PAULA ANDREA PLACIDO On The L Word, Hacks, Sugar, and her Visual Arts

By Alex A. Kecskes

An established visual artist and actor, Paula Andrea Placido joins the cast of Showtime’s The L Word: Generation Q and is set to star in the new Apple+ series Sugar alongside Colin Farrell. In L Word: Generation Q, Paula is Roxy, an adventurous, unpredictable girl who draws on her upscale background to make life one endless party.

Born in San Francisco de Macrois in the Dominican Republic to an Argentine-Italian father and Colombian mother, Paula grew up in West Palm Beach, Florida before moving to Los Angeles to pursue her acting career. Paula is best known for her role in the 2nd season of the Emmy-winning HBO comedy series Hacks, where she played Rian, Ava’s hot subletter/tenant who she ended up hooking up with. Paula then appeared on Shameless’ last season, where she played Calista, a lesbian bartender, who opens up a new queer bar in Gallagher’s neighborhood. Paula has also appeared in The Resident, Never Have I Ever, All Rise, The Shrink Next Door, and Star Trek: Picard. In her free time, Paula enjoys riding her motorcycle, painting, and staying fit.

You started as an artist. Was there an actor, TV show, or film that inspired you to pursue acting?

Paula Placido: I Always wanted to be an actor but art was definitely my foot in the door. That’s how I got into art school. But If I had to point to a specific film that drew me into acting, it would be Harry Potter. I was about the same age as Daniel Radcliffe when the first movie came out. I remember seeing those clips on the screen and saying, I want to do that. So I bugged my mom enough to get me into art school and then segued into performing that way.

My father was an artist and he said the hardest thing to draw was hands. But you’re really good at it.

Paula: Thank you. I was in the fifth grade and I fell in love with The Creation of Adam by Michelangelo. I just started tracing the hands and got so used to the lines that I was able to draw them freehand later on. I love it. It’s also therapeutic because there are so many tiny details in the hand.

Okay. Your first acting gig. Was it nerve-wracking, terrifying, exciting?

Paula: Nerve wracking. Whether it’s commercial acting or theatrical, you still have the same feeling of impostor syndrome, that the casting director made a mistake. There’s this voice in your head that’s constantly betraying you, and you have to learn to dominate that. There’s a lot of fear but with practice, repetition, and understanding what you’re going to do, the bigger picture, that fear goes away. If you concentrate on why you’re there, to create something, and dispel those negative thoughts—like what is everyone thinking about you, you’ll have a lot more fun.

You’ve had so many roles. Is there a particular type of role you enjoy more than others?

Paula: I thought it would be dramatic roles, that the more dramatic the scene, the better actor I would appear. But I realized that I love comedy. It’s so much more fun and lighthearted to go to work and not have to search for my deep emotions, which can be really draining. Doing comedy is such a joy because it goes by so much faster. There’s laughter, everyone’s having a good time, and the pacing and improv are so much fun.

What drew you to The L Word and the role of Roxy in particular?

Paula: For me, growing up, the L Word felt like a bucket list. I always wanted to be part of the show. I was so excited when I got to audition for it. I think I auditioned two or three times for different characters. I had no idea who I was auditioning for since they gave me dummy sides to read. So I tried to interpret each character the best way I knew how. But it feels really special to be on the show, to be part of the LBGT community. I would have taken any character they offered me. It just felt like such a milestone for me.

Most actors have a love-hate relationship with auditions.

Paula: I really enjoy the self-tape auditions because all the other variables are taken out. The appointment time, rushing through traffic, sitting in a waiting room with a bunch of people that are dressed like you. You sometimes hear others auditioning in the other room and you’re making choices since they’re getting in your head. Self-taped auditions are so much more relaxing. I can review my work and say ok, I can do better. I think I’ve learned a lot from that process.

Roxy and Dani have an interesting relationship. There’s passion and conflict. What makes their relationship work?

Paula: They’re such good friends. There’s that bond with a friendship that develops over the years—you speak the same language and you’re on the same beat. I think that’s the situation with Dani and Roxy. I have friendships where we’ve gone for years without hanging out or even connecting but when we get together, it’s like we never missed a beat. We’re right back where we put a pause on it. I think ultimately, Roxy cares so much about Dani, more than intimately. There’s that bond and the friendship matters so much to Roxy that they’re willing to put their feelings aside to help each other.

Behind every party girl, there’s usually some painful secret. Will we see more of Roxy’s backstory?

Paula: I’m hoping we will. I don’t know but I think it would be very cool if saw Roxy’s and Dani’s story a bit more, their history, and why their stories went their separate ways.

Do you have a favorite scene in The L Word this season?

Paula: Yes. It should be coming out very soon. Roxy does something really naughty and it causes Dani to have a really fun time. It’s a pretty hilarious scene. We don’t see that side of Dani very often but it will be a real treat for the fans.

Will you continue as Rian in Hacks?

Paula: I have no idea. Who knows what they’re getting into? In the second season, they were on a tour bus. I think it would be very cool if Rian can make some sort of amends or Ava can make amends so that the miscommunication of sleeping till one o’clock and kicking her out is smoothed out. Personally, it was a bit harsh but I love the scene. It was so well written. It was one of the episodes that I’d watched before auditioning for the show so I was already a huge fan. I would love to come back.

What can you tell us about Sugar? Can you describe your character, Charlie?

Paula: Charlie is smart and incredibly loyal. She has a history with Sugar played by Colin Farrell. She has Sugar’s back, helping him do some detective work and surveillance, sort of a technical expert. It takes place in L.A. as a genre-bending detective drama. It has a Hollywood aspect to it, a filmmaking family. I love stories that take place in L.A. I think Colin’s a brilliant actor and I feel lucky to work with him.

Will Charlie have a love interest?

Paula: I was pitching it. But, no, I don’t think so.

What have you learned about this business that surprised you?

Paula: How fast it goes. Which is why it’s so important to be prepared, to do your work. Because when you’re on set, there’s no time for anything. When I was in class, they’d say you don’t have to worry, we’ll fix this or that. But on set, there’s no time, you have to be on top of it. Everyone’s a professional, they have a job to do and they all want to go home at a decent hour.

Any advice for young actors just starting out?

Paula: Study. Put in the work. And really understand your characters and the scene. The partying and fame can wait if you’re really serious about your career. There are a lot of people trying to get in so it’s really competitive. For me, it was being one hundred percent committed.

What were you like in high school? The girl most likely to…?

Paula: Mmm. Most likely to be drawing in class when I’m supposed to be paying attention to the teacher (laughs). I went to art school as a visual arts major and I minored in drama. I auditioned for the theater program but I didn’t get in.