You've probably never heard of Herizen Guardiola. But that's about to change.
The 19 year-old is the female star of The Get Down, the Baz Lurhmann-directed Netflix series that charts the end of the disco era and the beginnings of hip-hop. The first six episodes are released on Friday, August 12.
Set in the Bronx in the 70s, Herizen plays Mylene Cruz, an aspiring disco star from a Pentecostal family.
Impressively, it's her first acting gig. She decided to sign with the theatrical wing of her modeling agency 'for the heck it' and The Get Down was one of the first audition calls she got. She aced it, singing a flawless rendition of Alicia Keys' Fallin', and got a call from Luhrmann a few days later. 'It was a very surreal moment,' she says.
Now, she's set to be a star and likely have the fashion world falling at her feet too. We caught up with her to get the lowdown (or maybe that should be the get down…):
On her character in The Get Down
Her father's very strict – she's not allowed to do anything really, even sing, unless it is for the Lord. The story is her transition from that and breaking free to follow her dreams of becoming a disco star. It's really a cool story about staying true to who you are and achieving something that people say you can't.
It also shows the hard side of the era – everyone nowadays listens to hip-hop and it's so popular but that's not how it was in the 70s. It shows the struggle of it and I think it's really cool because no one really knows that side.
On her musical ambitions
I modelled to make a bit of money to support my music career – I could have done it professionally if I really wanted to but I am more interested in the arts, I always have been. So I was kind of just using what I have to make money for my art.
I'm a musician before I'm an actress. I have albums written and I just really want to express my music and be able to eventually tour and play for fans and people who really connect to it.
I was born and bred in Miami, but I moved to California when I was 15. I like to surf, I like being by the ocean and it's really good for my music. They have a very good music culture and it's really easy to meet artists and collaborate so it's the best place for me. I'm a fan of fashion, but I'm not a fashionista. I'm kind grungy, something I always have is a nice leather jacket and smart sneakers. I'll spend money on nice sneakers. If I see someone wearing a really nice pair in the street, I will run up and ask where they got them from. Of course, Yeezys are really nice, if only I could afford them! My friend Jaden [Smith, co-star in The Get Down] walks around in a new pair every day and I'm like "can you just give me a pair?" I love shopping in the thrift stores in Topanga Canyon, where I buy hippy clothes. I really like a good vintage T-shirt, and I have a lot of tie-dye. All my jeans are ripped and if they're not, I'll rip them myself. I have some little signatures too, like a big fuzzy wolf tail that I clip on for parties. It's a good ice-breaker and it makes everyone laugh. I would love to shoot a really big campaign in the future – Prada, Gucci, Chanel – bit o really want to focus on my music. It was a brand new experience, I felt like a brand new baby out in the world for the first time, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. It's just as glamorous on the inside as you imagine, it's friggin' phenomenal and beautiful. I wasn't as freaked out as I thought I would be on the red carpet. I was just like "OK, pictures, walk, don't fall over", that was my thought process, focusing on not falling in the shoes!
It's basically a work party for celebrities - they all know each other so it's a very calm atmosphere. So it's just like a party with friends, just very fancy friends you only see on movies. Everyone was really cool and laid back. Baz is amazing. Everything he does is so detailed and done with such care and thought, it's all very beautiful. He's so cool and charismatic and really excited to be doing what he loves, and it makes you excited. He's like that teacher you're comfortable to talk to after school and cares about being a teacher and cares about their student. He's made me very comfortable with my first role. Watch The Get Down on Netflix from Friday.On her Cali lifestyle
On her style
On attending the Met Gala
On Baz Lurhmann
