00:03I'm Oliver Trevina in studio for The Hollywood Reporter, joined by actress and activist Diane Guerrero.
00:09How are you?
00:10I'm great.
00:11Yes?
00:11Yes.
00:11Wonderful.
00:13How are you?
00:13I'm great.
00:14I'm glad you're here.
00:15You're busy.
00:15You're always on the move.
00:17You literally got back at 5 a.m. this morning.
00:19I did.
00:20Literally get back.
00:21And straight into work.
00:22Gotta get back to it.
00:23That's what you do.
00:23Yeah.
00:23There's always something going on.
00:25I keep it moving.
00:26Yeah.
00:26Juggling series, books, memoirs.
00:29It's happening.
00:30It's happening.
00:31Yeah.
00:31It's been an exciting time for me.
00:33It has.
00:33I think that's an understatement.
00:34Massively exciting time.
00:35But also now you're putting everything out there really.
00:38Is that strange or is it like a weird moment when you put a memoir out?
00:43Yeah.
00:43It's not the easiest thing to do.
00:46Right.
00:46I didn't even think I was going to do that.
00:48I started it by sharing an op-ed and that was like one page of something that happened
00:54to me and my family and I thought that was going to be it.
00:57Right.
00:57And the idea for the book came and I immediately said no because I didn't want anyone.
01:03I think it was more I was still sort of ashamed of sharing that much information about
01:08myself but also mostly because of my family.
01:11I didn't want to put their information out there.
01:13But you know I spoke to my mother.
01:16She said basically a memoir is from your point of view.
01:19From your experience.
01:20So I think that kind of eased me a little because I knew that if I didn't get everything
01:28right you know it's fine.
01:29It's my book.
01:30Right, right, right.
01:30It is your book.
01:31Yeah.
01:32It's an incredible book.
01:33The story is like I mean I was mind blown but it's just such an important message to
01:37put across as well.
01:39Yes.
01:39And yeah going through that whole transition as such a young girl and then evolving into
01:45what you've achieved now is inspiring for people as well.
01:48Yeah I'm really glad of how people have received the book especially young people.
01:55Just to go to different universities and speak to students has been a real pleasure for
02:00me because you know I always sort of wanted to be seen or viewed as like sort of that academic.
02:07And I also love school and I think education is so important.
02:10So it's been it's really been a blessing that kids have been relating to it.
02:14And also I mean that was the reason why I wrote it was so that someone going through this experience.
02:20Right, right, right.
02:20Could relate to it or could see that somebody also went through it and made it out alive.
02:26Right, right.
02:27And also for the person who hasn't experienced this or doesn't you know know a family.
02:32Right.
02:32Who has been through this and maybe.
02:34I had no idea.
02:35I have to be honest I mean I know immigration obviously I'm British so I've dealt with my
02:38you know fair share but nothing like what your book portrays which I think is the is
02:43the why it's so important for you to do something like this.
02:45Yeah I mean it's just kind of giving you an example of what family separation looks like.
02:50Right.
02:50And hopefully it'll give some people an idea of what the immigration system looks like which
02:55in my opinion is broken.
02:57Along with a lot of people's opinions it's broken.
03:00I think it's fair to say it is.
03:01Yeah.
03:01Especially after reading your story.
03:03If there were any doubts read this book and you will for sure agree with this young lady.
03:08Yes.
03:08Yeah.
03:09And then the first edition of the book was released end of last year and now the young adult version
03:14is coming out.
03:15In July.
03:16July.
03:17Right.
03:17Yes.
03:17I'm so glad you knew that.
03:18I did know that.
03:19I did know that.
03:19Well you've got too much to think of.
03:20Right.
03:21You're juggling TV shows.
03:22You're doing that.
03:22I'm interviewing you.
03:23I'll figure that one out.
03:25Yeah.
03:26Yeah it's coming out in July and it's for middle schoolers and it sort of gives you like
03:30just a little synopsis of what the chapter's about and it's really cute and I'm just so
03:36happy to bring it to all ages because it's an important story.
03:41And you know I recently saw a children's book about a similar story about a young girl losing
03:47her mother and grandmother to deportation and you know that that's even giving me some
03:54ideas of like how can I turn this story into a children's book as well.
