Noemi Gonzalez – Selena: The Series

By starrymag | December 15, 2020

By: Malasha Parker

 

 

 

Q) How did the role to play Suzette Quintanilla come to you? 

 

A) My manager was looking out and saw that they were preparing for Selena: The series and then he read the Suzette character breakdown, which is what they give to describe what the character essence is, what the character’s dynamics are. He called me up and said, “I think you’re Suzette!” And I say, “You know, you might not be wrong, let’s go in there.” I made sure that I killed it so that I could be seen again and again and again. I went and had a callback, interview process and then the last thing I did was a camera test at home to prove my likeness. So, that was really fun because I haven’t had that experience before and in Hollywood. And to do it at home with my clothes that were 80’s – 90’s inspired. And then I made a side by side of me and my likeness to Suzette. So, it was really cool to ultimately get the phone call and have this process and realize that we made it happen. And I was going to get to have this beautiful opportunity.

 

Q) Suzette was an executive producer of the series. Did the two of you talk about how you would portray her story?

 

A) Well, we didn’t get to because of COVID, unfortunately. But that provided us the ability to work on our characters objectively. And then it made it so much sweeter when I finally got to meet her. I got to meet her literally two weeks before we wrapped. So, we honored that moment before we wrapped and then our series release was around the corner. We had that connection before the rest of the world got to see our presentation of the work that we made happen. So, it was really nice. I mean, I really wish I could have called her up all the time and told her like a tidbit here, help there. But it was awesome to also really develop her on my own with all the work that I already had in front of me. She was so generous and gave a family history that she sent to us that I got to listen to over and over and over. It was just really generous of her to do that. And I leaned on that and looked forward to meeting her.

 

Q) I heard you learned to play the drums for this role. What more can you tell us about learning to do that and what other ways you prepared for this role?

 

A) Oh, yes, I did learn how to play the drums. I did not have any familiarity with the drums at all. It was intimidating. I’ve discovered it’s a very demanding instrument. It is a full body experience when you play the drums and whatever challenge I was having, trying to learn this new language of this instrument, I just imagined shaping that into what was it like for Suzette. What was it like for her as a little girl? I’m not really taking a liking to it at first. And then to be alongside the musical geniuses of A.B. and Selena. It’s a right into her left. And so it was just like, wow, this girl is so strong and so family oriented to do this. So, it was fun to put that into the character. It was really fun to go into the archives and watch all the performances on YouTube and in documentaries and watch them over and over again. And then I’d see how Suzette played, you know, that the handle sounds versus the American rock and roll beats versus the “Amor Prohibido” signature sounds. It was fun to have a journey with the drums and to go back and forth between playing her, layering her into the drums while learning how to play the drums. And then when the camera wasn’t on me, if I wanted to let out some more energy, I would sometimes play more for myself, but it was always only when the camera wasn’t on me so that I had a full experience with this instrument and with this opportunity of this booking and this story. So, it was such a cool element so unique to any job I’ve ever done.

 

Q) This series gave us a chance to see more of the relationship between Selena and Suzette. How did you and Christian Serratos form that bond to portray that relationship onscreen?

 

A) Well, early on, when we were in prep mode, we hung out. I came to her place, I stayed over more than once and I made homemade tacos and we had tequila. We toasted and just talked about our dreams as women, as actresses. Her as a mother. We just made sure that we bonded on a human level. On a woman to a woman, queen to queen level. And that really helped because it felt like we were doing what Selena and Suzette would be doing on Big Bertha – where Selena would jump into Suzette’s bunk and just talk about her dreams of having a fashion line, designing clothes for the boutiques and their English albums. So, it was really cool that we established that on a person to person basis and then to have the written scenes and then give us a place to really put that into it was really, really fun to have that sisterhood dynamic.

 

Q) Yeah, it sounds like it came pretty naturally. It wasn’t like a hard task for y’all to make that bond. So that’s good. It really showed on screen as well.

 

A) Oh, yay. Thank you. Thank you. It’s such an iconic bond. Yeah, you know, people think of Selena and they think of a family. And they also have a specific…Like, it’s like a tree. You know, like Selena is a huge tree, but there’s definitely the branch of the Quintanilla family and specifically Suzette and Selena.  Sisters, best friends, drummer and singer – women doing their thing and supporting each other. So, it’s been an honor to portray that. Thank you. Thank you. I’m glad you enjoyed it.

 

Q) How do you feel about the reactions from people who have viewed the series already?

