Texas-born starlet Cierra Ramirez has been making waves as Mariana Foster on ABC Family's new hit show, The Fosters.
[Latina.com] spoke to Cierra to talk about new episodes of The Fosters, her music career, her Mexican background and more. Check it out:
What do you love about playing Mariana?
What I love about playing Mariana has to be her sassiness. She’s very sassy; she’s learning and making mistakes, so along the way her sassiness comes out. She can come off as a little mean, but at the end of the day she does have a big heart. I do love that as well, she does have a very soft side. It’s very fun being able to play two different types of personalities in one.
For a while she was coming across as a bit selfish you could say, do you think she’s learned from all of this?
Definitely! I most definitely think she has learned. Especially since she’s had to deal with everything that happened with her mom getting shot and almost losing her. She’s definitely learning from her mistakes. She learned that getting into contact with her birth mom, Ana, wasn’t the best idea. I mean it was like you said it was selfish, but you also kind of saw the reasoning behind it. It was very innocent. She wanted to know about her background and all that; it just didn’t wind up in her favor.
What are you hoping for Mariana in the upcoming episodes?
I’m hoping that she has learned. I think it would be interesting to have Ana come back. I really wouldn’t want to see Mariana or Jesus stay in contact with her though, because of what she did. But whenever she does come onto the show, she does stir up some trouble, so I think that would be a really cool reason to bring her back.
Mariana had her quinceañera earlier in the season. What are some of your favorite Latin traditions?
You know I never had a quinceañera. I’m not very traditional, I have to say. But I got to live vicariously through Mariana. It was so much fun. I have taken part in the court in a lot of my cousins and friends quinceañeras, though, so that was really fun to live through that.
That particular episode was the same time Mariana found out about Jesus and Lexi, but Lexi has this whole other major situation. Are we going to see more about her and the immigration issue in these later episodes?
Definitely. They won’t ever just not touch on that point again. You’ll see how that all comes into play. I don’t want to give too much away. Just know they won’t leave that alone.
David [Lambert] told us you guys all get along really great! Who in the cast, would you say, is the biggest prankster on set?
The biggest prankster on set? I would have to go with either Maia [Mitchell] or Teri [Polo]. They’re both quirky and always making jokes. They’re probably, if anything, always pulling pranks on each other.
Speaking of Maia, what are your feelings on Callie and Brandon’s relationship?
As Cierra or Mariana?
Let’s go with Mariana first.
Okay you’ve seen over the first half of this season, you’ve seen Mariana and Callie’s relationship; they’ve really grown closer and bonded as sisters. So I think when she finds out the reason why Callie left, she might not be too happy. I don’t know. I don’t want to give away too much either.
And as Cierra?
I am definitely Team Brallie [Laughs].
Is there a guy in Mariana’s future?
There might be…they might explore some love interests for Mariana. They’ve never had one on the show!
Who would you say you’re closest to? Is it Jake T. Austin since you guys play twins?
I can’t say I’m closest to anyone really. It really is a family. From the start we’ve bonded and we just get closer and closer every episode. The dynamic is so cool on and off screen.
If you had to give your fans three reasons to watch starting January, what would you say?
I mean first off, who doesn’t love drama? Number two, they left with such a cliffhanger, you have to see what’s next. Number three, let me think, I definitely have to say more Brallie moments. That story, it’s gonna happen! I love it. It’s really exciting stuff and lots of twists and turns. I think everyone is really going to like it. Every script gets better and better.
So you grew up in Texas, what was it like?
Oh, I loved it! I have both my grandparents on my mom’s side there. They are from Mexico. They grew up there and they moved to Texas to raise the family. I was surrounded by a lot of Mexican culture in Texas. I loved Houston, I loved the people, loved the food, I can’t talk about that enough.
What dish do you love the most?
Probably my grandma’s tamales.
What’s one thing that you love about your Mexican culture and you’ve really learned to embrace?
I’ve learned, especially in this industry, you have to learn how to represent. Taking on roles, I’ve tried to stay away from the stereotypical stuff. With our culture, I think it’s really good to represent. Everyone does a really good job of that. That’s one thing I admire about our culture.
Do you have any Latina stars that you look up to?
Probably Kate de Castillo. I love her. I love everything she’s ever chosen to work in. I think she’s such a great actress and such a great person.
Is there anything you would want to share with our readers that we haven’t talked about?
As far other projects, I’m working on music. I have been for a while. It’s been off and on since I’ve been so busy with The Fosters. We’re coming up with a hiatus, so I’m really going to hit the music thing hard.
Are you working on an album or just some songs?
I’m trying to work on an album. I’m trying to get the gist of it. I’m trying to find my sound. I’ve been kind of playing with that.
So you’re trying to figure out your sound, how’s that going?
Yes, I grew up listening to lots of soulful music. So I want a very big soulful aspect of it, but I love everything you hear on the radio as well. I’d want a radio-friendly soulful type video. I don’t know. We’ll have to see what comes up.
Who are some of your all time favorite singers?
All time favorites would have to be Etta James, Amy Winehouse, Duffy, Rihanna, I love Rihanna. I’m all about girl power!
Who would be a dream music collaboration for you?
That’s a good question. I have so many different influences. But I love The Weekend, so I would love to sing with him. I think it would be awesome!
No collaborations with maybe Demi or Selena?
I think that would be cool!
I think your fans would love it
I do too! It would go along with that Latina vibe.
The Fosters winter premiere airs January 13 at 9 p.m. on ABC Family!
