Empowerment Series: Actress from Apple TV+ Sugar, Peacock’s Apples Never Fall, and Showtime’s L Word: Generation Q, Paula Andrea Placido Shares her Authentic Self with AW

Paula Andrea Placido was born in the Dominican Republic. Her father is Argentine-Italian and her mother is Colombian. The multicultural Latina lived in Palm Beach, FL until the age of 18, when she moved to Los Angeles, CA. The initial decision to make the change was scary but her bold moves are paying off. The actress is building an impressive portfolio of work that includes roles in L-Word: Gen Q, Sugar, Hacks, Shameless, and The Resident. Currently, she plays Gina Solis in Peacock’s Apples Never Fall.

AW sat down with the actress for a friendly conversation about the show, her character, working with the talented cast, moving to Los Angeles, living your truth, and on the other side of fear. This interview was such a treat! Listen or watch, as we get into some real, unfiltered conversations!

This cast and ensemble are amazingly talented. Annette Bening, Sam Neill, Jake Lacey, Alison Brie, Connor Merrigan-Turner and many others. What was it like to be part of this incredible cast? 

When I first found out that I booked it, I began seeing the articles of Annette Bening, Sam Neill, then Jake and Allison. As the cast was rounded out, I was mind-blown because I was getting a chance to work with these people. I got to go to Australia for four months, learning and absorbing as much as possible from them. I love what I do. It was incredible and one of the best experiences of my life in many ways. I’ve been jumping into different characters and they had been quick roles, in and out in a couple of weeks but this was a process. I was able to live with Gina for four months which was very cool.

Without giving too much detail about the show, I will share that you find out, your partner is cheating.  In a scene, you also admit to your minor indiscretion. Gina’s character is interesting. She is loving, kind, supportive, and committed but also flawed. Without giving away the end, did you feel that her reaction to Brooke’s cheating was justified or should she have been more compassionate because she wasn’t a saint?

I don’t know how to answer that without just ripping into it. Honestly, I think her reaction was calm, cool, and collected. It was a polite way to go about it. If I was in that situation in my personal life, I may have a similar response. Although, the fiery Latina in me would wanna throw the table and light the place on fire. I feel a lot of my friends would have similar reactions. They would be like, hell no! It is about perspective and boundaries. You know what I mean? My character, Gina makes it clear what her boundaries are, she says “I don’t cross certain lines.”  

What would you say, you mostly connected to about this character? In contrast to, let’s say, Roxy’s character on Gen Q L Word. Any similarities?

They are two different people, from two different places in the world. Roxy comes from a privileged background. Her family is wealthy. She is a party girl, who lives life on a whim. Gina is grounded, very centered, and family-oriented. She sees a stable future with Brooke. She has a business, a fiance, a formal engagement, and a home. So, very different people.

Part of me hurts for Gina because she has a simple, calm, and peaceful vision of what she wants from life. The Delaney’s are a tornado with so much family history that has gone unresolved. Some things haven’t been spoken about or dealt with. When she makes her decision, it is ultimately for the best because they both want different things. No matter how picture-perfect it may seem, the two are not connecting due to the lack of communication. Eventually, it goes the way that it’s supposed to.

You’ve played these authentic characters and they seem true to you in some way. And I wonder, have you ever experienced a time when you felt like you were not staying true to yourself?

As an actor, you bring part of yourself into each role and live in the circumstances of the world. I think no matter what, I can try to do that but it wouldn’t feel authentic. I always bring a piece of me into it. I can’t be anyone but me. It’s like different versions. In a way, I play many versions or interpretations of myself. 

There have been instances in my life when I have become a chameleon in relationships to make someone else happy. I think plenty of us have done the same in one way or another. Can you think of a time when you’ve had to do that?

The first 10 years of moving to LA were that for me. During the pandemic, I had a moment of realization. It was like my Saturn was returning. I was feeling like I couldn’t do it, anymore. I was unhappy with who I played those last 10 years. I thought, let’s just completely scratch it all. I had to start brand new and rediscover who I was because I was not happy. I wanted to find out who I was on my own. It led to shaving all my hair off, like a rebirth. There were lots of moments to signal out a specific one. The first 10 years of being in LA, during my 20s, I didn’t know who I was. I was trying to please people and fell into this category of being who people wanted me, and it was not authentic.

Our culture impacts the way we live our lives, at least, until we figure ourselves out. Do you think when you weren’t being true to yourself your culture had anything to do with it? I think for me it did.

Yes – 100 % true, especially as a Latina woman. Your hair is everything. I had this idea that if I cut all my hair off, it would be like Samson in the Bible. I felt like I would lose everything. I realized that I needed to lose it to find myself.  It does have a lot to do with my culture. Growing up, I’d hear “Your hair is so beautiful. You have such pretty hair. Stand up straight. Shoulders back. Why aren’t you in dresses?” I was trying to conform to what I thought, I needed to look like through my mom’s eyes. I got to a point where I needed to be content with life. I started to find the things I liked that made me feel good, and brought joy back into my life.

Do you have any sort of just general advice for anyone not living their truth?

It is your life. You get one. This is the life that you were given and you’re the one that has to live in this body. Who cares about anybody else? At the end of the day, they are not the ones living in these shoes. Pause to reflect. Mute the outside voices. Silence everything on the outside. There are plenty of distractions. People will tell you who they think you are or should be. Pausing everyone and doing a complete reset is important, so you can be able to hear your thoughts. Cut out the noise. 

You have a powerful quote on your Instagram that I loved. I’ve heard different versions of it. It says “Everything you want is on the other side of fear.” What have you found on the other side of fear in your own life?

To piggyback off of that quote, “The regret of not doing is greater than the act of doing it.” If you don’t do that thing, it will kill you. When I was 18 years old, I was afraid to move to LA alone but I did it – the best decision I made. I was scared to shave my head and I did it, let me know more about myself. If I’m scared to do something, I tend to try, at least, once. I don’t want to live with the regret.  I’ve done many different things. I was scared to get on a motorcycle and I learned to ride, it’s awesome. I was scared of open water, like scuba diving. I took a three-day course, terrifying! I don’t think I’ll do it again, but I did it despite the fear. The pain of the regret is way greater than actually doing the thing.

What kind of advice mantra or quote, can you leave us with that will light a fire under our seat to get out there and do it? 

I think it’s that. The regret is so much more painful than the actual, action. I was listening to a podcast where the host said that he got punched in seventh grade and lived with the regret of not fighting back his whole life. He was still angry at himself for not standing up for himself. He explained that he would probably live with that feeling for the rest of his life.

Do it, so you don’t have to beat yourself up, later.  Plenty of people live with “Why didn’t, I take that chance or do this thing? Why didn’t I ever, say hello to the girl?” Now you are living in that regret. Just do it, so you don’t have to beat yourself up about it, down the road.

AW is grateful to Andrea for this beautiful interview! Her energy was amazing. Her inspiring words stayed with me long after our interview.  

We spend a lot of time procrastinating, finding reasons not to do something we want, or convincing ourselves that we cannot do that. Let’s try something different today, make a list of five things you want to try but are afraid to do. Tackle one activity or action per quarter and see how far you get by the end of one year. You can give the list to a partner or friend to hold you accountable and encourage you to make an effort. Do it afraid but do it!

Let’s take Paula’s advice and start living before it is too late.

To learn about Paula, visit Instagram @ppplacido. Apples Never Fall streaming now on Peacock.

*This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Photo:  Rob Flate

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