03:57There you go.
03:57Yeah.
03:58Maybe into a TV show.
03:59Maybe into movies.
04:00I mean Lord knows I'm trying.
04:02There you go.
04:02That doesn't shock me either.
04:04That doesn't shock me either.
04:05And tonight's episode of Superior Donuts.
04:07Yes.
04:07When this airs.
04:09Yeah.
04:09Is actually a storyline that's somewhat familiar strangely enough.
04:13Your brother's being chased by immigration.
04:15Yes.
04:16So in Superior Donuts normally every week we tackle a certain issue.
04:21So whether it's race or police brutality or poverty, homelessness, whatever it is we do
04:30an episode of and we sort of, it's a 22 minute comedy so we sort of.
04:36It's a funny twist on it.
04:37It's a funny twist on it.
04:38And you just kind of present the issue and so people can think about it.
04:41Right, right.
04:42And so of course immigration came up and so.
04:45As it would.
04:46As it would.
04:46Of course.
04:47And then all the writers came to me and it's like, is this right?
04:50And so I, you know, it was, it was actually a good opportunity to work on the script and
04:54let them know kind of what was more real to me.
04:58But yeah, it was, it was a very, it was a personal episode and I'm really proud of it.
05:04I'm really glad that CVS took the initiative to talk about a sensitive subject as immigration
05:08because it's not easy to talk about.
05:11Yeah.
05:11The show in general, as you mentioned, it touches on these kind of important issues.
05:14You catch yourself laughing, but then you're like funny, but there's a lot of truth to that.
05:18Right.
05:19Yeah.
05:19And then it makes you think, which is great because you get to laugh and think.
05:22Sure.
05:22At the same time.
05:22Absolutely.
05:23In my opinion, I mean, that's what these stories should be about.
05:26They should inform you as well.
05:29It's amazing.
05:30How has that been on the show doing the comedy and stuff like that?
05:33You enjoy it?
05:34Is it hard to keep a straight face?
05:35Because the cast is hilarious.
05:37They're hilarious.
05:38That chemistry is brilliant.
05:39It's hard to keep a straight face sometimes, but it's been great.
05:42I've never done a sitcom before.
05:44Right.
05:45I've always loved old school sitcoms like Happy Days, Taxi, Laverne and Shirley.
05:52I was always watching those shows.
05:54I mean, it was TV land, obviously.
05:55I wasn't there when they were on.
05:57But I always had this fantasy of being in one of those shows, and now I am.
06:01And I'm with Judd Hirsch from Taxi, which is one of my favorite shows too.
06:06So I'm learning a lot.
06:08Right, right.
06:09Yeah.
06:09And going back, obviously, Orange is the New Black, Jane the Virgin.
06:12It's an eclectic mix of characters.
06:13Do you enjoy that challenge, going from show to show?
06:15Oh, absolutely.
06:16Yeah.
06:17I love playing different characters, and I love telling different stories from different perspectives.
06:22I just hope I can continue doing more.
06:25You will continue.
06:26Yes.
06:26You will continue.
06:27Yeah, you haven't stopped.
06:28And yet, when I read, you studied something completely different in college.
06:31Yeah, I studied political science and communication.
06:33Yeah.
06:34But it's sort of all coming full circle.
06:36You're making it come full circle.
06:37Yeah.
06:37It doesn't tend to do that in the world of acting.
06:39No.
06:39Well, yeah, I guess not.
06:41I mean, I always said, you know, I always try to say yes to myself.
06:45That's sort of my message in the book is giving yourself the chance to try something new,
06:49something that you've always been interested in.
06:51Right.
06:51And so now, with the book and doing my talks and stuff, it has given me that opportunity,
06:59so much so that I actually did a docu-series.
07:03I did an episode of a docu-series called America Divided.
07:05Okay.
07:06I got a chance to be a journalist for a week.
07:08And I never thought that I could do something like that and look at me.
07:12I'm doing documentaries.
07:13So it really is going full circle.
07:14Yeah, it really is.
07:15It really is.
07:15It really is.
