WE DON’T DO LAZY

INTERVIEW AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY ROSE DI NARDO

Los Angeles actress Hilaria Larriva opens up about her role as a domestic abuse survivor in the Netflix show ‘Maid’, how vulnerability is the cure for everything, and why her sangre tells her to dream big.

Los Angeles, USA

YOU PLAY BRANDI, A YOUNG WOMAN SUFFERING FROM DOMESTIC ABUSE, ON THE NEW NETFLIX SHOW ‘MAID’ - HOW DID YOU NAVIGATE WORKING ON A SHOW WITH SUCH A SENSITIVE TOPIC?

My internal navigation only knows how to operate from the heart. When I signed on to Maid, I knew this role and project was ALL heart and compassion. Domestic violence is a topic that makes a lot of people feel uncomfortable to share or even have shame around DV. I wanted to come on set everyday and honor the work and be courageous with care.

WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM YOUR CHARACTER?

Playing Brandi, I learned that kindness from strangers really exists. Also, healing from deep trauma is attainable. It’s not always easy but it’s possible. Finally understanding that, brings me great hope.

MAID WAS SHOT IN CANADA. WHAT WAS YOUR EXPERIENCE LIKE ON SET?

Living in Victoria, B.C was so beautiful. The locals are so kind and the air quality is immeasurable to anywhere. Coming from a metropolis like LA then being exported to a little forest island was most needed in my life.

I walked to the ocean almost everyday and learned my lines on the sea boulders. I miss that peaceful island.

HOW HAVE YOU GROWN AS AN ACTRESS SINCE YOU FIRST STARTED OUT? WHAT HAS YOUR JOURNEY BEEN LIKE?

Early in my career I didn’t have confidence in myself. That is an old mindset though and no one has time for that gremlin.

Now, I’m in a space for emotional, artistic open heart surgery all day. Vulnerability is the cure for almost everything, including confidence. One of my favorite quotes is from Goethe — “Be bold and mighty forces will come to your aid”. Every artist needs to put that quote on a post-it.

TELL US MORE ABOUT HILARIA AND WHO SHE IS.

I have that resilient, ancient, and magical sangre running through these veins. I am a girl that came from humble beginnings and family is everything. When my great grandparents and great uncles came from Mexico they landed and lived in the orange fields of San Bernardino. They picked oranges and saved up enough money to buy a house in East LA. The mantra of the Larriva family is “we don’t do lazy”. With that being said, my sangre tells me to dream big and then make it happen.