Words by Carol Wright |Photography by Gustavo Gomez
We got to chat with Jearnest Corchado about Little America on Apple TV+, her project Raise Your Hand, and her advice for aspiring actors.
When did you know you wanted to be an actress?
I think I realized a little bit after I turned 5 years old. I kept telling my mom I wanted to be an actress and finally, by the time I was 7 years old, she enrolled me in an acting agency. Honestly, I have always been performing in front of my family and friends since I was three years old. I feel like I was born knowing I was meant to entertain people. Haha.
What about Little America interested you?
That it was based on a true story. I loved that it was inspiring too and that my character was so complex, so determined, focused, talented and incredibly resilient. I fell in love with “Marisol” and felt a big responsibility to portray her as authentically as I possibly could.
Tell us a bit about the episode you’re in and the character you play Marisol.
My episode “The Jaguar,” which is the second episode of the series, is about an undocumented girl, Marisol, who discovers a big passion for playing squash. This newly found dream changes her life and, ultimately, her destiny. Marisol is a badass. She’s incredibly strong, an insanely hard worker, and resilient. She is a true inspiration for children all around the world. She is a fighter! She’s the Rocky of Squash!
You moved from Puerto Rico to Los Angeles to start your acting career. Did your own personal experience of moving to a new place help you relate to Marisol?
I think so. I moved to LA to pursue my dreams as an actress, and I think that was the biggest thing we had in common, we were dreamers! I understand her struggles, her sacrifices and that pursuit for greatness. We are both immigrants with big dreams! We’re both Jaguars.
Your next project is Raise Your Hand. What did you learn from working on that project?
That was actually one of my earlier projects and it was the project that taught me the most about film sets, how everything ran, how to create and develop a character from beginning to end. It was crucial to my professional and personal development. I love this film, it’s very powerful especially now after the #metoo movement. I hope people get to watch it and love it as much as I do.
What advice do you have for aspiring actors?
Keep moving forward. No matter how many times you get rejected, keep working hard, and be resilient. Everything is possible, you just have to trust the process and never give up. You are only a YES away!