ALLEGRA ACOSTA [MARVEL'S RUNAWAYS]

Tell us about your story. Who is Allegra as a daughter, as a sister and as a person?

Allegra as a daughter is just everywhere and everything all at the same time. Growing up my parents taught me that no one was ever going to hand me anything, so I had to work harder than everyone else did and I am very thankful for that. I am a generally a curious person, so I constantly ask questions. I am very empathetic so I really enjoy just being in the moment with my friends and family. Also, I can never say no to the movies, pizza and ice cream, where I contemplate whether a pint is too much to eat in a day. Allegra as a sister is very supportive, protective, and I’ll definitely fight for my sister. Basically, I’m just her number one fan and sometimes I think she finds it annoying, but it's because I'm proud of her.

When and how did acting start for you?

It all started about when I was four years old and my parents introduced me to the movie Annie and the show Sesame Street. That television show and movie completely changed my perspective in life and it ignited my soul I guess, to become a performer. I was so adamant to become an actress and a singer that I would practice in my living room and put on my performances to my family, just to see their reactions. Then when I was about nine years old, I was part of a showcase and that’s when I met my manager. She told me that she was interested in both my sister and I and she said that when we are ready to move out to LA to give her a call. My parents really sacrificed everything and made a life changing decision to move out here and we have been here ever since: going to auditions and all that fun stuff.

STYLING: JESSIE JAMZ, MAKEUP: LEIBI CARIAS @CELESTINE AGENCY, HAIR: HILDA FLORES, PHOTO ASSISTANT: PHIL LIMRASERTWONG

Name one memorable audition/casting experience.

So far the most memorable audition experience I’ve ever had was Marvel's Runaways. Going into the audition process felt very smooth, as if it was meant to happen. I remember being so happy that after one audition I went straight to testing, which was insane. It had never happened to me before, so in a way I knew that this was going in a good direction. It also made it even more exciting to know that it was attached to Hulu and Marvel. I remember before I went to the camera test I was a little nervous and I didn’t know what to do, so my mom suggested to put on a Deepak Chopra meditation and I just meditated for five minutes in the car. Finally when I went in, I was just so calm and ready that I had a blast! I ended up booking it!

Let’s talk about your character Molly Hernandez from Marvel’s Runaways. Do you relate to her character in any way? If so, how?

I definitely relate a lot to Molly. Her persona kind of embodies who I am. We are both optimistic, quirky, intelligent, observant, unapologetically ourselves and we will stand up for the better cause. Going into this audition I wanted to make Molly as genuine as possible and I wanted to put a lot of myself in her.

How did you feel when you learned that you booked the role?

I felt over the moon when I learned that I booked this role. I was in the car in Texas going to the hotel for my uncle’s wedding when I got the call from my manager and agent, we literally stopped the car immediately. My mom and my aunt were in the car and we were all crying and screaming. We were so excited because I was going to play a superhero. It was and still is very surreal.

What do you think you represent as a young Latina actress in Hollywood?

I think what I represent as a young Latina actress in Hollywood is a voice of a younger generation that has been stereotyped and at many times shut down. I want to have a valid message when I am doing interviews or on posting on social media to show to not just kids, but the community in general that we are strong, intelligent, and welcoming. I am also very grateful for all the other Latina actors that have paved the way for girls like me to be in this industry, getting the representation that we deserve.

What else keeps you busy whenever you are on break from acting?

What keeps me busy when I’m on break from acting is playing the piano, singing, going to the gym with my mom, going to dance classes at my studio, hanging out with friends, and going to the movies almost weekly.

What is your dream project?

Well a superhero movie with Marvel of course!! Another one of my dream projects would have to be a movie working with incredible directors, such as Patty Jenkins, Steven Spielberg, and Guillermo del Toro. I love to create art and I love when cinematography is so vivid and bold where it makes you feel so utterly amazed at the beautiful aesthetic of the world of the movie. Also it would be amazing to work with Jennifer Lawrence, Leonardo DiCaprio, Penelope Cruz, Gina Rodriguez, Daniel Kayla, and the list goes on. Another one of my dream projects that I fantasize over, is for Angelina Jolie and I to be in a fierce action movie together, where we take over the world.

How do you balance your time?

I don’t, LOL. I write and try to follow a schedule, which can be a little crazy sometimes. I mean, I’m still learning how to balance my time but most of the time, I am just running around trying to get everything done and be everywhere at the same time.

Top 3 Music in your playlist right now

My top 3 music in my playlist right now are definitely "Young Dumb & Broke" by Khalid, Cardi B's "Bartier Cardi" and "Never Be The Same" by Camila Cabello. But I also love Rhianna, Sia, Kendrick Lamar, Lorde, Dua Lipa and Logic. Honestly I love and look up to so many artists that the list still goes on.

If you’re going to have a book, what will your book title be?

Business Woman From Age 0

If you had the chance to support any charity/organization/person, what/who would it be and why?

I want to be an advocate for gender and race equality, I want to make young girls and boys feel worthy, and in hopes of some day becoming a philanthropist. Girls Inc. is one of the many organizations that I really like and I would want to support. Girls Inc. equips girls with the skills to navigate through economic, gender, and social barriers and to grow up as independent individuals. I would also love to support organizations that protect elephants, they are one of my favorite animals and it just brings me to tears that they are just being killed for nothing.

Catch Allegra as Molly Hayes on The Runaways when it returns for it's second season on Hulu!