JESSICA CAMACHO: GRIT, GRACE, AND GUNFIRE

BY IRVIN RIVERA

PHOTOGRPAHER: IRVIN RIVERA, FASHION STYLING: ANDREW PHILIP NGUYEN, PRODUCER: PHIL LIMPRASERTWONG, MAKE-UP: VIVIAN MAXWELL, HAIR: ARLEEN CHAVEZ, PHOTO ASST: ANDREW LOPEZ, STYLING ASST: JOSEPH ADIVARI

Jessica Camacho, a live wire with a steel core, explodes onto the page in a rush of Chicago rain, salsa beats, and unshakable grit. In Countdown (created by Derek Haas), she anchors the series as DEA agent Amber Oliveras opposite Jensen Ackles and Eric Dane, bringing a veteran’s physicality and a neighborhood-honed authenticity to a show that threads big-city stakes with intimate character work. Camacho’s story isn’t the usual origin myth; it’s the sound of discipline meeting devotion: afternoons of choreography and vocal drills turned into a toolset for emotion and motion, family stories braided into a moral spine. “I’m deeply proud of my culture, my roots… it’s an honor to know that my presence onscreen allows more people to feel seen,” she tells us, and you can hear how that pride translates into the kind of quiet courage that reads on camera as both lived-in and incandescent.

On set, she learned to make toughness look effortless without flattening the interior life that makes choices human- lifting weights and stamina drills to own Amber’s 14 years on the job, and sitting across from veterans who modeled how to keep humor and humility in equal measure—the result: a character who can shoulder a rifle and a confession with the same steady hands. Camacho talks about building a life for Amber so her toughness is never just armor but a story of survival and longing, and about the small rituals: breathwork, a hot bath, ten minutes of journaling that let her return that truth to the lens. Read on for a portrait of an actor who learned resilience at her grandmother’s table and insists, gently and fiercely, that vulnerability is the work: “To me, that center of vulnerability within us all…that's where all the good stuff, the real stuff is.”

Growing up in Chicago as the daughter of Puerto Rican parents, you were surrounded by a vibrant mix of cultures and traditions. How did your family’s heritage and the energy of your hometown shape the authenticity you bring to every character you play?

I think the pride that my family had in our culture gave me a deep sense of confidence as a child…a sense that I came from a long lineage of people who faced incredible hardship and found a way to survive it.  I think I felt that resilience alive in me, and it pulled me to explore what I could make of my own life.  

Before TV, you spent hours perfecting choreography and voice. How did that early discipline in movement and story inform the physicality and emotional commitment you bring to roles today?

One thing I’ve learned from those lessons is that there is beauty in the nuance of my unique voice…in everyone’s unique voice…and the uniqueness of my own body, and the way it moves.  I learned to think of my body as an instrument, learning that how I treated it would dictate the quality of what came out, and that with the development of my confidence, I could learn to move past my comfort zone in ways that led to greater expression.  All of that trying, failing, and trying again taught me that there is no real or absolute failure if you keep at it, and to keep digging deeper to challenge myself to be vulnerable enough to get to the truth.  To me, that center of vulnerability within us all…that's where all the good stuff, the real stuff is.

Your first on-screen appearances ranged from Justified and Dexter to a cameo on Gossip Girl. How did navigating such different genres teach you to adapt your performance style and discover your unique voice on camera?

For me, acting involves understanding the circumstances that my character lives within, and connecting to those circumstances through exploring how their reality affects the way they think, feel, and move through their world.  Doing that work allows me to express from a foundation of truthfulness, which, for me, is necessary in any genre.   Once I have built that foundation, I can just adapt to the tone and pace of the projects through little stylistic shifts, but being grounded in the truth of my character is always key.

Landing recurring roles as Agent Sophie Foster in Sleepy Hollow and Emily Lopez in All Rise marked a new chapter. How did balancing the supernatural thrills of one show and the legal drama of the other expand your understanding of resilience and moral complexity in storytelling?

I love playing characters who are forced to dig into their soul reserves to find the grit to keep striving, to keep fighting for what they believe in.  Those roles certainly had that element.  I think moral questioning, ambiguity, dilemmas…those situations are all fascinating to explore.  

Stepping into Countdown as DEA Agent Amber Oliveras with fourteen years on the job was a leap into high-stakes undercover work. How did you prepare mentally and physically to embody a veteran agent who won’t back down?

