Aside from being a Latina, my family immigrated from Puerto Rico and Yugoslavia so I know all about that. I wouldnโt be able to do what I do today if they didnโt come to America. Everybody has an immigration story.
Naya RiveraGoing to regular public high school and working and auditioning was really, really tough. I never really fit in and hit the stride that all the other kids were on. Instead of going out and hanging out with my friends at that age, I remember being in my bedroom and putting on like a Christina Aguilera tape and just like belting. And seeing if I could hit every single note just like her.
Naya RiveraThe day that I got the phone call to tell me that I booked โGleeโ I was shooting โCSI Miami.โ I was playing this heroin addictโฆIโd been on a million auditions where I sang and looked exactly the same way and didnโt do anything different. And so for this to be the one that popped it was just like what happened? It was the perfect timing and the perfect role for me. It was like everything came together.
Naya RiveraI definitely knew that I loved acting from the very beginning. I was such a ham growing up. Wherever the camera was, I wanted to be right in front of it.
Naya Rivera