Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Diary of a Future President’s Carmina Garay

Carmina Garay is an award-winning actress whose past credits include PEN15, Raising Hope, Layla, and Alexa & Katie. Next, she’ll be seen in Gina Rodriguez and Disney+’s Diary of a Future President, premiering on January 17, 2020. Pop Culturalist caught up with Carmina to chat about her starring role in Diary of a Future President.

Career

PC: How did you discover your passion for acting?
Carmina: I have actually been acting for as long as I can remember! I have grown up in an entertainment family, so acting has always been a part of my life, and I love doing it! I was actually three when I appeared in my first film and have been going strong ever since!

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Carmina: I would have to say my dad, Joaquin Garay III. I wouldn’t be an actress without him, and he really keeps me going and makes me want to strive to be better.

Diary of a Future President

PC: Tell us about Diary of a Future President, your character, and what drew you to this project.
Carmina: Diary of a Future President is such an amazing show! It follows Elena, a middle schooler, who goes through her life and eventually becomes the president of the United States. In the show, I play Elena’s bubbly best friend, Sasha. Sasha is so funny, stylish, and a great character to play. She may seem like the typical best friend sidekick, but she has so many more layers to her, which makes her that much more interesting. I was excited to try out for this part because it seemed like such a cool project to be a part of. I really liked the great storyline that was filled with strong women and a diverse cast as well!

PC: Diary of a Future President is one of your biggest television roles to date. How did you prepare? Were there any nerves?
Carmina: To be honest, there wasn’t much to prepare for! Once I really started to understand Sasha and got her personality, it was easy to slip into her character and her thought process. If anything, what I had to prepare the most for were all the lines I had to remember. I never had any nerves. I’ve kind of grown used to auditioning and working on different productions, but if I knew the show was going to be on Disney+, I might have been a little more nervous.

PC: What can you tease about Sasha’s arc this season?
Carmina: Oh, well, I can’t say too much, but I can say that Sasha has some fun adventures, shenanigans, and awesome accessories. You will really see how Sasha grows with her friendships and within herself.

PC: With the series coming out on January 17, 2020, what do you hope audiences take away?
Carmina: I hope everyone will take away the heart, humor, and love that was put into this show. From the writing and storytelling to the cast and crew, everyone did an amazing job, and you can really see it shine through.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Carmina: Anne with an E

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Carmina: The live-action Peter Pan from 2003.

PC: Favorite book?
Carmina: Kingdom Keepers! But I have so many.

PC: Favorite play or musical?
Carmina: Ah! It’s got to be Newsies!

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Carmina: One Direction. I still love them!

PC: Who would play you in the story of your life?
Carmina: Oh my gosh. Can I say myself?

To keep up with Carmina, follow her on Instagram. Catch Diary of a Future President on Disney+ in 2020.