Interview with Cover Girl Francia Raisa (Part Two) by A.L. Harper
We continue our chat with Cover Girl the up-and-coming actress, Francia Raisa. (If you missed it, check out the first part of her interview.)
Is it difficult to be a Latina actress in Hollywood? Do you find racism a problem there?
I think racism goes on everywhere, but especially here. You’re always hearing people say “oh that white girl”, or “oh that black girl”; and people always want to know where you’re from and what you are and sometimes it’s positive and sometimes its negative. And yes I do find it hard to be Latina in Hollywood because there aren’t a lot of opportunities for us, outside of being the stereotypical chola. It’s getting easier - we’re getting up there and soon hopefully it wont be about race when it comes to a job.
You talked about your positive body image and about liking your curves. Do you think being curvy holds you back at all?
Yes! Def [sic]. I mean its a huge plus sometimes because people love my curves, but the majority of the time I either don’t have enough curves or I have too many curves. It’s frustrating sometimes. You really want a job sometimes and you wonder “should I gain weight” or “should I lose my hips and shape”. But I love my body and I don’t ever want to feel like I have to change myself, just to please other people. I would only do that if it was for a role that I was passionate about, and people wanted me for my talent rather then my body shape.
“It’s easy to start putting yourself down, and doubt yourself and your dream. Getting over that, and past that is really just challenging. I’m human and can be negative toward myself sometimes.”
Do you try to hold your weight down, or do you worry about that?
My favorite body is Jennifer Lopez’s. I think she has perfect curves, so if anything I try and keep it up. In fact I catch myself trying to gain weight sometimes so I can be even curvier. In the show there’s a scene where I’m in a bra and that whole morning I was eating so much to look thicker then what I am. (laughs)
What has been the most challenging obstacle to overcome on your career path so far?
Faith. Sometimes this business can be overwhelming, draining, and just so hard you lose your faith in yourself and in what you want to do. There was a time when I wasn’t working, I wasn’t even auditioning because there just wasn’t anything out there for Latina actresses. It’s easy to start putting yourself down, and doubt yourself and your dream. Getting over that, and past that is really just challenging. I’m human and can be negative toward myself sometimes.
What do you have coming up next? Any good projects you’re working on?
Well right now I’m still filming The Secret Life of the American Teenager which premiered on the July 1st – and I’m so excited to say that we beat the network’s (ABC) record for a premier shows ratings. But after that I have to go to Spain to finish a project I started last year, and then either begin filming season two of The Secret Life of the American Teenager, or hopefully work on a film.
Finally, where do you want to be in 10 years time? How do you see your life and career developing?
Damn! Well in 10 years I’ll be 30, so by then I hope to have fulfilled all of my goals and honestly I hope to start a family by then and be settled down. That’s really one of my dreams; to be so successful in my career that I could settle down and have a family before I’m 30, or by the time I’m 30.
A.L. Harper is a freelance writer and motorbike fanatic originally from Salt Lake City, Utah but now living in Scotland. In edition to being the Managing Editor for All Things Girl, A.L. is the Assistant Music Editor for Blogcritics.org and a freelance writer for hire.
