Actress Carolina Moreno: It’s crucial to have more films and TV that represent the rich diversity of the Latino community with dignity

Mexican border-town native Carolina Moreno’s series, Acapulco, just wrapped its third season on Apple TV+. This show, produced by Lionsgate Television, 3Pas Studios, Zihuatanejo Productions, and The Tannenbaum Company, marks Morales’s first foray into international television.

Moreno, who portrays Lorena and grew up idolizing figures like Damián Alcázar, Regina Orozco, and Vanessa Bauche, all of whom appear in the series, confessed to feeling insecure about the role. “How could I possibly do it justice? How can I remember all my lines and hold my own alongside these actors I’ve admired since childhood?” she wondered.

“They were so welcoming. They knew I was new and helped me feel comfortable throughout the process. I felt incredibly calm, which is a stark contrast to how I might have felt in a different situation.  As for the challenges, the character grows over the seasons. It was essential for me to stay committed to the role. I felt a huge responsibility to do justice to the creative team’s writing and vision.  There was pressure to bring Lorena to life across these three seasons, and I gave it my all to deliver the strongest performance possible,” she said.

She was thrilled that her first professional role was filmed in Mexico. “It was amazing,” she said, “after spending ten years in Los Angeles, to have Mexico welcome me with open arms for this American-produced series. It’s fantastic to see these two countries collaborate and create something together, and I’m so grateful they opened the door for me.”

Moreno revealed she enlisted a coach for Acapulco‘s third season.  On a personal level, she grappled with insecurities about portraying Lorena on screen. “She’s so physically different from me,” Moreno admitted. “As a woman, you feel the pressure of how people will perceive you.  I don’t identify with that image. It’s crucial to feel safe and forget about your outfit – it’s not about me, it’s the character. That’s what I had to work on personally. I’m embracing my inner nerd on this one, even though she’s nothing like me. But I hope audiences will connect with her anyway.”

ACTORAL JOURNEY

In Los Angeles, Moreno’s leading role in the short film The Barriers made a significant splash, garnering recognition at the prestigious Sundance Ignite Fellows program. Her theatrical talent shone brightly during performances at the Underground Theater and the Labyrinth Theater, co-founded by the late Philip Seymour Hoffman and John Ortiz.  She further showcased her acting prowess in New York with two plays written by esteemed members of the Labyrinth Theater Company, staged at the renowned Cherry Lane Theatre and the Barn Series Festival.

MORE REPRESENTATION

For Moreno, Acapulco is a ‘great example’ of Hollywood’s growing diversity, featuring a predominantly Latino cast on a major American streaming platform.

Still, Moreno emphasizes the need for more content – more films and TV shows – that represent the full spectrum of Latino experiences, not just Mexicans, and do so in a respectful way. “We need to tell our own stories, create our own films and TV series, to truly do them justice, to give them the representation they deserve,” she said. “There’s still a lot of work to be done. We need to keep pushing for opportunities so that Latinos are consistently seen on screen and these opportunities continue to expand.”

She’s currently prioritizing work in Mexico and Europe, where she has several upcoming projects.

For aspiring actors who dream of a global platform, Morales offers this advice: “Fight for that dream. We need diverse voices, and pursuing opportunities in the US is a great path. However, it doesn’t mean neglecting your own country. I’m thrilled to be back working in Mexico.”

“It’s equally important, here in the US, which is a major platform, for Latino creators to come and tell their stories, produce their work. Together, we can raise our voices on a global scale,” she concluded.