Andrea Navedo

There's so much humor in serious things sometimes.

Growing up, I didn't think it would be possible to be an actress - I didn't see a lot of Latina faces on TV or in movies. But that didn't stop me from trying. I realized early that anything I really wanted was worth working for.

I'm really Americanized. The only real Latina thing I do is cook rice and beans with chuletas and tostones. I do the healthier version of what my grandmother would have made: a lot less salt, a lot less fat, a lot more vegetables. Sometimes I serve it with brown rice, which is, like, sacrilegious.

My grandmother is bilingual, but she preferred to speak Spanish at home, so she would speak to us in Spanish, and everyone responded in English, sort of like what happens on 'Jane.'

I really needed a show like 'Jane' when I was growing up, so being able to portray a positive Latina character means a lot to me because I feel like it's helping me to contribute to someone's dreams.

The most important thing you can do for yourself is get an education. Learn, listen, and respond. You have to study and practice to get better at your craft and to widen your skill set.

After moving to California, I decided to go back to school and get an education on various aspects of the entertainment industry.

Many people don't have a strong support system because entertainment is a tough industry to get into. Even though my family wanted me to find financial and professional stability, they supported my passion for acting.

My dad was in my life, and he was actually a very positive influence on me in my life. He was always there. He was a great dad. But my parents divorced when I was 5, so I grew up in a single-parent home.

Every mother wishes the best for her children.

The women are so strong in my family.

My mom struggled for a long time growing up poor, and then we were on welfare when I was a kid. So to see her kids, not just me, be successful and making money and happy and healthy and in good relationships - it means so much to her after all that she's been through.

Since I don't have much time to cook, I tend to cook in bulk and eat leftovers.

I try to eat almost the same thing every day, as it makes food shopping and what to eat much easier as well as healthier.

I can easily tap into the feeling of being a mother and the feeling of, you always want what's best for your kids. And that's where most parents come from.

I have to stop and think about everything I do. I'm very calculated in a lot of ways.

When my career started on daytime soaps, those characters usually didn't have much depth to them. The main goal was to memorize my lines in order to film efficiently the next day. But with 'Jane The Virgin,' the writing is strong, and everything is intentional.

When I discovered eyelash extensions, it was like the sea has parted; the sun came out. It was everything.

I've seen other actresses refuse to be ugly. Even if the story line calls for it or the character calls for it, they just can't go there for vanity's sake, and they don't want to be perceived in an ugly way. I was like, 'Nah, I wanna go for this.'

I have a cousin who, at age 36, passed away from cancer, and she left three girls.

It's really easy to give in to, 'I want to raise my kids,' 'I want to be the best mom, so I have to give up my dreams.' I don't believe that. I think, if anything, being a living example to your children is beautiful.

My mom was a single mother in the South Bronx living in adverse conditions. Seeing her struggles to get herself off of welfare and get back into the workplace and give me and my sister a better life - it's an inspiration for me.

You're not going to learn about acting on TV and in film. You'll learn more in plays and in class.

Soap operas are like TV boot camp. You have to be able to self-direct, learn a ton of dialogue in a short amount of time, and deliver a performance in one or two takes.

Acting was always a secret desire of mine when I was growing up.