Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Rebel’s Ariela Barer

Ariela Barer has emerged as one of the most gifted storytellers of her generation. Whether she’s acting on screen in projects like Marvel’s Runaways, One Day at a Time, or producing, directing, or writing films like Jelly, Ariela’s mission as an artist has always been to serve the story.

Her latest role finds her stepping into the shoes of a recovering teen addict who needs the support of her mother more than ever, played by Katey Sagal, in ABC’s Rebel. The crime drama follows a legal advocate (Sagal) with a blue-collared background who helps those in need without a law degree.

Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to speak with Ariela about her career, Rebel , and how she discovered her voice as an activist.

Career

PC: How did you discover your passion for the arts?
Ariela: I couldn’t tell you. [laughs] I know my oldest home videos are me watching Disney movies and singing along…I believe it was Snow White. There’s a video of me that’s embarrassing—I couldn’t stop singing. I was singing, “I’m Wishing”. Then at four, I asked my parents for an agent. [laughs] They were like, “How do you know what an agent is?” They were confused. They said, “No.” But they did put me in local theater. My dad is a classical pianist and composer, and my mom is a painter, musician, and a radio writer in Mexico. We’re very much an arts family. I don’t think there was ever a question.

PC: That might be the answer to this next question. Who or what has had the biggest influence?
Ariela: Definitely my parents. They’ve raised us to value the arts above all else. My sister is also an actor. She’s very good at keeping me in check, especially growing up in LA. She has always very admirably admired art above all else versus fame. She never cared. She was like, “This is the art that we do because it’s art, and we like it.” She’s kept me in check. She also introduced me to my acting teacher/mentor who changed the game for me.

PC: You’ve had a lot of success already in your young career. When you look back, is there a particular moment that stands out?
Ariela: I do. It was my senior year of high school when I found the acting teacher that I have now. He has his own original method of acting. I remember the first audition that I got to use it in was for One Day at a Time, which was the first show that I was recurring on. I remember the first time I did that, it changed everything, and I booked it. Then, the set of One Day at a Time was also game-changing for me.

PC: In addition to acting, you’re also a writer, producer, and director. How has your work behind the scenes made you a stronger actress and vice versa?
Ariela: It put everything into perspective for me. It makes rejection a lot easier. When I can’t cast someone, I know that I think they’re talented and I want to cast them, they just didn’t work for the story. It also puts into perspective, above all else, that I love doing this because I love telling stories, and whether it’s acting, directing, or writing, it’s all in service of a story.

Rebel

PC: You’ve got a new show out now. Tell us about Rebel, your character, and what drew you to this project.
Ariela: Everything about Rebel drew me in. It’s a Krista Vernoff show. It’s loosely based on and inspired by Erin Brockovich’s life and career. Katey Sagal is a legend. The script drew me in because it’s about social change and justice told through a very personal and subjective lens that makes it accessible and open to people that I think will be really enjoyable and fun, but also heartbreaking.

PC: Your character Ziggie is dealing with a lot in her life, and she needs her mother more than ever. How did you and Katey prepare to tackle the dynamic between your two characters? What was that collaboration like?
Ariela: It clicked from the start. We met at the chemistry read. She was attached from the beginning, but we read together, and the chemistry was so fun. It’s so fun to work with her. Beyond that, she’s not only such a powerhouse, but she’s also a nurturing presence. We’ll literally be doing scenes that are harder for her, where she has to be vulnerable, and she’s still so nurturing. In between takes, she’s checking in on me. I’m like, “Oh my God, Katey. How are you?” [laughs]

PC: Many fans will recognize you for your role as Gert in Marvel’s Runaways. There are a lot of parallels you can draw between the two characters. What was the biggest thing you learned from your time on Runaways that you brought over to Rebel?
Ariela: Runaways taught me everything that I know about the industry. It taught me professionalism and efficiency. That was a really ambitious show that we had to get done in a short amount of time; you had to show up, be ready, and be game for anything. It was so fun. Growing up as a kid on set, it can be really intimidating. You feel like you’re surrounded by all these professionals and you’re the child. It was nice to be on the Runaways set and feel like, “We’re all peers. We can get along, hang out, and I don’t need to be scared of anyone.”

PC: Like you were saying earlier, the show is based on Erin Brockovich. She’s a powerful activist, as are you. How did you discover your voice as an activist?
Ariela: I’ve always been really politically inclined. I always thought if I wasn’t an actor, I would be a politician. I was always really into politics. My mom always tells the story of when I was six and someone made a joke about Jim Carrey, and I thought they were talking about John Kerry, so I started talking about John Kerry, not knowing who Jim Carrey was. I volunteered for the Obama administration in fifth grade, and I was making calls for his campaign. It was silly stuff, but I’ve always really cared. As I’ve grown up, I realized that what I care about is less so the political theater and more so about the people that it affects. The thing I’ve been repeating to myself is, “No one asked to be born. No one asked to be here. We just have to be good to each other. Make life better for everyone because life should be good.”

PC: You’ve done it all in your career. What are you most excited for fans to see with this show and your character?
Ariela: Ziggie is such a fun character because she’s very sensitive and vulnerable, but very internal. Something I’ve really admired about her is how much she cares about everything around her and how deeply it all affects her, even if she’s not outwardly expressing it. She is someone that cares a lot, and I admire her for that.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Ariela: The Bachelor.

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Ariela: I just watched the Snyder cut. Is that a guilty pleasure?

PC: Favorite book?
Ariela: The book that I constantly reference as the foundation of who I am is Letters to a Young Poet by [Rainer Maria] Rilke. Every artist should read it.

PC: Favorite play or musical?
Ariela: I really like this one—I can’t remember what it’s called but it’s about a girl who gives herself an abortion in a bathroom. It’s really funny. It’s about two girls in high school. Also, weirdly Julius Caesar and Macbeth. I love Macbeth. I saw a really good production of Julius Caesar, and I normally don’t like Shakespeare’s historical plays, but I loved that one.

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Ariela: I’ve become a Swifty during quarantine.

PC: Who would play you in the story of your life?
Ariela: Ideally, my sister. She’s an actor. She’s good. I would direct her…though she would maybe turn it down. [laughs]

To keep up with Ariela, follow her on Twitter and Instagram. Watch Rebel every Thursday at 10/9c on ABC.

Photo Credit: Nolwen Cifuentes