EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Get Ready for the Heat: Until You Burn Starring Maria Elisa Camargo Hits Netflix March 19!"

Conducted by Guillaume Jean Lefebvre

1. For those discovering you for the first time, can you introduce yourself and share a bit about your journey in the entertainment industry?

I was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador, to Colombian parents, and for as long as I can remember, I’ve loved acting. As a kid, I would create theater plays at home, performing for my parents and their friends in exchange for sweets. I admired actors deeply, but I never actually imagined I could become one.

That changed when I moved to Bogotá, Colombia, to study economics in college. On a whim, I applied for X Factor Colombia and made it onto the show. I didn’t win, but that short-lived reality fame gave me the opportunity to knock on doors in the entertainment industry. Soon, I started acting in telenovelas, which eventually took me to Mexico, where my career really took off. After five years with Televisa and a couple more in Miami working with Telemundo, I realized I was craving a bigger challenge.

That’s when I took a leap and moved to Los Angeles. The competition here is on another level, but stepping out of my comfort zone has been the most rewarding part of the journey. I’m constantly pushing myself to take on stronger, more complex roles, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

2. Your new series, Until You Burn, is premiering on Netflix soon. Can you tell us about your role and what attracted you to this project?

Yes! I’m very excited that Until You Burn is premiering globally on Netflix on March 19th for non-Hispanic countries. It’s already airing in Latin America, and the response has been incredible!

What drew me to this role is how layered and real she is. She’s not your typical over-the-top villain or flawless star—she exists in that gray area, full of contradictions. She has a deep love for her community but struggles with a broken family dynamic. She’s insecure, constantly masking her vulnerability, and when a traumatic event shakes her world (no spoilers!), all of her weaknesses are exposed. This leads her into a toxic dynamic with someone new in her life, and from there, things spiral in ways she never expected.

I love being part of intense thrillers, but what made this even more exciting was the challenge of keeping the performance subtle—holding back instead of going big. There’s also so much sensuality, dance, and music woven into the story, which makes it even more immersive. And shooting in the Colombian Caribbean? Absolute heaven!

First discovered on X Factor Colombia, Maria Elisa Camargo has become a powerhouse on both the small and big screen. After captivating audiences in Televisa and Telemundo telenovelas, she is now making her mark in Hollywood. From her standout role in Until You Burn on Netflix to starring alongside Josh Duhamel and Greg Kinnear in Off the Grid, and even venturing into the gaming world with Call of Duty, the Ecuadorian actress continues to push boundaries.

INTERVIEW

3. You’ve had an impressive career spanning music, television, and now Hollywood films. How do you navigate these different industries?

Thank you for the kind words! I’m incredibly grateful for this crazy, wild ride. What excites me the most is exactly that—being able to explore different creative worlds, expand my toolkit, and grow as an artist in multiple directions.

Music has always been a huge passion of mine, even though I don’t have the technical training to fully pursue it. But life has given me the chance to play musical characters, which has been an amazing way to blend my love for storytelling and music. Television was my first home, then came film, and now I can finally say I’ve started a true crossover process—with my first Hollywood movie and even stepping into the gaming world!

Right now, I’m playing a villain in the massive Call of Duty franchise, which has been a completely different kind of acting challenge. Motion capture requires a green suit, an empty room, and a whole lot of imagination—it’s like going back to childhood, where you have to create everything in your mind alongside your fellow actors.

I feel incredibly lucky to have visited so many different creative universes in my career, and I take each one seriously—approaching them with discipline and respect. Honestly, I’m a total nerd when it comes to learning new skills, and I love diving deep into whatever world I’m stepping into next.

4. What was it like working alongside Josh Duhamel and Greg Kinnear in Off the Grid?

Absolutely surreal and joyful. Working with Josh Duhamel and Greg Kinnear was one of the happiest experiences of my life. These guys showed me what being a true star is really about—not through ego, but through humanity and generosity.

I was incredibly intimidated at first (I even told Greg that what I was feeling was probably what he felt in As Good as It Gets acting alongside Jack Nicholson in only his second film!). But from day one, I found myself in an atmosphere of deep respect, kindness, and fun. I couldn’t believe how down-to-earth they both were.

On set, I was like a sponge, absorbing every bit of their wisdom and talent. And off set, we had the most incredible conversations—the openness was just insane. It was an experience I’ll always treasure.

5. This marks your English-language debut in film. How was the experience of acting in a different language, and did you face any challenges?

Oh, this experience came with so many challenges! I’ve lived in the U.S. long enough to speak English fluently, and I’ve even invested in dialect coaching to perfect an American accent so I can compete for second-generation Latina roles. But what I wasn’t prepared for was the completely different movie slang on set! The terminology in Hollywood is nothing like what we use in Latin America—I swear I only understood half of it at first. Even the call sheets were full of abbreviations I had never seen before. It was like learning a whole new dialect.

And then there was the wildest part—originally, the movie was supposed to be shot in Italy, then Spain (which is why they cast me), but the actors’ strike threw everything off. By the time production resumed, they had relocated to the U.S., and suddenly, the off-the-grid town where Josh’s character hides (no spoilers!) became Mississippi.

