IN CONVERSATION WITH JESSICA CAMACHO
interview by JANA LETONJA
Jessica Camacho is the female lead in Amazon Prime’s highy anticipated crime drama ‘Countdown’, which is premiering on 25th June. She is known for her roles in ‘All Rise’, ‘The Flash’, ‘Watchmen’, ‘Another Life’, ‘Taken’, ’Sleepy Hollow’, ‘S.W.A.T.’, and ‘Bosch Legacy’ amongst others.
We’ll soon be seeing you in Amazon Prime’s highly anticipated series ‘Countdown’. What can you tell us about your character, Amber Oliveras?
Oliveras is her own person. She likes to be beholden to no one but herself, and to call her own shots. She’s comfortable in the shadows, where things are not so black and white, and where she can hide. She likes the adrenaline of living on the edge, and she lays her life on the line readily for who or what she believes in.
Amber is a 14-year DEA veteran who’s described as a total badass. How did you prepare, mentally and physically, to embody such a high-powered, high-stakes role?
I definitely made friends with the gym and tried to find my zen while running miles. I read books and watched documentaries about drug gangs, undercover agents, the DEA, and was lucky enough to get to interview several law enforcement officers with extensive experience. I picked their brains about what motivates a person to commit their life to the dangerous world of going undercover, where one misstep could cost you your life. I also learned from them just how difficult it can be to have some semblance of a normal life when you go toe-to-toe with the criminal world every day. It was all very fascinating to me, and connected me to a deep sense of inner strength and a drive to do the right thing that Oliveras would have at her core.
The series has been called adrenaline-charged and gritty. What was it like filming those intense, action-packed scenes?
Filming those scenes was a blast, and also terrifying. You’re just trying to keep all of the things together in your head, remember your lines, remember the right timing for your cue to duck, or run, or shoot, while your heart is beating like crazy and you’re just hoping the camera doesn’t see you looking terrified. It’s humbling, and hilarious, and ridiculous, and wildly fun.
Derek Haas is known for the One Chicago universe. What was it like working under his creative direction, and how does ‘Countdown’ stand out from other crime dramas?
Derek is not only knowledgeable, intelligent, and amazing at creating worlds, but he is also such a joy to be around. He’s always ready with a joke, or a high five, and was there right along with us on the early mornings and late nights. Before we started shooting the season, he shared with us that one of the most important things for him to remember on any project is that all the work we do is so we can give the gift of entertainment to the audience, the gift of being allowed a momentary escape from whatever might be going on in their lives. I couldn’t agree with him more.
Without spoilers, can you tease a moment from the show that viewers should keep an eye out for, something that really challenged or surprised you as an actor?
The scene in which we first meet Amber is the scene that made me want to do the part. I pictured how it would look in my head, and how it would feel to be in that unique circumstance, and I knew I had to be the one to bring this scene to life. I think it says a lot about the dangers she faces while doing the work that she does, and exactly what kind of courage and grit she’s made of.
How has your approach to acting evolved from your earlier roles in shows like ‘Sleepy Hollow’ and ‘S.W.A.T.’ to now helming a major series?
I think now I try to trust myself more. I trust that I’ve done the work to build and connect to the world of my character, to how it feels to exist in their skin. After I’ve prepared, I get to set and try to just let go of all the work and actually be present. For me, its an ever-evolving practice to trust myself enough to allow myself to surrender to the spontaneity of the moment. The more I make it my practice to work this way, the more liberated I feel in the work, which is how I always want to feel, free and aware. It’s totally challenging and often scary, and I love that wildly untethered feeling.
As a Latina leading a major crime drama series, what does representation mean to you in this moment?
That someone could see me on screen and feel seen in some way, feel represented, feel less alone in their experience. That is profoundly beautiful and meaningful to me. I’m deeply proud to be where I am, and grateful that my presence may encourage someone to never stop believing in the validity of their own dream.
What does it feel like to be a role model for both aspiring actors and young women looking to see themselves reflected in powerful roles?
I’ve been inspired by so many people throughout my life who have taught me so much. How to be resilient when I felt I had nothing left to give, or how to celebrate my uniqueness with confidence and gratitude, and not be ashamed of it. Or to believe I had a right to strive on behalf of the life I envisioned for myself, despite what society would have me believe were my limitations and reasons why it could, would, never work. So, if I can pass some of that truth and inspiration to anyone, then I’m just honored and humbled that I get to be a part of that process.
What keeps you grounded and inspired when you are not filming?
It has become a pivotal practice for me to cultivate peace in my life. Establishing a morning routine has been one of the biggest components of my shift away from chaos, so I do my best to make time and space for it as regularly as I’m able. I love waking up early, when the world around me is still and quiet, to have coffee, journal, meditate, read a little something, and get connected with myself in a deeper way. I also love getting out and being in nature, going on an adventure, finding a way to be of service, or finding balance between enjoying my introverted hermit tendencies and spending priceless time with my friends and family. I’ve finally learned that it’s not always about what you do, but how you do it, so I try to go with the flow and enjoy being where I am. Mine is an imperfect practice, but one that brings me a lot of discovery, purpose, and joy.
After ‘Countdown’, what is coming up next for you?
What’s coming up next for me is to keep enjoying the not knowing, so that I can be surprised at all the twists and turns. I’m having a pretty amazing time just being here now.
CREDITS
photography JEFF VESPA
