In this year’s Disney Christmas film The Naughty Nine, which was released on Disney Channel and Disney+, Camila Rodriguez plays Dulce alongside a cast including Winslow Fegley as Andy Steele, and she filmed in Montreal, Canada for the release. Camila played Lupe in an episode of Station 19 – Series 11 this year, played Daisy in the short film How to Cry on Command, and she will be seen in an episode of Extended Family on December 23rd on NBC and streaming on Peacock. Chatting to Camila, she spoke to us about being cast in the Disney film The Naughty Nine, playing Dulce in the Christmas release and working on an episode of Station 19.

You play Dulce in the new Disney film The Naughty Nine, can you tell us about the film and your character?

The Naughty Nine is about two partners in crime, Andy and Dulce, who come to find out on Christmas Day that there are no presents for them. They team up with other kids on the naughty list, who have different special abilities, to form a crew to find and rob the North Pole! Dulce is a tough girl and doesn’t care what people think about her but, under that tough shell, she feels as if her parents do not give her enough attention in a house with two pairs of twin brothers. She feels Andy is her only person and her best friend.

Do you remember how you felt finding out you’d booked the role?

This is a funny story but I’ll keep it short. I got an email from my agents saying that they want to discuss another project that I had just booked and, really, I thought nothing of it. I was pretty calm. Little did I know, they were not calling to talk about the other project, they were actually calling to tell me I had booked Dulce from The Naughty Nine! Little fun fact: this was my first ever feature film and I had broken down into tears. I now have this little “I made it” moment!

What is Dulce like to play and how was it reading the script for the first time?

Dulce is a very fun person to play. For me, as an actress, playing characters who are not at all similar to me is very fun because I can see the world through a different pair of eyes. Dulce is very sassy and a tough individual so it was fun to do scenes with my castmates because I would really play around with her intimidation and edginess. Reading the script for the first time was absolutely incredible. I am a big reader myself and I could picture the whole thing in my head. I was laughing, I even broke a little tear when I read my speech because it was emotional to me to see how much Dulce would really do for her best friend. Overall, the whole script had me on a roller coaster of emotions.

What was it like meeting and working alongside the rest of the cast, which includes Winslow Fegley as Andy Steele?

Working with the cast felt like I was at summer camp. We had really built a whole family during the three months that we were in Montreal, Canada. It was really emotional when we all had to say goodbye after we had built such strong connections with each other. Winslow and I initially kind of met during our chemistry read and what was so brilliant about our chemistry read is that when we were doing our scenes it felt like we had been best friends our whole life. When we met in person, we instantly clicked and became actual friends. A lot of the friendship that you see on the screen is a friendship that is also alive and well off the screen.

How did you find the experience on set of a Christmas film and what are some of your favourite highlights from being involved with The Naughty Nine?

I am a big fan of Christmas movies because of how magical they are. Filming on this Christmas movie was even more magical. The sets were so incredible that I, as an actress, barely had to pretend that I was amazed by the North Pole in front of me because I was actually amazed and felt like I was in the North Pole. One of my favourite highlights was our table read and it was the first time all of the naughty nine had been in one room, which was exciting to do. We all really had so much fun during our table read.

How did you feel when the film released on Disney Channel and Disney+ and how has it been seeing the fan response so far?

It was surreal when I saw the movie on my television. It is one thing to imagine what the movie will look like but when it is right in front of you and even better than you had imagined, that truly is a proud and exciting accomplishment. I am grateful for all the positive love that the fans have been giving to this movie and I am happy that the fans see themselves in each different unique character.

Who do you think will enjoy watching The Naughty Nine and why would you recommend watching it?

People who love the Christmas spirit in holiday movies and people who are open-minded to something different will definitely enjoy watching The Naughty Nine. All Christmas movies that have been released are all about the good kids teaming up with Santa and it’s good for once in a while to switch it up, and I feel people will get a new perspective in watching this movie.

How was it playing Lupe in an episode of Station 19 – Series 11 this year?

In Station 19, Lupe was my first role in a dramatic series. I had never really played such an emotional role in my life and it was challenging to stay in that emotion of worry and sadness. I put in my work to live through what she was living but I cannot lie to say that it was not difficult to come back to reality at the end of shooting.

Can you tell us about the short film How to Cry on Command and how was it playing the role of Daisy?

How to Cry on Command is about a girl in an actor-type of school struggling to fit into the standards of being an actress, like crying on command, and her overall practice to how she presents herself to the world with stardom. Daisy is a kind of robotic character, she does whatever is told and makes sure she does not let anyone see her sweat. She prioritises being perfect. Daisy was an interesting person to play, I related to her in a lot of ways. I drew inspiration from a lot of societal pressures to always look pretty and act perfect. I was acting as if I was society’s expectations made into a person.

Where does your love of acting come from and how did you get started in the industry?

My love of acting definitely comes from my love of movies and TV shows. I see in movies how the actors move people by just telling a person’s story and get people to connect to the characters that they play. I love doing that, whether I am doing a movie or I am doing an audition, I always prioritise serving the text. I also find acting very therapeutic in a way and it fulfils my soul to read brilliant scripts with compelling stories. I got started in the industry by going to conventions to expose myself to professionals in the industry and after a few conventions I got invited to present myself to managers and agents. That’s where I met my current lovely manager, Myrna Lieberman. My manager then introduced me to my current amazing agency, the Osbrink Agency. If it were not for my team, I would not be where I am today.

What are some of your favourite films and TV shows to watch?

I am a big murder mystery fan. My favourite movie is Knives Out because of the plot twists and how brilliant the actors are in the movie. I also really love La La Land. I love that, instead of the “good” ending, it is the right ending for the characters. My favourite show is definitely The Office. I think at this point I have probably rewatched it four times already and the jokes never get old. I also love Stranger Things. It built such a world that I am obsessed with. I even have a Stranger Things hoodie!

How do you like to spend your free time?

I love to practice self care in my free time. As an actress who constantly does auditions, I can sometimes get in my head and overthink about the quality of my performances. I do things like journaling, meditation, and reading to calm my brain and really get out of my head.

Have you been given any advice over your time as an actor so far that has stuck with you?

I have this advice from my acting coach, Kris Kyer, that starts “if you feel like you are acting, you are doing it wrong. If you feel like you are not acting, you have successfully lived through your given circumstances”.

Do you have any projects coming up that you can tell us about and what are you hoping 2024 brings for your career?

I am in an episode of the sitcom created by Mike O’Malley called Extended Family, it will be released on December 23, 2023 on NBC and streaming on Peacock. I hope in 2024 that The Naughty Nine could have a possible sequel and that many new opportunities are going to come my way.

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