That’s when director Johnny Martin—one of the best human beings I’ve ever worked with—told me I wouldn’t fit the setting anymore unless I could pull off a Southern accent. So, I took classes for a couple of months, using my musical ear to master that twang. I was super stressed about it, and just as I was about to shoot my first scene, Johnny suddenly said, “You know what? We want you Latina. It’s cooler, we can justify it.”

I had seconds to switch back to my natural Colombian accent! I was relieved, but that kind of last-minute shift is a huge challenge for any actor. It was definitely an unforgettable experience.

6. You are one of the Latinas with the greatest international projection today. How do you feel about representing Latin talent on a global stage?

I think you just summarized my purpose in this question. I feel ready.
I’ve been preparing for this moment for so long—almost 20 years of passion and commitment to this craft. My focus has always been on professional growth, making choices that serve my art rather than my ego or my wallet. It’s been a journey of sacrifices—loneliness, starting from zero, moving across countries, facing rejection, and having countless doors slammed in my face before finally achieving success.

I know this is a huge responsibility, but I want to be part of that Latino army so badly! It’s about time we dominated the film industry the way we’ve taken over the music world. We need our equivalent to Bad Bunny and J Balvin in Hollywood. I truly believe we’re on the verge of something big, and it’s exciting.

I’ve trained and worked tirelessly to be able to step onto the global stage and represent Latinos around the world. This is the road I chose—no matter the cost—and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

7. You now have an official character in Call of Duty, one of the world’s most legendary video game franchises. How did that collaboration come about?

It was actually a huge coincidence! I have a voice-over agency that occasionally sends me video game auditions, but Call of Duty wasn’t one of them. What happened was that my agent’s husband—who happens to be one of the game’s writers—randomly overheard my voice while she was reviewing other audition tapes. He immediately asked, “Who is that?” That led him to check out my profile and inquire about me.

Initially, I wasn’t even considered for the role because they were looking for local talent, and at the time, I was traveling outside the U.S. for work. But they decided to see me anyway—and I ended up booking it!

Valeria is essentially a version of La Reina del Sur, so I already had the Mexican accent and slang down from five years of playing Mexican characters. But here’s the craziest part: they didn’t disclose that it was for Call of Duty at first! Everything was under a code name, and I only found out after I was confirmed. It was a huge surprise.

The audition process was all online—one from a tiny Airbnb in Mexico City, and the callback from L.A. It was such an unexpected and exciting journey, and I’m beyond grateful to be part of such a legendary franchise.

8. What has been the most challenging role of your career so far, and why?

It’s hard to pinpoint just one role because different challenges come with different characters. For example, playing Mónica in En Otra Piel (Part of Me—you can still watch it on Peacock!) was insane because I had to embody the soul of a character trapped in the wrong body. There was no real way to research something like that—I had to completely create the character from scratch alongside the directors, which really pushed me out of my comfort zone.

Then there was the biographical series about Patricia Teherán, the legendary Colombian vallenato singer. That role was a whole other level of intense. I spent 14 months not only acting but also learning all of her songs and performing them live on set. Every day was a mix of scene rehearsals and band rehearsals—it was exhausting but also one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.

Both roles challenged me in completely different ways, but that’s exactly what I love about this career—there’s always something new to push me beyond my limits.

9. Do you have any dream roles or genres you would love to explore in the future?

First of all, one thing I painfully miss is theater. My acting education as a kid in Guayaquil was rooted in theater, but I’ve never actually had the chance to do a play. I’ve been following my momentum in TV and film, constantly traveling, but at this point, I need that experience of performing in front of a live audience. It feels like an essential tool I haven’t fully explored yet.

I’d also love to dive into comedy more. It’s a big part of my personality, but Latino projects tend to lean heavily into drama. I feel like I haven’t had enough opportunities to tap into that side of my craft.

And then there’s horror—something I haven’t touched yet but find so intriguing. I love disturbing shows, so maybe it’s time to step into that world as an actor. I wouldn’t mind freaking people out for a change!

10. What’s next for you after Off the Grid? Any upcoming projects you can share?

There’s so much that hasn’t even seen the light yet! First, I have a Dominican comedy called Infatuation that we actually shot during the pandemic (yes, back in 2020!), and it’s finally coming to Disney+ later this year. Then, there’s Season 2 of Champeta, el Ritmo de la Tierra, also on Disney+, where I play the villain—and for the first time, I get to have CGI superpowers, which was such a fun challenge.
I also have a recurring role in the Vix series Memorias de un Sinvergüenza, which is coming soon.
And… well, let’s just say Valeria isn’t dead. I can’t share much more yet, but I’m definitely excited about what’s ahead.

Honestly, I feel incredibly grateful for this moment in my career, and I can’t wait for what’s next. Thank you so much for your support and kind words about my work!

11. If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be?

I’d tell my younger self to reconcile with failure—to see closed doors not as setbacks but as the currency you pay to make your dreams come true. The bigger the dream, the more rejection you’ll have to face. If you make peace with that, everything will flow so much easier. You’ll move through life with more grace, and you’ll learn to tame your ego.
Listen to your parents more—there’s so much wisdom at home. Don’t waste time comparing yourself to others; your only goal should be to become a better version of yourself every day. Stay spiritual, stay kind—what goes around always comes around, and there’s no such thing as a small enemy.

And smile more. You never know how much it can change someone’s day. Your energy is strong, so be mindful of how you carry it—especially when you’re having a bad day. Be aware, be grateful, and never forget how privileged you are in so many ways.