At 18, Paulina Chávez—a proud Mexican-American actress from Texas—took a family trip to Mexico City that would leave a lasting impression. What began as a birthday getaway quickly transformed into a sensory immersion of flavors, colors, and energy that made her fall in love with the city. She left knowing she’d return.
Now 22, Paulina is back, this time with a new purpose. Walking the same vibrant streets alongside her mother, she’s not just revisiting a cherished memory—she’s here as a rising Hollywood star, promoting 'Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Road Trip'. In the film, she stars opposite one of her longtime idols, Longoria.
Longoria, who also executive produced the movie, played a key role in shaping its vision and elevating fresh talent—especially Chávez, the fast-rising actress from El Paso who’s catching attention across the industry. With a breakout role in 'Landman', sharing the screen with Billy Bob Thornton, Jon Hamm, and Demi Moore, Paulina is proving she’s a talent to watch—just the kind Longoria is eager to champion.
With 'Landman' already greenlit for a second season and other projects on the horizon, Chávez is laying the foundation for a vibrant and enduring career. Inspired by generations of powerful Latinas before her, she’s blazing her own trail—with intention and heart.
Paulina isn’t trying to fit in. She’s here to lead—with talent, pride, and a strong sense of identity. She’s not just part of Hollywood’s future. She is the future.
Co-Starring with Longoria in a celebratory Latino film
Paulina, beaming with joy, talks about her experience filming 'Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Road Trip'. She describes the cast and crew as a close-knit team that felt like family.
Landing the role was equal parts excitement and serendipity. A longtime admirer of director Marvin Lemus for his work on ‘Gentefied’, Paulina leaned into the audition process. The opportunity became even more meaningful when she learned Longoria was part of the project.
The film, while packed with laughs and adventure, also serves as a love letter to Latin heritage and bicultural identity—core to Paulina’s own upbringing in El Paso and San Antonio.
“What you see on screen is how fun it was shooting it. We had such a blast. Our director, Marvin Lemus, is incredible, and he really made us feel very welcomed. He would do breathing exercises in between takes, and we would do improv exercises, and it was just such a blast, and it really felt like family just making something beautiful and laughing together, and somewhere in there we really did make a great anomaly.”
A deep connection to her culture
Though born in Los Angeles, Paulina was raised between Ciudad Juárez and El Paso—places deeply woven into her family history. “My dad was also born in El Paso and grew up in Ciudad Juárez,” she shares. “Pero somos de Zacatecas y Durango.” That deep sense of heritage comes full circle in the film, where Val and Frank set out on a road trip to connect their children with their ancestry. It’s a theme Paulina relates to closely.
For Paulina, these road trips weren’t just fiction—they were a way of life. Her childhood was filled with long drives between cities for acting classes, auditions, and family visits. “Texas is so big, and you know, Eva and I both joke, everything's a road trip in Texas, and so we would always drive to El Paso, and it's like an eight-hour drive. My mom would take me to acting classes, which was like five hours away from San Antonio to Dallas, and so everything was a road trip.”
The film’s chaotic, loving household—complete with overlapping conversations and bursts of laughter—felt instantly familiar. “We went to Florida once too, Puerto Peñasco. My mom and I would drive to L.A. all the time from San Antonio, so we were really... It's such a long trip, and I'm like, I'm never going to do that ever again, but probably I will [laughs]. But it's my favorite thing ever. I love road trips.”
Spirituality is another thread woven into both her life and the film. She proudly embraces protective traditions like the mal de ojo, sharing stories of superstitions and family beliefs that go beyond the surface. From curanderas to crystals and sage, these practices are part of her heritage. “I always carry my ‘mal de ojo’. And it's so funny because I do these shoots, and I'm always wearing it, like really always have to be wearing it because I don't want negative energy to hit me, so my mom's like, ‘I'll pin it… I'll pin it to your underwear so that you can have it on, but it won't show’. And I'm just like, I'm just going to wear it. I'm wearing it because I'm representing.”
