Christian Serratos on Selena’s Portrayal in New Netflix Series: ‘It Was So Surreal To Me’



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Ricardo Chavira, who will play Selena’s father Abraham, joins Serratos; Gabriel Chavarria like his brother AB; Noemi Gonzalez as his sister Suzette; Seidy Lopez as her mother Marcella; and Madison Taylor Baez as young Selena.

Billboard chatted with the lead actress, who spoke about the show, the challenges, Selena’s legacy and more. Read the questions and answers below.

Congratulations on being chosen as Selena in the next series. How did this great opportunity come about?

I heard about the project and was asked to record. I auditioned for a few months and sent in scenes and songs. It’s been a pretty long process, and I’m pretty glad it’s because I had the time to prepare. I basically acted like I had the role before I got it, and I hired a dialect coach and a vocal coach, a personal trainer… researching and preparing on my own so I wasn’t in. late by the time I got the news.

Representing the Queen of Tejano are great shoes to fill. How did you prepare for this role?

I watched all I could. Social media has been such a big help. Find as many rare sequences as possible. I grew up watching Selena’s performances, but wanted to take a deeper dive and really just be careful. I think what made her so famous was her mind and her heart. This is what I think created this legacy.

What do you think was the biggest challenge?

I think that’s what’s so exciting about the first season. Even though I was a huge Selena fan, there was still a lot to learn. I was really caught off guard. I thought I knew all of Selena’s songs, but then I got the catalog and a lot of songs that I had never heard before. I am delighted that new Selena fans are learning more about her and hearing most of these songs. There were definitely challenges, but you need a bit of it to make sure you work as hard as you can and be as diligent as you should.

During filming, did you have the chance to personally meet someone from the Quintanilla or Los Dinos family?

I had the opportunity to speak to Suzette recently and she was lovely, and I am very grateful to them for giving me the opportunity to represent their family member. It was all I wanted it to be.

What is your earliest memory of Selena Quintanilla?

Dance to “Baila Esta Cumbia” or “Techno Cumbia” and watch her shows! Seeing her presence on stage has always been so magical for me. You almost feel thrilled, and that’s a big part of what made her an icon because she was able to make all of her fans feel so connected with her. It was us. She felt like a sister, a friend, and I remember seeing that and thinking how cool she was.

How has Selena influenced your career in particular?

She created a path for herself when it was undoubtedly difficult for the Latinas. Being a woman in the industry is very difficult, but she has managed to be incredibly powerful, strong and resilient and [to] being a trailblazer while being incredibly lovable, and I always thought it was so beautiful.

What are your favorite Selena songs?

The songs that stood out for me throughout the shoot were actually the songs I learned during the shoot, like “Besitos”. I’ve always been a big fan of songs like “Si Una Vez”, “Que Creias?” We got to perform a lot of my favorite songs so it was definitely a dream come true.

Were there any specific scenes that made you emotional?

Many of them. Playing Selena was so surreal to me and it hit me close to home because I had so much respect for her. Most of the time, I found myself very moved and I had to hold back those emotions, especially when I was singing “No Me Queda Mas”. It seemed to have an effect on our crew, and it was so powerful for me.

What are your expectations with Selena: the series?

I really have no expectations. I want people to like it. To see how much work and attention we put into it. I want them to see the attention to detail, but I really want them to see Selena and get lost in the story and really have empathy for our characters. I think as actors, that’s all we really hope for.

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