IN CONVERSATION WITH SASHA CALLE

interview by JANA LETONJA

Sasha Calle is stepping into a powerful new chapter. With ‘The Rip’ streaming on Netflix, she joins a high-stakes ensemble led by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck in Joe Carnahan’s tense Miami-set crime thriller. After making an international impact as Supergirl in ‘The Flash’ and revealing a more intimate, character-driven side in ‘On Swift Horses’, she continues to build a career defined by range, presence, and emotional precision. As a queer, Latina actor navigating major studio films while staying grounded in character-first storytelling, Sasha represents a new generation of talent shaping Hollywood from the inside out.

‘The Rip’ places you in an intense, high-pressure ensemble. What drew you to this project and to your character specifically?

I was drawn in immediately by the team, Joe Carnahan’s vision, and what Matt and Ben are building with Artist Equity. It felt really special to be part of something like that.

Desi was entirely Joe’s creation. He wrote her as a resilient young woman navigating a difficult hand, watching everything and directly engaging with each character. That was a gift, especially with a cast like this.

button down SAINT LAURENT
blazer COMME DE GARCONS
drawstring trousers BALENCIAGA
buckle boot ROGER VIVIER

What did working opposite Matt Damon and Ben Affleck reinforce for you about your place in this industry and where you’re headed next?

Working beside them was a gift. They’re incredibly kind and gracious. Even at that level, they’re still pushing themselves creatively, thinking bigger, and being intentional about how the people around them are valued.

I really appreciated their encouragement to stay curious and to create. Being around that reminded me you can build something meaningful in this industry without compromising your values. I hope to work with them again.

How do you prepare emotionally and mentally for projects that operate at such a heightened level of tension?

Honestly, I try to keep it chill. I build a routine, move my body, spend time outside, breathe, make art that’s unrelated to the work, and spend a good amount of time understanding the material.

After ‘The Flash’ and ‘On Swift Horses’, ‘The Rip’ feels like another sharp turn in your trajectory. How do you think your choices are shaping your artistic identity?

I love that they’re seen as sharp turns. To me, they’re all strong, complex women responding to the world around them. I’m drawn to that. I’ve been fortunate to explore different emotional landscapes through these roles, and I want to keep building characters I’m challenged to understand and can truly connect to. I want to stretch. I want to live with a character for a while. I’m ready for the next sharp turn.

full look ALEXANDER MCQUEEN

What does “range” mean to you as an actor, and how do you actively pursue it?

I suppose range, to me, is about growth. I do believe growth brings joy. I love the idea of playing and keeping the work alive. I’m drawn to characters that feel unfamiliar, but still human enough to understand. I like being challenged, and it’s also about connecting with the right team that supports that exploration.

As a queer, Latina actor in Hollywood, how do your lived experiences inform the way you approach your roles?

For me, personal experience shapes the way I see a character. It’s perspective, and how you choose to draw from it depending on the role. And if I don’t immediately understand a character, I keep searching for that thread that connects us.

top HAIDER ACKERMAN
trousers COMME DE GARÇONS

What kind of stories do you hope to see more of for women like you on screen?

Complex, flawed, powerful women who are allowed to take up space. Those are the stories I’m drawn to telling and the ones I hope to see more of in cinema. I’d love to see more women at the forefront, shaping their own narratives and being supported in that.

Hollywood is shifting in how it tells stories and who gets to tell them. Where do you feel that change most strongly right now?

I think the shift is happening in who gets to shape the narrative. More artists are stepping into creating their own work and taking ownership of their stories. That feels important. It’s still evolving, but there’s a real awareness now that wasn’t there before.

pants TOM FORD
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Away from sets and premieres, what does a grounding or “normal” day look like for you right now?

A hot oat latte, time with my dog, cleaning and resetting my space, learning about things that spark my curiosity. Being with friends and family. That’s a good day for me.

When you think about the next chapter of your life, not just your career, what feels most important to nurture?

My relationships. Staying close to the people I love and protecting the parts of my life that feel real. That’s what matters most.

What helps you stay connected to joy and creativity when the pace of the industry becomes overwhelming?

Quiet. Finding presence and gratitude in everything, really. Moving my body. Creating art without it being observed, just for the joy and freedom of it. Being with the people I love, hugging them, spending real time together. The little things that are actually quite large.

TEAM CREDITS:

talent SASHA CALLE
photographer KAIO CESAR
stylist DANYUL BROWN at THE ONLY AGENCY
makeup SHELBY SMITH at HIGHLIGHT ARTISTS
hair CHERILYN RACHELLE at HIGHLIGHT ARTISTS
nails MEL SHENGARIS at FORWARD ARTISTS
photography assistant RANDAL RUIZ
styling assistant JORDAN SHAFFER
editor TIMI LETONJA
editorial director & interview JANA LETONJA
Cover design ARTHUR ROELOFFZEN