The star partnered with Kipling for a pop-up in Los Angeles as part of the brand's #KiplingMakeHappy campaign, which celebrates inspiring and playful acts of generosity that lead to happiness. We caught up with Gina while she was at the event to chat about what makes her smile, her dream roles, and what it really means to her to be a Latina in media. Keep reading to see what she had to say, then check out a behind-the-scenes look at Kipling's Summer 2015 campaign.
Image Source: Getty / Chelsea Lauren
POPSUGAR: This Kipling campaign is all about acts of happiness. What is your happiest memory?
Gina Rodriguez: Being able to turn to my grandmother and say “I got you; everything is going to be OK.” My great-grandmother passed away about one and a half months ago, and when somebody passes there’s a lot of financial burden, and my grandmother experienced that. The biggest blessing was to be able to turn to her and say: "I got your back, Grandma, and finally after all this hard work, I can help you. I can help you in ways that I have never been able to help you before, and I can help you in ways that can significantly change your stress, sadness, and fear."
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Image Source: Getty / Chelsea Lauren
PS: You've been outspoken about the importance of being Latina in media and the need for more Latina representation. How do you hope to make an impact?
GR: I am always Latina. It’s a part of me, just like being a woman is, too. I believe both parties have been underrepresented. I don’t want to be singularly successful; I want us all to be successful. I think there’s room for multiple Latinas to be leads in TV shows and movies. When someone looks up at the screen and sees herself represented, it gives her power, a feeling that she can be or do anything. At a very young age, you desire to love, belong, and feel accepted, and that’s what we’re always fighting for. I’m going to use my voice to make people feel like they belong, because they do.
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Image Source: Getty / Chelsea Lauren
PS: You're a little bit of an advice-giver on Twitter. You've helped fans figure out how to study for finals, break out of their shells, and even figure out what to make for breakfast.
GR: My parents were very influential on why I look at life optimistically, and I’ve always wanted to give back what my parents have given to me. I take an hour or two a day and interact with the people that not only support my career and are the reason for my dreams coming true, but also actually think that my advice is worth something. When someone is giving you that honor, I take it very seriously. I don’t just tweet back crap. I tweet what my father and mother would have told me or what I would tell my niece or nephew or, one day, child.
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Image Source: Getty / Chelsea Lauren
PS: What's the best advice you've ever gotten from your parents?
GR: My father always used to say to me: “Gina, if you never lie, you never have to remember anything.” Honesty is very much a freeing place to live in. I’ve always been honest with my past, who I am, who I desire to be, with my flaws, with my fears. I know that everyone that’s around me is there for who I am, and that’s the best feeling in the entire world. I'm happy to be accepted in this industry for being me — for my weight, for what I look like, for my ethnicity.
GR: I’m putting it on POPSUGAR Latina right now, I will be a superhero one day! But I’m actually about to go to New Orleans for my new film, Deepwater Horizon, which is my first blockbuster movie. It's directed by Peter Berg, and the actors include Mark Wahlberg, John Malkovich, Kurt Russell, Kate Hudson, and Dylan O’Brien. I’m one of the leads, and I get to play a phenomenal woman. It's about the 2010 oil spill in the gulf of Mexico, and she’s a Latina from San Diego. She was a dream role for me, because I’ve always desired to do a political and social movement story. I fought very hard for this role.
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Image Source: Getty / Chelsea Lauren
PS: You're never afraid to be a little goofy, so here's a goofy question: what's your weirdest habit?
GR: I like hot Cheetos and cream cheese . . . together. It’s really gross, but it’s so delicious. Most people won’t try it, and it gives you a tummy ache sometimes, but it’s sooo worth it.
