Actor JJ Soria is demanding of himself. So it is no surprise this tireless scene stealer is drawn to character-driven roles that challenge him. This year alone, Soria is cast in four exciting new films, a list which includes “Mission Park”, “Every Heroes Dream”, and “Ten Cent Pistol”. As impressive as this list may be, it’s Soria’s co-starring role in the street drama “Filly Brown” - opposite budding superstar Gina Rodriguez - that has Hollywood buzzing with anticipation.

No stranger to the small screen, Soria has additionally guest starred on several hit TV series: “CSI: Miami”, “The Closer”, “Bones”, “Southland” and “The Shield” are all heavy highlights on Soria’s weighty reel. He sat down with DOPE Magazine to discuss Latino’s making moves in Hollywood, shaking hands with Edward James Olmos, and why he wants to work with Meryl Streep.

Read an Excerpt from the Full Length Interview

(Tone Swep: TS) You are perhaps best known for playing Private First Class Hector Cruz on the Lifetime original series “Army Wives”. What are the most glaring similarities, and differences, between you and the character you portray?

(JJ Soria: JJ) (Laughs!)… I’ll be straight up, man. He has a bad temper. I have a bad temper. The same way he always tries to do his best, so do I. My job as an actor is to make the character work, make him come to life. So I make myself that person. I become that person. So, in many ways, I am Hector Cruz. But, I would say we also differ in many ways. For instance, his predicament on the show right now is very different from a predicament I would let myself get into. But I don’t want to give too much away with the show being on air right now, so that is one big difference. And then some of his views are immature at times. Hector can be borderline ignorant, so we differ in that way too. And we’ve all been there, you know. Another way in which I differ from Hector is that he is too quick to react. He doesn’t think things through. And I think things through more. I weigh my options before I just react.

(TS) How was it working alongside a legend in Edward James Olmos? He give you any career advice or acting tips?

(JJ) What he did is… he gave me a compliment that I hold onto to this today. I wanted to meet him. So I went up to him and shook his hand. He held onto my hand and said “You’re the real deal”. That was a small statement that meant a lot to me, especially coming from him.

(TS) If you could co-star alongside any A-list leading lady, who would she be and why?

(JJ) Right now?!?! (Laughs!)… There are so many great actresses. Let me get into this question and really give it some thought (Laughs!)…. I would say Meryl Streep, her ability to play diverse characters. And the characters she plays aren’t really characters at all, but people. You watch the films with her in them, and you feel you’re watching real life people. Not a movie. I want people to feel for that person I play. I make that shit believable. Some people come up to me and they’re like, “I didn’t like you” when I play the antagonist because I make the person become real. Make viewers hate the bad guy. Actresses like Meryl Streep get emotionally invested. So it would give me a lot to play off of.

(TS) Are there more opportunities now for Latino actors, directors and writers in Hollywood today?

(JJ) I believe it’s coming around. We keep chipping away at it. And we’re showing that we have more to offer than playing the gardener, the maid, and the general stereotypical roles. But they are stereotypes for a reason, because that is what you commonly see in everyday life. But Latinos are doctors, we are lawyers, we are executives. So this has become more and more common to see as well. Hollywood is taking notice.

Follow JJ Soria on Twitter

Watch JJ Soria on the Lifetime Series “Army Wives”

Catch “Filly Brown” in Theatres this April

 

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