From show creator Tanya Saracho, the half-hour Starz series Vida has returned for Season 2, as Lyn (Melissa Barrera) and Emma (Mishel Prada) attempt to figure out the best way to approach rebuilding their mother’s business without it fully dragging them under financially. As the series continues to explore identity, culture, gender and sexuality through the lens of a Latinx family and their community, these previously estranged sisters must figure out what they want from each other, the relationships in their lives, and their futures.

During this 1-on-1 phone interview with Collider, actress Melissa Barrera talked about what it’s meant to her to be a part of Vida, the importance of telling this story, how well she knows her character now, her reaction to finding out that her first scene back would be an orgy, Lyn’s journey of self-discovery in Season 2, having a co-star like Mishel Prada to experience this with, and why she hopes they’ll get a Season 3. She also talked about doing the feature film adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Broadway show In the Heights, updating the story, and what she’s most excited about, with that production.

Collider:  Representation and visibility matters, and it’s important for everyone to have the opportunity to see themselves on screen. This show does that, not just with the characters, but also with its cast and creative team. What has it meant to you to bring this character to life, and to also be given a voice and a platform for people who might see themselves in you on the show?

MELISSA BARRERA:  Vida is a huge gift for me, in my life. I’m so grateful that I moved to L.A., at the time that I did, just in time to audition for this show. That I get to be a part of this amazing family that we’ve become now. That this is show is part of a movement of representation, and of people finally getting to see people that look like them on screen, and stories that sound like theirs on a TV show, is a huge responsibility because we don’t want to be one of a few shows. We want there to be more. Of course, we want many more seasons for Vida, to continue telling these stories. We also want to open doors for other creators and other people to get to tell their stories because the Latinx community has often been painted in one broad stroke and as one thing. We have so many colors, so many stories, and so many different experiences to tell. It’s overwhelming, at times, because I’m reminded of the appreciation and love that people have for our show. It’s been so long since we finished, and I’m rehearsing for another project right now, so coming back into it, it just reminds me of how important this show is. It makes me feel happy that people are seeing it and loving it, as much as we love making it.

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Did you have a moment when you realized that this show was connecting with viewers in the way that it is, and in the way that you had hoped it would?

BARRERA:  The moment happened when I was out in L.A. with friends at this restaurant bar. This girl approached me and was emotional. She almost started crying, and was thanking me for doing what I do. I was in shock for a second. I was speechless because her thanking me and her gratitude took me off guard. Normally, it’s like, “Oh, my god, I love you! Let’s take a picture.” She wasn’t even Latina, and that emotional connection she felt made me even prouder because our show connects not only to our community, but to everyone.

How would you say that you most deeply identify with and understand this character, especially after two seasons of playing her, and how would you say that she still feels most different from who you are?

BARRERA:  I’ve definitely gotten to know Lyn, a lot. For Season 2, whenever I read a script, I just knew exactly what the thought process was. I knew exactly what she was saying. When we got to set to rehearse, it just felt very organic. She’s in my body now. I think I’ve learned a lot from Lyn, personally. I’ve learned a lot from her security, her love for herself, and her confidence, just owning everything that she does. Even if it’s not the best thing to do or say, she owns it completely. I learned from her, in that sense. I would have to say that the way that she feels most different to me still is in her sexual endeavors. She is very out there and she experiments a lot. She’s very open to any situation, which is admirable, but I’m not like that, at all.

If you’re looking to have a memorable opening for your second season, an orgy is definitely one way to do it. When you found out that would be your first scene in Season 2, what was your reaction?

BARRERA:  I was shocked, at first, and then I thought (showrunner) Tanya [Saracho] was joking. I didn’t think that she was actually going to open with that. At first, she just told me that it was going to be my first scene, but she didn’t tell me that it was going to be the first scene of the entire season. But then, I was excited at the prospect of it because I’ve never done anything like that. I was like, “This could be actually fun,” and it was. It was fun to be in a room naked, with so many other naked people.

Lyn is somebody who’s really having to figure things out. She’s never had to figure things out on her own before and she’s never had to find what her purpose in life was before, and it seems like she’s really trying to do that, this season. How much will she actually surprise herself, in what she’s capable of, and how much will things still just go completely wrong for her?

