Isabella Gomez

interview by VANESSA SALLES photo via INSTAGRAM

TWO SEASONS IN, NETFLIX’S ONE DAY AT A Time has a found a home in the hearts of an insatiable fan base. After learning that the series could potentially wrap after just 26 episodes, fans took to Twitter to flood their timelines with the hashtag #RenewODAAT and demand action. Fortunately, Netflix obliged with an order for a third season, which can be expected to arrive in 2019. If you’re familiar with the show, you’re familiar with Isabella Gomez. The 20-year-old Latinx actress stars as Elena Alvarez, a breakout role that’s proven that the Colombian starlet is one to watch.

“I’m playing one of my dream roles right now,” Isabella gushes. “Elena is layered, cultured, and passionate. I get to do both comedy and drama and portray a character that genuinely means something to people. Plus, I get to work with a cast full of geniuses. What else could you ask for?” Gomez’s portrayal of Elena and her journey of self-awareness/acceptance is one that resonates with many, particularly the LGBTQ community. “It means everything to me to take on the responsibility of representing the LGBTQ community on our show,” Isabella shares. “As an artist, getting to play a role that truly connects with people is an absolute dream. The LGBTQ community has embraced me and the show in a way that I never expected; they feel like a family and it’s an honor to me to be a vessel for some positive and accurate representation.”

The show’s commitment to authenticity plays a big factor in the way the audience has received it. “I think a lot of the fan love comes from them genuinely seeing themselves in these characters,” Isabella says. “We don’t just make the LGBTQ stories up; they come from queer writers, our queer friends and family and so on. We want to make sure that it all it feels authentic and that we get input from people that have had these real life experiences.”

Of course, sexuality isn’t the only topic that the series tackles. “We like to address the taboo subjects that are often disregarded; you’ll see us touch on important issues like immigration, politics, depression, PTSD, religion and so much more,” Gomez adds. “From ODAAT, you can expect to see a family that’s probably much like yours; we’re all just living and learning together.” With the third season now in production, the family-like vibe on set is as real as it is on-screen. “I know that everyone always says their TV-family feels like their own but it’s honestly the best way to describe our set,” Isabella shares. “We are a family. Stage 25 feels like home to all of us and we’re always so excited and happy to be there.”

Having a space where she feels heard and appreciated, Gomez takes the opportunities to pitch the storylines she’d like to see for her character. “After season one, I actually went to the writers and asked if there was a way for me to have more scenes with Todd Grinnell,” she laughs. “I think he’s a genius and Schneider is my favorite character! I’d love to continue exploring their friendship in the new season. I’m also hoping to see more of Elena’s school life – I want to see her being more involved with the debate team!”

As for what she’s usually up to off-set, the actress likes to spend her time making connections. For those who follow her on social media, there’s no denying the open relationship she has with her supporters. “I know how privileged I am to have this platform and to have a following that is very open minded and wanting to make a change,” she says. “I try to connect with people and have conversations as much as possible. It’s funny, usually it’s the person with the bigger following that’s doing the ‘influencing,’ but I learn so much from the people that support me. It’s made me more educated and better able to have meaningful conversations online.”