Pride in portraying powerful Latinas
Paulina has consistently portrayed strong, positive Latina characters—roles she embraces with pride. Far from feeling boxed in, she sees these opportunities as empowering. Her portrayal in 'The Expanding Universe of Ashley Garcia', a teen robotics prodigy, broke stereotypes and helped broaden representation on screen. “Luckily, the roles that have come my way have been very positive Latinas and powerful…chingonas so, I mean, I’ve worked with Eva Longoria. She was the director for The Expanding Universe of Ashley Garcia, and that was about a young 15-and-a-half-year-old robotics engineer and she was like a young Doogie Howser, so there are roles like that, that are out of the box,” she states.
For her, Alexander strikes a balance: it celebrates Latin culture without making it the sole focus. “It just happens to be a family that happens to be Latino, and I think everybody's going to connect to this movie, whether they're Latino or not.” she says. "The themes—family, identity, humor—resonate universally."
Representation and responsibility in Hollywood
Representation is deeply personal for Paulina. Growing up, she rarely saw herself reflected in English-language media. “As a little kid growing up, I never saw myself in English television, further, not in positive roles. And so, being able to see something like Selena Gomez or Eva Longoria in Desperate Housewives, was something that was impactful for me…And we want to see more of our faces on screen and behind the camera as well. We want to open the doors for the people that are coming behind us. And we want to keep the door open. Knock the door down. I think it's really important.” Seeing figures like Gomez and Longoria made a difference—and now she’s determined to be that kind of role model for others.
She is passionate about creating opportunities for underrepresented voices, both in front of and behind the camera. For Paulina, it’s not just about breaking barriers—it’s about keeping them open for those who follow.
Full-circle moment with Eva Longoria
Paulina fondly recalls her early work with Longoria on Ashley Garcia, where Eva made a memorable guest appearance. “She was a Cowboy’s cheerleader. She was wearing a whole outfit…oh my gosh, she looked incredible.”
Working with her again, this time as co-stars, brought their relationship full circle. Their connection, built over years of collaboration, found new energy on set. Whether they were exchanging lines or sharing laughs, the chemistry between them was real, and the experience brought them even closer. “She's just so incredible… She's a comedian. Being able to work with her and just bounce off of each other with the comedy was a delight. Every day before work, we would go work out together and I think that helped us bring us closer together. It was just a blast and I want to work with her more.”
What's next for the rising Latina
With 'Landman' season 2 in production and new projects in development, Paulina is expanding her horizons. “I'm working with a beautiful team of women back in Texas… I'm excited to see what happens.” She continues, “It's on Paramount+, the shooting is starting soon…”
Chávez is receiving acclaim for her role as Ariana in the series. CBR.com highlights how she brings authenticity and cultural significance to the character, praising her ability to convey both grief and inner strength. Additionally, Nerdtropolis noted, "Paulina Chávez’s performance adds a powerful layer to the series."
Dreaming big: Directing and portraying icons
Chávez is eager to step behind the camera, hoping to shadow Longoria on a future project as she explores directing and storytelling. “I just want to tell authentic stories,” she says.
The Texan is also dreaming of roles that reflect her values—like portraying Joan Baez in a biopic. “She’s incredible… She’s done so much for the community,” Paulina says. “I would love to tell her story.”
Credits:
Chief Content Officer ¡HOLA! Américas: Nagidmy Marquez Acosta
Production: Chiara Primatesta, Fashion, Beauty and Lifestyle Editor, ¡HOLA! Américas and Lili Delgado, Lifestyle Editor, ¡HOLA! Américas
Photography: Izack Morales
Photography Assistant: José Luis Hernández
Video: Terranova Studios
Interview with Paulina Chavez: Alex Ocaña
Editor: Andrea Perez, Deputy Editor, ¡HOLA! U.S.
Fashion Assistant on Set: Maria Paula Zavala
Social Media Editor: Caterina Zanelli
Video Editor: Daniel Neira