BARRERA:  Well, there’s a little bit of both. I think Lyn is definitely on a road of self-discovery, and discovering her strength and trying to prove herself to people that have dismissed her for so long. We get to see a little bit of that get revealed, throughout the season. We get to see a little bit of why she is the way she is, and a little bit of an inkling of how her relationship with her mother was. I think people are going to understand her a lot more, once they see that. Deep down, she’s always known that she’s a smart woman, but it’s just been easier to pretend not to be. It’s a reminder of being able to do things herself and having good ideas that she can contribute. She has to work really hard for people to believe her, especially Emma. Emma is used to doing things her way, but now they’re partners, and it should be a partnership. Because Emma is bringing all of the financial support, that’s always a complicated thing because people that bring in the money usually feel like they have more of a right, more of a say, and more decision-making privileges. It’s a struggle for Lyn, but she’s a fighter. She doesn’t give up easily. I’m very proud of her because she’s showing a different side of herself, and it’s a vulnerable one. It’s a great journey that she has, all during this season.

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Image via Starz

There’s something so interesting about the dynamic between these sisters and Eddy (Ser Anzoategui). At the beginning of this season, Eddy is still recovering from the attack she suffered in Season 1, and when you can’t get around too well on your own, and you’re dependent on other people to help you, you learn how those people feel about you pretty quickly. How will that change the dynamic Eddy has with both Lyn and Emma?

BARRERA:  The ending of Season 1 really shifted things, for both Emma and Lyn. Emma is carrying the burden of the bar, financially, so she can’t really be open to being kind to Eddy. Being kind, in itself, is hard for Emma. But Lyn is very much going to step in and be a mediator between the two, and try to protect Eddy, as much as she can, because she wants Eddy to get better. She appreciates the gravity of the fact that this is their mom’s widow. This is the person that she chose. This is the person that was with her when she wasn’t. Lyn is gonna be closer to Eddy and try to make things in the house that can get really awkward as smooth as possible, for the three of them.

What’s it like to have Mishel Prada as your co-star and your sister, for this experience. What’s it been like to know that somebody is by your side, throughout this?

BARRERA:  It’s the best thing in the world. I love Mishel so much. We’re like sisters, in real life. We hang out so much. I miss her so much, now that I’m here in New York. It’s just great. We trust each other. I know that I’m safe with her, and she’s safe with me. We can experiment and try things out, and we can help each other out, whenever we need it, both on set and off, which is something super valuable to have with your co-star, especially when you’re on set together, almost every day. It makes for an easier work environment and a more enjoyable place to be, when you have that love for each other. Also, it just makes our job easier because we’re playing sisters. Even though they don’t like each other all the time, they love each other, and we have that.

With Vida, do you feel like there’s still a lot left to explore, when it comes to Lyn? Especially after what you got to do in Season 2, does it make you even more excited and anxious about where a possible Season 3 could go?

BARRERA:  Yeah, because you never know with Tanya. She pulls things out of nowhere and always surprises us. I think there’s a lot left to explore in the world and in the lives of all of these characters. I hope that we get a Season 3 and that we can continue telling these stories. I’m sure that, every time, it will just get better.

You’re also doing the feature film adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Broadway show In the Heights, which is very exciting.

BARRERA:  It’s very exciting!

What are you most excited about, with that? Was it something that you had been familiar with, before being cast in it?

BARRERA:  Yeah, I saw In the Heights on Broadway, maybe more than 10 times. I saw it with the original cast. I saw it with all of the rest of the casts. I was a huge fan of the show. When I used to audition, I used to go to the cattle calls, all the time, and sing eight bars, and hope that one day I would get a callback. Now, it’s almost 10 years later, and I get to be in the movie version of it. It seems unreal. A lot of the time, I’m like, “Am I really living this, or is this just a dream and I’m gonna wake up, at any moment?” I’ve always wanted to do musical movies. That’s always been my ultimate goal, so now I have to think of another one, but I’m so lucky that I get to be a part of bringing this updated story to the screen. It’s been 10 years since it was on Broadway. A lot has happened, and politically, with what we’re going through now in this country, it has to change a little bit. It’s so much fun. I’m just excited to be in this movie with so many other Latinos that are killing it, and being in a room full of people of color, all kicking ass and being creative, and dancing and singing. It’s just a really amazing place to be in right now. We’re rehearsing and it’s insane. It’s gonna be so good.

When do you start shooting?

BARRERA:  We shoot in the summer. It will go all summer in New York, in Washington Heights.

What are you looking forward to, when it comes to playing scenes with Anthony Ramos, who plays Usnavi opposite your Vanessa?

BARRERA:  I’m super excited. Anthony is such a great guy, and he’s so talented. From the moment that we met, there was a connection. I think that’s what got me the job, thank goodness. He’s become a really good friend of mine now, and we’re very excited to tell this story together.

Vida Season 2 is available for binge-watching on the Starz app and Starz On-Demand, and you can watch on Sunday nights on Starz.