 33:22

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 33:23

Do you know what I mean? Like objectively thinking what is the point? Right?

SPEAKER_02 33:31

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 33:32

Like and I do this too. So like I'm I'm being a little bit of a hypocrite here, but you know, now that I'm detached from anything, it's wild. It's wild that we have uh that we that we have these uh that we're scared or that we stress about things that are not in the control in the palm of our hands. Do you know what I mean? Yeah, like what does that accomplish? Just let it be. Yeah, you can't control it. Like it is what it is, like there's only so much that you can do about it, and past that, like uh easier said than done, that's for sure, though.

SPEAKER_01 34:08

Yeah, definitely. Um, so I just have two more questions for you if that works.

SPEAKER_00 34:16

Absolutely it does. Please throw throw in a third, throw in a third, Maya.

SPEAKER_01 34:20

Okay, okay, maybe I will. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 34:23

Please having too much fun here.

SPEAKER_01 34:26

Me too. Yeah. Okay, I'll throw in a third question. Uh yes, all right. Yeah. Um, so what is something people are always surprised to learn about you?

SPEAKER_00 34:40

Oh, yeah, this is easy. Uh well, a lot. Um, I have a degree in criminology. So before I became an actor, I got uh my degree in criminology um because I always thought that I kind of wanted to be a lawyer, but then I realized like halfway through my undergrad that this is not for me. It's cool, but like it's just it's just not for me. My sister's a lawyer. Um, so I feel like I was kind of pseudo following her steps. Um, so yeah, very surprised when they think that I have any kind of education past like the sixth grade. Um also I I am a geography whiz. Uh I'm gonna toot my own horn here, but like I I know I would say like 95% of the world's capital cities and flags and state capitals and stuff like that. So when people find that out, they're like, oh, okay, yeah, you are massively weird.

SPEAKER_01 35:38

I love that.

SPEAKER_00 35:40

Yeah, it's weird, but okay, it is what it is.

SPEAKER_01 35:42

Yeah, yeah. I actually I've always been um super interested in like the legal system. And so I think that's that's so cool. And uh that you have a degree in criminology, and yeah.

SPEAKER_00 36:00

Yeah, like I I I will say, like, um obviously criminology was not what I wanted to do, but I am so thankful that I uh went to school, you know, and and got my degree because whenever I get a role for anything uh under the legal umbrella, whether it's like detective or lawyer, uh district attorney, I'm actually going out for uh this CBS show where they want me to play uh uh an district attorney, um, the stuff that he talks about, right, it's I already know it. So I can like I can do the work, I can get to memorizing and and and fleshing out the character right away. Whereas like whenever I go out for, let's say, a botanist or a doctor, right? Like there is all that uh medical jargon that you have to pretend that you say this on a daily basis. Yeah, you know, like, oh, he's got a fracture in his C7 with the uh radial femur and it's exploding with a corroded artery, you know, like that's gotta be stuff that you say, which that makes absolutely no sense. But like something that you have to you have to deliver it in a way where it it's like it's as if you were singing happy birthday, you know?

SPEAKER_01 37:16

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 37:17

Did you uh did you go to school?

SPEAKER_01 37:19

Do you go to school? Yeah, yeah. I I mean I I graduated high school in 2021, and then I just decided I didn't like school was not the easiest for me, so I decided I just didn't want to go to college. That the stress good for you.

SPEAKER_00 37:41

I uh that's there's a lot of um, I feel like there's a lot of uh pressure for people coming out of high school to well, as soon as you get to high school, then you have to go right to college and university. You know, at least that's the pressure that I had back in my day. Uh, but that's not the truth. You know, you can find you can find something else, you can take time to uh figure out other avenues because school will always be there if you choose that you want to do it.

