Nikki Rodriguez Unpacks Jackie in Season 2

[This story contains spoilers from My Life With the Walter Boys season two.]

Very like her character, Jackie, in Netflix‘s My Life With the Walter Boys, Nikki Rodriguez is studying to loosen her reins and “be OK with progress as an alternative of attempting to good the whole lot.”

Whereas the 22-year-old actress admits she’s a bit introverted in actual life, she’s leaned on performing as a solution to categorical herself. Alongside the best way, she fell in love with appearing and finally landed a recurring function on the closing and fourth season of Netflix’s breakout comedy On My Block.

That have ready her for what got here subsequent: a lead function within the streamer’s hit sequence My Life With the Walter Boys, which simply dropped its second season. The variation of Ali Novak’s guide sequence follows Rodriguez’s character, Manhattan teenager Jackie, who is shipped to stay with the Walter household in Colorado after her household is killed in a tragic accident. As she learns to navigate grief and her new life, she finds herself in a love triangle with two of the Walter brothers, Cole (Noah LaLonde) and Alex (Ashby Gentry).

Rodriguez says her character evovles this season. “She breaks down in methods I don’t assume she expects, and she or he has extra power in different methods she additionally didn’t count on,” she tells The Hollywood Reporter.

Beneath, Rodriguez opens up about season two of Walter Boys, her response to Cole and Jackie’s difficult dynamic this season, her hopes for her character in season three (the present has already been renewed), whereas additionally sharing her dream film function and excellent break day from filming.

How excited have been you to return for season two of My Life With the Walter Boys and reunite as a solid?

It was superior. It was like going again residence once more, as a result of we filmed in Calgary [Canada], which feels a bit of bit like residence. I like my solid greater than something on the earth. They’re the most effective individuals, so it was simply the most effective expertise. I couldn’t have requested for something better. 

This season, Jackie looks as if she’s uninterested in everybody treating her like she’s made from glass after the lack of her mother and father and sister. What was it like enjoying a stronger model of Jackie this season?

I used to be actually, actually excited to have the ability to discover that aspect of Jackie. In season one, she’s in such denial concerning the large tragedy of her life, and that manifested in her being actually stoic and avoiding the whole lot. As she will get older and begins to course of a bit extra, it manifests in several areas of her life. She breaks down in methods I don’t assume she expects to, and she or he has extra power in different methods she additionally didn’t count on. It was actually enjoyable to discover that as an actor. I received to do some actually cool stuff and I’m actually happy with Jackie this season. 

How do you put together to show trauma precisely onscreen as an actor?

I put myself within the character’s sneakers. I journaled loads, which was actually useful. I watched the film Coco, which was very becoming for this season. That film hit me in a manner that I held onto this season, so I sort of simply did the most effective I may as an actor and hopefully it comes throughout precisely. It was actually vital to me that I used to be delicate concerning the topic and the subject.

Some followers have been in all probability hoping to see Jackie and Cole lastly get collectively this season, however that clearly wasn’t the case. What was your preliminary response if you learn the script and discovered they’re each nonetheless avoiding their emotions for one another?

I used to be simply as shocked as in all probability everyone else. I used to be like, “Oh, OK!” As a result of I play Jackie, I’ve to then justify each determination she makes and determine why she’s doing this stuff, and attempt to make it make sense for myself. In order that was very enjoyable to do and a bit of bit difficult. I’m like, “What, why, the place?” I used to be very shocked after I learn the scripts, nevertheless it was enjoyable to do, so we’ll see. I’m actually excited to listen to what individuals assume!

What would you say to followers who is perhaps upset Jackie and Cole nonetheless not being collectively this season, and that she’s nonetheless concerned with Alex?

Effectively we did get renewed for season three, so we’ll see the place the story goes from right here. However I do not know. I want I knew, however I don’t. 

This season, there’s additionally a storyline surrounding Day of the Useless. How vital was it so that you can embrace that and honor the Mexican vacation?

The most important factor for me was honoring Day of the Useless, and I actually assume they did such a lovely job writing that episode. After I learn the episode, I felt like I actually wanted to do that justice. It was actually, actually vital to me, so I did loads of analysis and I talked to fairly a couple of individuals. I used to be actually excited to try this episode as a result of it was probably the most significant to me and I believe it’s nice. I hope individuals reply to it in the identical manner.

After enjoying Jackie for 2 seasons now, what have you ever discovered from her personally?

Jackie may be very, very pushed and fairly a perfectionist virtually to a fault, the place she is so afraid of constructing errors that I believe it manifests in her making loads of errors really. I’m sort of just like her in that manner and so the extra I play Jackie, I’m attempting to turn into much less of a perfectionist and simply be OK with progress as an alternative of attempting to good the whole lot. It’s finally extra useful. You study and develop extra in that manner. Everybody’s going to make errors, proper? You possibly can’t keep away from that, so I’m additionally studying that myself. 

Because you’ve already been renewed, what are your hopes for Jackie in season three? 

She needs to get into Princeton, so I hope that for her finally. I simply need her to be a bit of simpler on herself and revel in being a child, and I wish to see her proceed to heal and develop into herself — and have a bit of bit extra enjoyable. 

Earlier than main My Life With the Walter Boys, you had a recurring function on Netflix’s hit present, On My Block. What did you’re taking away from that sequence that helped you put together to steer Walter Boys?

I used to be actually nervous to affix that solid as a result of I used to be conscious of the present. I had seen it and I felt like I knew all these individuals. It was completely different as a result of I knew individuals have been going to look at that, whereas Walter Boys, you by no means know what’s gonna occur with a brand new present. So it was actually, actually useful for me as an actor. It felt like a giant alternative; I put loads of stress on myself, however I additionally did loads of work and was fairly assured. It was very nice to see that come collectively. Then when the present got here out, I used to be fairly happy with it. Then going into Walter Boys, I had a bit of little bit of expertise and data, and I’m actually, actually grateful for that chance. I beloved that present and that function. 

Do you have got a dream style or function you’d like to tackle sooner or later?  

I actually wish to do a psychological thriller. I believe these are so, so enjoyable. Both that or an motion movie, as a result of I’ve all the time wished to do some type of stunt coaching or combat choreography. That might be a dream. 

When you have got a free break day from filming, what does your good day appear to be?

Since we movie in Calgary, I actually like to drive as much as the mountains and go to Banff or Kananaskis or Canmore. The second you step foot into the bushes, the whole lot you’re frightened about simply disappears. It’s probably the most attractive, calming place, and my favourite. I like being in nature on the market. 

What second out of your profession thus far are you most happy with?

Actually, this second proper now. Having season two releasing after which going again to movie season three is such an enormous second for me. I really feel so extremely grateful and I actually simply can’t imagine it. I’ve to pinch myself daily. If little me knew this was my life proper now, I believe she’d be actually excited.

Trying forward, the place do you hope to see your self career-wise in 5 years?

I’ve but to get to actually discover doing movies, so that might be actually, actually thrilling. It’s a very completely different expertise. Who is aware of the place my future is headed or what’s in retailer, however I really imagine that what is supposed for me is supposed for me and I believe no matter that’s, goes to be good for me. 

For those who needed to describe what makes Nikki Rodriguez, Nikki Rodriguez, what would you say? 

I’m very pushed and really passionate concerning the issues I like. I work actually onerous and I care about loads of issues. I used to be going to say I’m a bit of bit delicate, however I’m in all probability loads bit delicate. (Laughs.) And I strive my finest to be a great particular person. 

My Life With the Walter Boys season two is now streaming on Netflix.