A) I’m thankful for all the love and positivity. I am so thankful that y’all made us number one in the states and in Latin America because it really tells the world that stories that are from people of color are valued and specifically that there has been a lack of representation from Mexican American’s experience. And this is a very strong bi-cultural aspect to what it’s like to be pursuing the American dream. So, to have that being demonstrated through such a hard working humble, loving, beautiful family and that it’s Selena’s radiance taking the charge – it’s been awesome that that has been the case when it comes to when we presented this and talking about it now it’s been so wonderful. It’s been really, really, really nice.

 

Q) Episode three, entitled And the Winner Is…, delved into Suzette’s personal story about coming to terms with being a drummer. Talk about what portraying those feelings was like for you and how important you felt it was for people to see.

A) It was beautiful to have this raw reality demonstrated. We all might feel like the weakest link sometimes, but that we can all pull through. And because we pulled through, we don’t even know who’s watching us. And that where we might be having a hard time with something, but we have no idea that we’re actually inspiring. And that was so profound to be a part of that scene. That scene was about women. That scene was about inspiring other women in male dominated industries and also just having some love for yourself and taking in the love that you might get when someone tells you that you’re doing a good job – even though you might feel like you’re not as good as your counterparts, the left and right of you. So, it was just really deep. It was really beautiful. And then Nancy Talamantes, who played the fan, was so talented and it was so wonderful to really connect with her. And filming, it was incredible because we were in Tecate in the plaza.  So, we were more connected to the people. It made it all the more rich when she ran off with my drumsticks and the fact that I finally, as Suzette,  got to see the fruits of my labor.

 

Q) Why do you feel like this side of Selena’s story needed to be told?

 

A) This needed to be told in this time right now, because it has been some 25 years since we’ve had a presentation of Selena. And we are now getting fans to view this series – see very intimate details of the family life. We are also introducing Selena to a whole new generation. There’s been little girls that are like, “Who is she? I didn’t know. Like, this is so exciting. And she’s so beautiful and radiant and so talented. I want to be just like her.” She’s clearly still radiating and I’m so impressed and I’m so thankful for the family for letting us tell this story again and with more detail. And it’s important for the world to see a Mexican American family that supported Selena. When you have such a star, it really takes a village for everyone to, to definitely make sure that they’re there, that she can look to the left and right, she can see off to the side that her family is at her side.  I think we all can relate to that. We want to succeed but we also want to be balanced with love and in our personal life. She had her husband performing alongside her. She had her brother and sister performing alongside for all those years and her dad and her mom. It was just so beautiful to show a hard working humble, successful Mexican American family to the world in a time where we haven’t really had that opportunity for representation. So, the family gave us that opportunity by leading Selena’s legacy. There’s just so much gifts that she keeps giving us.

 

Q) What does being a part of this project mean to you as a Mexican American woman?

 

A) Being part of this project is everything to me as a Mexican American woman. I’ve always been very proud of my roots. I really love to visit and be connected to Mexico. I love to stay connected to the language and to the culture. And she’s just given so much to me. Selena, as a little girl and now as a woman, who is pursuing her own dreams as an individual, as a spirit, as a professional, as an actress. This is my way of giving back to her because I felt seen when Selena was performing and shining with a big smile. And that that just means so much to me that I can give back and the slightest by portraying Suzette Quintanilla and, especially in my career, that I have this experience that really changed my life. It really shaped me, my character, because I had to learn the drums, delve even deeper into those histories and really had this profound experience that was full circle for me to give back to the one who made me feel seen all those years ago.

 

Q) What do you hope fans of Selena will take away from this?

 

A) I hope that people see how to be a light, when the going gets rough. This family had very humble beginnings. You could fall into despair in these times or you can stay connected, stay supported with family or friends and you can make some incredible things happen. Selena went from peach cans to leading her legacy on from Grammy to now we’re talking about her 25 years later with a global platform that lets the whole world meet her again. So, it really goes to show you like, stay light, stay positive. You can get by with a little help from your friends and family and everything’s going to be beautiful and okay. So, I hope people really lean on that, especially in this time.

 

Q) What new projects do you have in the works?

 

A) I do have some things in the works. I can’t talk about them just yet. But I’m excited to share that when I can. One thing I can talk about is that I’m developing a TV show with my best friend and fellow actress Chelsea Rendon. So, that’s wonderful to have my own opportunity, creating a show with a fellow Latina actress. It’s gonna be amazing to have that come to fruition and share that with you all.

 

Q) What would you like to say to fans of you and your work?

 

A) Oh, that’s a great question, Malasha. I would say thank you so much for your support. Thank you so much for focusing on the good. Thank you so much for being connected with me and with this family and with these stories. I can’t wait to keep giving and I hope that I’m inspiring anybody and everybody out there to pursue their dreams to give it your all. Give it your heart and soul and take very good care of yourself so that you can keep giving some a full cup from all the support that y’all have given me and that y’all have given Selena and her family.