Check out our interview with actress Valeria Jauregui who stars as Maggie Hollister, Sheriff Bill Hollister’s daughter, on the FOX drama Deputy.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is one of the largest police forces in the world. When the elected sheriff dies, an arcane rule in the county charter, forged back in the Wild West, suddenly thrusts the most unlikely man into the job. Bill Hollister is played by Stephen Dorff.
Follow Valeria at @valeria_jauregui
Hi Valeria, please tell us a little about you?
Hello! I am 16 years old. I am from San Antonio TX. I am an actress, and I play Maggie Hollister on FOX’s Deputy!
Describe yourself in 3 words?
Creative. Introspective. Loner. (also a complete dork)
Who is your role model?
There are so many people I look up to that inspire me—everyone in my family. Yara Martinez, who plays my mom on Deputy, is amazing and one of my role models. Audrey Hepburn, Coco Chanel, Natalie Portman, Shakira, and so many more.
How did you get started in acting?
It was singing that inspired me to get into acting. I was always very expressive when singing or performing, and that inspired me to get into musical theater. I also fell in love with the movie Annie and would watch that every day, and I got to play Annie at one of our local theaters and to get to act in that was the best feeling. I kept craving it as the years went by and eventually just said this is what I want to do for the rest of my life. I was also that one kid that probably let go of her Barbies way too late. I just loved pretending and using it as a form of expression.
How has this changed your life?
Well, I’ve had to be homeschooled. Graduating a year early to be able to work more so it’s forced me to work harder with school. Also, traveling, my mom and I considered ourselves nomads for about four years because we drove so much—so much sacrifice. I’m not doing anything a usual girl my age is supposed to do, I’ve had to give up all of those fun teen things for hard work. “I can’t I’m not in town/have an audition/have work” has become something I’ve gotten used to saying. Not seeing my family for long periods because I was out of town taking classes. It’s changed my life in every way, but I wouldn’t change a thing. I love my job and my life.
What is the best and worst part of being an actress?
The best part is it’s always forcing you to learn. There’s not a moment I’m bored in my life. If I’m waiting in line, the typical person will be frustrated because of the wait. An actor observes! And it’s funny because in hard situations the thought “how can this help give a character more depth” goes through my mind. The worst part is always knowing everything super last minute, and auditions kind of suck sometimes.
Tell us about your work in the FOX drama “Deputy?”
I play Maggie Hollister, Sheriff Bill Hollister and Paula Reyes 14-year-old spunky daughter.
And about your role as Maggie Hollister?
We like to joke around on set about how she’s the most understanding fourteen-year-old there ever was. Playing her is challenging in a sense where I have to keep in mind that still, she is way younger than me, and being 14, you think you know everything when you don’t. Although in all of the scenes, she proves mature, so when I think I can make her young and naive, she surprises me, and I end up learning a lot from her. She loves her family more than any other fourteen-year-old, I think, and the validation for that I feel comes from the way our family is portrayed in the show and how we talk everything out as a family. But I enjoy scenes where I get to be sarcastic towards my parents because in that sense she’s very much like me.
What other projects have you been part of?
I’ve done many short films and independent films here and there. One of my favorites was one I did two years ago called Start With a Song and that shot in Austin. I got to play a musical Latina girl whose parents get taken by ICE. I also got to play Caitlin Stasey’s younger self on a film called ‘Kindred Spirits’, which was super cool because I booked that shortly after finishing “Reign,” and Caitlin played my favorite character on that, so getting to work with her was terrific. I worked on a few shows with ABC Mouse and did voice over and dubbing in Spanish. I was also on ‘La Voz Kids’ when I was 12.
What is the most rewarding part of your work?
The friends you make. The creative people you meet. Character research then being in front of the camera. Booking a character after a series of hard auditions is also a nice feeling.
What kind of roles do you like or would you like to play and why?
I would love to play an edgy misunderstood character with lots of interesting layers.
I would also love to work in something where my character speaks Spanish because Spanish is my first language. Or a strong female character in some cool universe that stretches the imagination (like Harry Potter, Star Wars, Lord Of The Rings, Game Of Thrones, Indiana Jones, Narnia etc.)!
What is your favorite healthy food?
Cabbage with olive oil, lime, salt and pepper, and avocado.
And your favorite cheat food?
Artisan chips. Or Lays with Valentina sauce, Maggi sauce, and lime. Or chocolate… as I’m typing this my mouth is watering, and I keep thinking of more unhealthy stuff.
How would you explain your fashion style?
I love the hippy aesthetic that’s a relaxed comfortable look. On other days, I love being edgier with a darker outfit but keeping the same concept in mind. It has to be comfortable.
How would your best friend describe you?
Direct quote: “Probably the most talented, caring, kind, down to earth person I know, and hecka funny.”
What’s next for Valeria Jauregui in 2020?
Hoping for a season two of Deputy, fingers crossed! Other than that, I am auditioning and working on some music that I hope to release soon.
What is your own definition of happiness?
Happiness is knowing how to love yourself and finding joy in the little things in life.
How is a normal day in your life?
Wake up, read, breakfast, make and drink my matcha, do what I have to do that day, go to the gym, eat dinner and unplug, make tea, read, meditate, and sleep.
What is your idea of a perfect Sunday?
Sleep. All. Day. Maybe wake up to eat something, then go back to sleep.
If you could meet someone living or dead, who would it be and why?
Wow, this is a hard question. Actually, can I pull someone from the dead and bring someone alive? Because I would love to host a dinner where Lin Manuel Miranda and Alexander Hamilton meet. I would force Lin to perform all of “Hamilton” in front of Alex while I sob in joy.
Best advice ever given?
The most important thing is not to be afraid, self-conscious, or embarrassed when acting “making mistakes is the best thing you can do” I also always thought “you can do anything you set your mind to” was super cheesy. I now apply that advice every day.
Do you support any charity?
– The Black Santa Company is super close to my heart
– Cure JM Foundation: Juvenile Myositis My nine-year-old cousin Diego (who loves to act as well) was diagnosed with JM three years ago, and the awareness for this rare disease is minimal, which is why I like to support any JM awareness foundation
– The Bail Project
– ”the power of diversity”
Name 3 things you can’t live without?
Music. Friends (the tv show not actual friends). And Chapstick
Where do you see yourself and your career in 5 years from now?
I have no idea, and that’s what makes life so fun; you never know what’s going to come. I have goals set, though. I hope to be in front of the camera on some cool projects. I want to be heavily involved in music, probably release some albums. Maybe I’ll go to New York and try Broadway auditions too! That’s always been a dream of mine. All I know is five years from now I’ll still be working hard to do what I love.
Favorite song? Why?
My favorite song changes every day, depending on my mood. Right now, Pink Floyd’s “Comfortably Numb” has been on repeat all day because I went hiking in this amazing canyon, and I listened to it while the breeze was perfect, and the sky looked amazing, so it brings back a nice feeling.
What music do you like?
I have two older brothers who have fantastic taste in music, so I grew up listening to classic rock, and that’s what hits home for me. But I also love indie alternative music and Broadway playlists too!
What do you think of social media?
I think it’s a great place to connect with people and promote your work, and it’s also great to have a good laugh if you follow good meme accounts. But I also think it disconnects us from reality. I find boredom now leads to procrastination instead of creativity, so be careful with how much you’re on it. I worked on changing that, and now I’m barely ever on my phone, and I feel better, more present and aware every day.
Where we can follow you?
Go follow me on Instagram @valeria_jauregui 🙂
Photo Credit: Paul Gregory
