Paulina Chavez's journey with acting started when she was a little girl. She and her mother would travel from San Antonio to Dallas so Paulina could attend acting classes, laying down brick by brick a road with hopes and dreams in Hollywood that Paulina has actualized through hard work and dedication.
© FilmMagicPaulina was born in El Paso, Texas, to Mexican Parents. Her acting work began when she was seven years old, starring in various theater productions. Her talent and hard work provided her with more opportunities, including shorts like "Lil' Mayne and the Knuckleheads" and "Teenage Girls: Valerie's Holiday." In 2020, Paulina starred in her first film: "Day 5." In the following years, Paulina's work began amassing notoriety, starring in the Netflix series "Fate: The Winx Saga" and "Flora."
In recent months, Paulina got the opportunity to work with one of the most notorious Latinas and icons in Hollywood. She starred in the film "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Road Trip," where she plays Mia, Eva Longoria's daughter, joining her family on a disastrous road trip to Mexico with the goal of bonding and getting in touch with their roots.
"As a little kid growing up, I never saw myself in English television, much less in positive roles. We want to open the doors for the people who are coming behind us, and we want to keep the door open. Knock the door down."
© Getty Images for #CultureMakersPaulina discussed her experience of making the film, which felt like a story that was plucked from her own life. She and her parents had gone on similar trips to honor their roots and, being from Texas, were used to spending long lengths of time on road trips. "My dad was also born in El Paso and grew up in Juarez, but we're from Zacatecas and Durango," said Paulina in an interview with HOLA!
As a girl, Paulina found few Latin women working in the entertainment industry, something that she hopes will change in the future. "When I was a girl, I didn't see myself on television, least of all in positive roles. We want to open doors and keep them open for anyone who comes next. That's the key," she said.
"I just want to tell authentic stories."
© Getty Images for DisneyBeyond setting a great example for Latinos of all professions, Paulina wants to make an imprint in the industry and change the way in which Latinos are portrayed onscreen.
The 22-year-old actress has big plans in store. Aside from starring in the second season of the series "Landman," Paulina hopes to explore more aspects of her creativity, going beyond acting and exploring working behind the camera. Luckily, she's had the chance to work and learn from one of the greats, Longoria, who's also a producer and filmmaker on top of her work as an actress. "She's just so incredible," said Paulina of their experience working together. It's only a matter of time before we see what comes next for her.
