Ana Ortiz as Marisol / Credit: TLCWhether you know her from her time in Ugly Betty or her newer role in Devious Maids, Ana Ortiz has had a wealth of experience in the acting business that only seems set to carry on gaining momentum.
FemaleFirst spoke to Ana about her character Marisol in the Marc Cherry written series, the chances of an Ugly Betty reunion and much more in a brand new and exclusive interview.
What drew you to the role of Marisol in Devious Maids initially?
Initially I was really excited about the prospect of working on a show with five Latin women as the leads. I also loved the fact that Eva Longoria was executive producer and that Marc Cherry was the writer of it - I'm a big fan of his.
So that was what initially drew me to it, and then to read Marisol - this is a character that I normally never get cast as. I'm always sort of the wise-cracking sassy character, so to play someone as controlled and stoic as Marisol was really exciting to me.
What is it about the show that you think makes it so popular with fans?
It's a novello, there's something for everyone. There's campy, there's sex, there's funny, there's drama, there's the very very rich and then the maids as the moral compass of the show. I think there's really something for everyone.
The second season we really amped it up with the wardrobes - the look of the show is really cool so I think that that has a universal feel because there really is something for everyone.
There's a murder mystery, there's always something! (laughs)
Can you tell us a little bit about a typical day on the set of Devious Maids?
(laughs) A typical day is really fun! We work long hours and all of that but we have so much fun. Because the show is this novella, this soapy thing, sometimes you get these scenes which are so outlandish and so crazy!
So, a typical day is sort of you know (laughs) you're doing some crazy dramatic role and being able to have fun with it.
It starts early, you go into hair and makeup, you get a delicious breakfast and you just start working.
We have different directors for every couple episodes. Working with Eva when she directed was an incredible experience. She's this tiny little woman with such command, it was really, really fun.
We've had the addition of some new castmembers this season such as Mark Deklin and Joanna P. Adler, what's the experience been like working with them?
Credit: TLCI have to pinch myself every day because they're so incredible and they have brought so much to these roles. I think for Joanna specifically to play Opal could be so sort of arch and so Mrs. Danvers crazy! She's a New York theatre actress and she's just brilliant, and she really brings this wild gravitas to this woman - I can't say enough.
I love the fact that Marisol gets to be in love this season and we get to see a softer side of her, and you know, Mark Deklin is the most brilliant scene partner I could have asked for and he's not hard to look at, so that's a bonus!
We're just having so much fun.
Here in the UK we find out the secret Opal's been hiding in our next episode, what should we expect going forward from then?
Oh gosh! Opal is really, really... yeah! I don't wanna give away too much! I think Opal is such a good character - Marisol has met her match in this woman and it's really been fun to play that and butt heads with her, but you know Marisol can only put on the blinders for so long, so I think what you can expect is to finally see Marisol fight back a little bit.
Can you tell us anything about the rumoured role that may be written for Eva on the show?
We're so wanting to get her on it. I think that right now she wants to do it as well. What's funny is that, is she gonna come back as her role from Desperate - is she gonna be that character Gaby? Or, is Marc gonna write her a whole new character? I think that's what they're trying to decide, how that's gonna go down, but I can't wait! I can't wait and I really hope it happens.
Who would you say - if anyone - you can relate to best in the show?
Hm, that's a great question. I think the person that I can relate to the most in terms of the characters, are definitely well my own Marisol, but I also can really relate to Judy Reyes character Zoila. I think being a mom and having to - she's so brilliant at playing that role of the anxiety that you have as a mother. I love that we get to see Zoila being sexy this season and being in love and also juggling her life with her daughter and her life with her work - that's such a struggle for most working mothers and so I can really relate to Zoila, and I think Judy does such a gorgeous job.
Who would you like to play for a day if you could switch characters?
Rebecca Wisocky as Evelyn Powell / Credit: TLCOh Evelyn Powell, there's no question about it! I mean, there's only one woman for that role and that is Rebecca Wisocky - she is one of my favourite people to watch. I love to watch Evelyn and Adrian Powell, I think they should have their own show, they're brilliant! I love it. So yeah I would love to be able to walk in those shoes but really there's no-one else who could do it besides Rebecca.
What do you hope for your character in the future?
I wanna see Marisol let her hair down a little bit. She's so controlled and it was nice that she was in love and we get to see a little bit of a softer side to her, but I wanna see her fire. I think she could stand to get a little more devious!
Away from Devious Maids, would you ever consider going back to Ugly Betty for a reunion?
I would do an Ugly Betty reunion tomorrow! That is my greatest dream. I am so in love with those people, they are still my closest friends in the world. It was such a unique experience and such a blessing in my life so yeah, I think, any of us would. We talk about it all.the.time. Fingers crossed that we get to do that.
Finally, can you tell us about any other projects you're involved with?
I'm doing an animated show for Netflix and Dreamworks - Puss In Boots, I get to be one of the voices for that, I play a cow! It's hilarious. And I'm hoping to now that we're on hiatus get some stuff in the works.
Devious Maids continues Tuesdays at 10pm on TLC.
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