SPEAKER_01 38:12

Yeah, definitely. Yeah. Oh, thank you. Yeah, I remember it was, I just remember so clearly it was freshman year, like it started in middle school that every teacher was talking about college and like you need this for your um like application. And I just remember so clearly my mom telling me freshman year that she was like, you know, you don't have to go to college if you don't want to. And then immediately after she said that, like I felt this weight off my shoulder. I'm like, okay, because I don't really want to. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 38:56

So no, good for you, good for you, good for your mom. Like, I'm you know, I'm not saying that I'm I'm against going to like post-secondary institutions. No, I'm I'm I'm I'm pro choice. Do you know what I mean? Like, do whatever you want, you know? Yeah, uh and and then figure it out later. Like, we have time, we have tons of time to do whatever we want.

SPEAKER_01 39:16

Yeah, definitely. Yeah. Um, so is there um a show or movie that you find yourself quoting all the time?

SPEAKER_00 39:33

Um, these are such good questions, man.

SPEAKER_02 39:38

Thank you.

SPEAKER_00 39:40

Um let's see. Okay, the first thing that comes up is um House of Cards. House of Cards is one of my the American version, one of my favorite shows of all time. Obviously, like I I I love politics. I love uh at least fictional politics, you know what I mean? Like I love that kind of jargon because it it intertwines a lot with uh uh legalies and criminality and stuff like that, you know. I love like all the the the behind the scenes talking that they do to like uh uh uh politics-wise. Um but yeah, Kevin Spacey's role as uh as Frank Underwood on that show, like the writer of that show, like I need to figure out who that was because the script is brilliant. Oh, and okay, that's one, Frank Underwood in House of Cards, and then the other one, uh, which you won't know the reference because you haven't watched Entourage, but Ari Gold in Entourage is like so epically funny. He's like uh uh uh the like the power agent of Hollywood, and he just goes on like insane tirades, which is they're just so brilliantly written. So yeah, you'll see me quoting those.

SPEAKER_01 40:54

Oh, I love that.

SPEAKER_00 40:56

Yeah, it after we finish, go on YouTube and look up Ari Gold Best Moments, and you'll die.

SPEAKER_01 41:03

Oh, okay. I'm writing that down so I don't forget because I'm so excited now to watch it. So thank you.

SPEAKER_00 41:12

It's it's definitely like super rated R. So I will, you know, I'll preface with that. It's very uh explicit and and and curse laden, but uh if you're okay with that, you'll find it funny.

SPEAKER_01 41:26

Okay, thank you. Yeah, yeah. My brain is just filled with show and movie quotes that I just and scenes that I just reference all that.

SPEAKER_00 41:40

One that came up right now is uh uh Jim Carrey and Ace Ventura or or Ben Stiller and Derek Zulu in Zoolander, like those two are also like massive. That's what I'm saying. Like it's like it's such a good question.

SPEAKER_01 41:53

Oh, thank you.

SPEAKER_00 41:55

What about you? What are what are some of the uh stuff that you can like constantly quote?

SPEAKER_01 42:00

Will and Grace, definitely. Yeah, yeah, I quote that constantly, and then there's like friends and psych that I quote all the time uh too, and then there's scenes from um like the shows The New Adventures of Old Christine and the Netflix remake of One Day at a time. I reference scenes from those all the time.

SPEAKER_00 42:32

Oh, do you?

SPEAKER_01 42:33

Yeah, and yeah, and quotes, and so like when I reference scenes, also quotes, uh most people don't get it, but yeah.

SPEAKER_00 42:43

Oh, isn't it so like so crazy when you say a quote that you think nobody's gonna understand, but then one person gets it? Yeah, and you're like, oh my god, finally, yeah, finally somebody gets it.

SPEAKER_01 42:56

Yes, definitely. Yeah, yeah. One of um my best friends, he hasn't seen any of the shows. So whenever I quote Will and Grace constantly with him, and he never gets any of the references. So I'm like constantly quoting, yeah, like Karen Walker to him when he's saying something. I'm just like, that's an interesting story. You should write it down and tell it at dinner parties, and he has no idea what I'm talking about.

SPEAKER_00 43:27

He has no idea. Well, we need to get him on Will and Grace.