Building endurance and strength was essential for the physical component, and I learned to love the discipline it required.  For me, it was about feeling strong, capable, and able to handle the physical aspects of Oliveras’ reality.  For the mental component, I dug into character research that informed me about how Oliveras takes up space and what propels her forward.  I was fortunate to get to interview several folks from different agencies within law enforcement to learn about their real, lived experiences, allowing me to connect on a deeper level.  

On the Countdown set, you worked alongside veterans like Jensen Ackles and Eric Dane, blending intense action choreography with moments of emotional vulnerability. What unexpected lessons emerged from collaborating with such seasoned co-stars, and how did they help you deepen Amber’s story?

Working alongside my entire cast taught me so much about how to show up every day prepared, fully present, with a sense of humor, and a whole lot of gratitude.  They are all fantastic at what they do, and the best kind of humans.  

Amber faces both personal and professional conflicts under extreme pressure. How did you balance showing her toughness with revealing the vulnerability that makes her choices feel human?

I did the work to understand her background, her fears, and her needs, which all informed me about why she was tough and in what ways, and what exactly all that toughness was trying to cover up.  Creating the circumstances that were her memories allowed me to connect with her through compassion, putting myself in her shoes mentally, physically, and emotionally.  

You’ve become a vocal advocate for Latinx representation and women of color in the entertainment industry. How do you use your platform to push for more inclusive storytelling while navigating the demands of a fast-moving career?

I’m deeply proud of my culture, my roots, my heritage, and it's an honor to know that my presence onscreen allows more people to feel seen and represented…it's a beautiful part of my work.

On social media, you’ve shared simple self-care rituals—mindful breathing, hot baths, and quick journaling sessions between scenes. How have these practices sustained your well-being during marathon shooting days?

Finding moments to connect with the present moment is crucial to my ability to regulate my nervous system and feel grounded. Doing some mindful breathing, taking ten minutes to meditate or journal, or going for a stroll and connecting with my gratitude and wonder…these are some of the practices that allow me to find more internal peace and clarity, which will enable me to show up with greater lightness, awareness, and expansiveness at work and every other part of my life.  It's all about taking care of ourselves with simple acts of love and devotion…that’s soul medicine. 

When you’re off set, you practice yoga, go for runs, lift weights, etc. How do these rituals feed back into your work as an actor and help you maintain balance in a demanding Industry?

I do engage in habits and rituals that keep me grounded, spiritually, mentally, and physically.  My mornings typically start with coffee (one of my favorite things in this world), some journaling & reading, then meditation.  If I have less time some mornings, I just aim for 5 minutes or whatever I can give, to just connect with myself.   Giving myself that sacred time to reflect, express, connect, and create deeper awareness is key for allowing me to show up in my life with peace and genuine presence.  After that, I’ll grab a quick snack and go move my body in the way that feels right…yoga, running, weight training, pilates, a walk with my pup…a little wild, solo dancing.  Haha.  Honestly, it all allows me to connect deeper with my body and with gratitude for how it allows me to explore my life.   It's all a part of grounding and coming back home to myself.  All of these actions are a way to give myself love, and love gives me the confidence to show up in all the ways I get to.      

Looking back on your journey from neighborhood stages in Chicago to leading roles on global streaming platforms, what core lesson from your upbringing still guides you through both setbacks and triumphs?

Learning about how my grandparents struggled to get out of the extreme poverty of their youth, and faced systemic racism as they fought to build a life on their terms, really taught me to develop an inner resilience; an insistence upon knowing the value of following your own dream, no matter what anyone else told you about it being impossible.  Also, my dad once told me I could do anything in this world that I wanted to do, but I had to choose what that thing would be…I suppose I took that to heart, and it still reminds me to show up for the life that I’ve chosen with humility and dedication.  From my Mo,m I learned, if you don’t see a way, make a way.  She’s the most resourceful, determined person I know, and I learn so much from her about life and love every day.  

As you look beyond Countdown, what kinds of stories or characters are you most eager to explore next, and how do you hope they will challenge you and inspire audiences?

I’m just staying open to exploring what comes.  Not knowing what adventure will come next is a pretty thrilling part of my life.  My passion is finding truth in whatever role I inhabit, so that someone, somewhere can relate to some part of them in a deeply human way, and maybe, hopefully, feel a little less alone in the world.  

Lastly, if you were a book, what book would you be and why? 

The Long and Windy Road Back Home

(A story of mistakes made, lessons learned, and a whole lotta love)