THIS INTERVIEW IS CREDITED TO PRISCILLA RODRIGUEZ AT LATINA.COM!
[Latina.com] spoke to Cierra to talk about new episodes of The Fosters, her music career, her Mexican background and more. Check it out:
What do you love about playing Mariana?
What I love about playing Mariana has to be her sassiness. She’s very sassy; she’s learning and making mistakes, so along the way her sassiness comes out. She can come off as a little mean, but at the end of the day she does have a big heart. I do love that as well, she does have a very soft side. It’s very fun being able to play two different types of personalities in one.
For a while she was coming across as a bit selfish you could say, do you think she’s learned from all of this?
Definitely! I most definitely think she has learned. Especially since she’s had to deal with everything that happened with her mom getting shot and almost losing her. She’s definitely learning from her mistakes. She learned that getting into contact with her birth mom, Ana, wasn’t the best idea. I mean it was like you said it was selfish, but you also kind of saw the reasoning behind it. It was very innocent. She wanted to know about her background and all that; it just didn’t wind up in her favor.
What are you hoping for Mariana in the upcoming episodes?
I’m hoping that she has learned. I think it would be interesting to have Ana come back. I really wouldn’t want to see Mariana or Jesus stay in contact with her though, because of what she did. But whenever she does come onto the show, she does stir up some trouble, so I think that would be a really cool reason to bring her back.
Mariana had her quinceañera earlier in the season. What are some of your favorite Latin traditions?
You know I never had a quinceañera. I’m not very traditional, I have to say. But I got to live vicariously through Mariana. It was so much fun. I have taken part in the court in a lot of my cousins and friends quinceañeras, though, so that was really fun to live through that.
That particular episode was the same time Mariana found out about Jesus and Lexi, but Lexi has this whole other major situation. Are we going to see more about her and the immigration issue in these later episodes?
Definitely. They won’t ever just not touch on that point again. You’ll see how that all comes into play. I don’t want to give too much away. Just know they won’t leave that alone.
David [Lambert] told us you guys all get along really great! Who in the cast, would you say, is the biggest prankster on set?
The biggest prankster on set? I would have to go with either Maia [Mitchell] or Teri [Polo]. They’re both quirky and always making jokes. They’re probably, if anything, always pulling pranks on each other.
Speaking of Maia, what are your feelings on Callie and Brandon’s relationship?
As Cierra or Mariana?
Let’s go with Mariana first.
Okay you’ve seen over the first half of this season, you’ve seen Mariana and Callie’s relationship; they’ve really grown closer and bonded as sisters. So I think when she finds out the reason why Callie left, she might not be too happy. I don’t know. I don’t want to give away too much either.
And as Cierra?
I am definitely Team Brallie [Laughs].
Is there a guy in Mariana’s future?
There might be…they might explore some love interests for Mariana. They’ve never had one on the show!
Who would you say you’re closest to? Is it Jake T. Austin since you guys play twins?
I can’t say I’m closest to anyone really. It really is a family. From the start we’ve bonded and we just get closer and closer every episode. The dynamic is so cool on and off screen.
If you had to give your fans three reasons to watch starting January, what would you say?
I mean first off, who doesn’t love drama? Number two, they left with such a cliffhanger, you have to see what’s next. Number three, let me think, I definitely have to say more Brallie moments. That story, it’s gonna happen! I love it. It’s really exciting stuff and lots of twists and turns. I think everyone is really going to like it. Every script gets better and better.
So you grew up in Texas, what was it like?
Oh, I loved it! I have both my grandparents on my mom’s side there. They are from Mexico. They grew up there and they moved to Texas to raise the family. I was surrounded by a lot of Mexican culture in Texas. I loved Houston, I loved the people, loved the food, I can’t talk about that enough.
What dish do you love the most?
Probably my grandma’s tamales.
What’s one thing that you love about your Mexican culture and you’ve really learned to embrace?
I’ve learned, especially in this industry, you have to learn how to represent. Taking on roles, I’ve tried to stay away from the stereotypical stuff. With our culture, I think it’s really good to represent. Everyone does a really good job of that. That’s one thing I admire about our culture.
Do you have any Latina stars that you look up to?
Probably Kate de Castillo. I love her. I love everything she’s ever chosen to work in. I think she’s such a great actress and such a great person.
Is there anything you would want to share with our readers that we haven’t talked about?
As far other projects, I’m working on music. I have been for a while. It’s been off and on since I’ve been so busy with The Fosters. We’re coming up with a hiatus, so I’m really going to hit the music thing hard.
Are you working on an album or just some songs?
I’m trying to work on an album. I’m trying to get the gist of it. I’m trying to find my sound. I’ve been kind of playing with that.
So you’re trying to figure out your sound, how’s that going?
Yes, I grew up listening to lots of soulful music. So I want a very big soulful aspect of it, but I love everything you hear on the radio as well. I’d want a radio-friendly soulful type video. I don’t know. We’ll have to see what comes up.
Who are some of your all time favorite singers?
All time favorites would have to be Etta James, Amy Winehouse, Duffy, Rihanna, I love Rihanna. I’m all about girl power!
Who would be a dream music collaboration for you?
That’s a good question. I have so many different influences. But I love The Weekend, so I would love to sing with him. I think it would be awesome!
No collaborations with maybe Demi or Selena?
I think that would be cool!
I think your fans would love it
I do too! It would go along with that Latina vibe.
The Fosters winter premiere airs January 13 at 9 p.m. on ABC Family!
THIS INTERVIEW IS CREDITED TO PRISCILLA RODRIGUEZ AT LATINA.COM!
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