07:16So what's next then?
07:17What would you like to do if you could do anything?
07:19Anything next?
07:19Any role next that kind of is in your mind?
07:21Oh, I'd like to play that.
07:23Anything pop to mind?
07:24Well, I mean, right now I'm just working on seeing how I can take my story and making
07:30it into a film.
07:31And there's so many angles that I can take it.
07:32I've already tried to make it into a series.
07:34That didn't quite work.
07:36However, I'm still very passionate about this story.
07:39It's very relevant in my mind right now, so I think I'm going to keep working on that.
07:42That's it.
07:43Well, it's such an important message.
07:44Yeah.
07:44You've got to keep pushing it.
07:45Absolutely.
07:46That's it.
07:46So this isn't going to be the first we're going to talk about this, I'm sure.
07:49You'll be coming back for the TV show and the movie.
07:51We're going to wrap this up with THR's top five.
07:53Okay.
07:53Five easy questions.
07:55I'm hoping they're easy.
07:56I hope they're easy.
07:56If they're not, you can just say, no, not doing it.
07:58Pass.
07:59You can pass, but I'll think of something else.
08:01Okay.
08:01So you won't get away with it.
08:02There'll be five, whatever happens.
08:04Okay.
08:05TV show that you watched as a kid that you wish you were in?
08:08Eureka's Castle.
08:09Okay.
08:09But there were puppets.
08:10I never saw Eureka's Castle.
08:12Explain this to me, because this is more than just a question now.
08:15It's a puppet show.
08:17Like Sesame Street?
08:18It's like Sesame Street, yes.
08:20Okay.
08:20And there was just a big dragon and a castle, and they were just really funny puppets.
08:24Okay, Eureka's Castle.
08:25Yeah.
08:26Check it out.
08:26Good one.
08:27One actor who inspires you?
08:29One actor that inspires me, Penelope Cruz.
08:33And I actually also named my dog, Penelope Cruz, Guerrero.
08:38That's great.
08:38That's great.
08:39I love her.
08:40Clearly, you do love her.
08:41I do love her.
08:42One word to describe your journey as an actress so far?
08:47Challenging.
08:48Challenging.
08:49It ain't easy, me and Bruce.
08:51From knowing your story, I probably would have guessed that.
08:54It's a little challenging.
08:54If we'd done that card game where you turn it away and you have to write, I think we'd have
08:58got that then.
08:58Yeah.
08:59We would have got that.
08:59Last show that you binge watched?
09:02On My Block.
09:04Okay.
09:05You haven't heard of it?
09:06No, no.
09:06It's on Netflix.
09:07It's a young show with young, new, fresh faces, but they're all kids of color.
09:11Okay.
09:12And I'm so proud watching that because I haven't, you know, before Orange is the New Black,
09:17I really hadn't seen many shows where it had, you know, brown and black kids going to
09:23high school, like living a normal life, and the show does a good job of representing
09:29kind of like, you know, a day in the life of these high school students.
09:34Okay.
09:35And it's really exciting to watch and I'm very proud.
09:37Check it out.
09:38Yeah.
09:38Between that and Eureka's Castle, that's my weekend.
09:42I don't know if you're going to like the lineup.
09:43Well, I'll give it a go.
09:44Maybe not Eureka's Castle.
09:46Do you have kids?
09:46Oh no, I'm doing Eureka's Castle.
09:48No, I don't have kids.
09:48I have a dog.
09:49The dog would love it.
09:50Dog would love it.
09:51Perfect for dogs, Eureka's Castle.
09:52Yes.
09:54You've been through so much and so strong.
09:55Do you have a favorite saying or quote?
09:58I wondered.
09:59I wondered what you kind of, you know, if there's a thing that you live by.
10:02Yeah.
10:03I mean, my aunt would always say, everything in this life you can fix, except death.
10:12That's morbid.
10:14I think it's a perfect way to wrap it up.
10:16We're both still here, so we can fix whatever just went on for 10 minutes.
10:20Absolutely.
10:20It's perfect.
10:21Go.
10:21No, we can.
10:22It's a pleasure.
10:22That's the message.
10:23Thanks.
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