SPEAKER_01 43:30

Yes, exactly. I told him I'm gonna like buy him all the um DVDs and send it to him.

SPEAKER_00 43:38

So that'll get the job done.

SPEAKER_01 43:43

Yes, definitely. Um, so my final question for you is um today, what are you most grateful for?

SPEAKER_00 43:57

Uh, my family and my partner. Definitely. Like I'm a huge, uh I have a very small circle uh of people who I love and trust. Um and they've been nothing but supportive uh throughout. You know, it's there's definitely harder professions out there. We I'm not saving lives by any means, but uh being an actor requires a lot of belonging to the ether. Like uh a perfect example is like, let's say my uh my sister is having an anniversary dinner. Do you know what I mean? Or like my nephew is having a birthday party uh and it's two months from now. My family completely they already know that today I'm saying yes, but if the day before there's an offer and I have to fly out to Vancouver or New York to shoot, they know that that's my job and I have to go. You know what I mean? And there's no resentment, they just come they completely understand. And uh, I'm I'm incredibly thankful and grateful that my my close group of family and friends and my partner are so supportive of what I do because I wouldn't be anywhere without them. I truly wouldn't. You can't do this alone.

SPEAKER_01 45:26

Yeah, oh I love that.

SPEAKER_00 45:29

Yeah, I'm I'm so thankful because I I know I know actors who don't get the same support. I thought it was just like, yeah, your family's totally gonna support you, or your partner's totally gonna help you do your auditions and stuff like that. But no, that's that's not always the case. Um, I I know I have actor friends who, you know, their partners love and support them, but like there's a limit to that. And the family also, there's a limit to that. But my both from my partner and my friends and my family, like it is completely unconditional, and uh I could not be luckier.

SPEAKER_01 46:06

Oh, I love that. Yeah, I think I'm so glad that you have that. And yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 46:16

Thank you, thank you.

SPEAKER_01 46:17

Yeah, of course, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 46:19

My um it got too real in here. It got way too real. Let's uh let's cut that tension, let's talk about poop and farts, poop and farts. Maybe something else. Yeah, come on. We're not we're not gonna talk about feelings. Get out of here. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 46:40

Yeah, my um well, my uh mom and my sister, they're um they're my best friends and we like talk constantly and um yeah, it's just I feel so lucky to have them in that relationship with them too. So yeah.

SPEAKER_00 47:03

Yeah, I I find that people um it's normal for people to celebrate people when they are they are on top, you know. But when things are going and you're and you're you know getting work done from the ground up, that's when you know who your real friends are and who really appreciates you and cares for you. You know, it's not the final result, it's not when you post an interview like yourself or like when I post like a trailer that I'm in, like, yeah, that's great and all, but it's the people who uh have known what it takes to get there and the and the and the support that they gave you back in the day when you uh didn't have much to your name. You know, that's I think that means so much more.

SPEAKER_01 47:49

Yeah, definitely.

SPEAKER_00 47:51

Right?

SPEAKER_01 47:52

Yeah, definitely. Um, well, that was um my final question for you. Um thank you so much for joining me. I can't tell you uh how much this means to me. I've had the best time talking with you, so thank you.

SPEAKER_00 48:12

Oh, thank you, Maya. I had I had such a blast. Thanks for having me on, and I can't wait to uh do this again sometime.

SPEAKER_01 48:20

Yes, me either. I would yeah, I would love to have you come back on whenever you want.

SPEAKER_00 48:27

So yeah, I pre- I'll definitely take you up on that.

SPEAKER_01 48:30

Okay, yay. Thank you.

SPEAKER_00 48:32

Thank you for the wonderful questions, really wonderful questions. I really mean that.

SPEAKER_01 48:36

Thank you so much. That means so much to me to hear. So thank you. And um, yeah, thank you so much for um again for joining me, and I hope you have a great rest of your day.

SPEAKER_00 48:52

Thanks, you too.

SPEAKER_01 48:53

Thank you. Uh and that's a wrap on today's edition of the latest with Maya.