South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Sunday)
Beatriz says ‘Colombia all over’ film
For Stephanie Beatriz, the true magic of Disney’s new film about an enchanted household in Colombia is its message of self-discovery.
The actor stars in the animated musical “Encanto” as the only resident of the fantastical Casa Madrigal without a superhuman ability.
“Many of us go through life looking around and going, like, everyone else is just out here doing the most, and incredible and shining, and who am I?” Beatriz said. “Do I have anything special to add to the world? The answer is ‘yes,’ but it can take going on a very intense, adventure-filled journey to figure that out about yourself.”
The film, now in theaters, depicts Beatriz’s Mirabel as kind and courageous, but self-conscious about her shortcomings in a family where others wield powers such as unbridled strength, acute hearing and the ability to understand animals.
When the magic flowing through their home starts to disappear, Mirabel sees an opportunity to step up as the hero.
The film’s voice cast features numerous stars with Colombian heritage, including Beatriz, John Leguizamo, Diane Guerrero and Wilmer Valderrama.
Beatriz, 40, credits the movie’s makers for doing “an incredible amount of research” to authentically portray the country and its culture.
“They took very long and intense trips to Colombia, and collaborated with Colombian people and musicians and artists to help create this film,” Beatriz said. “You can see that in the film. Even just the animation is this lushness. Beauty, beauty, beauty everywhere. Every
single shot in this film is incredibly gorgeous, and it’s got Colombia all over it.”
Much of the story is told through original songs in English and Spanish by Lin-Manuel Miranda, creator of Broadway musicals “In the Heights” and “Hamilton.”
“Disney Animation has a long and storied history of being the chef ’s kiss at combining animation and storytelling in song, and I think this sort of follows in the footsteps of many, many greats that have come before, but also puts something really exciting, new, different into that world,” Beatriz said.
Beatriz starred earlier this year in the film adaptation of Miranda’s “In the Heights” as Carla, an upbeat salon employee in a predominantly Latino neighborhood in New York’s Washington Heights.
She’s proud to again
provide big-screen representation for Latino audiences with “Encanto.”
“As somebody who grew up watching TV, constantly looking for people that look like me or look like my mom or look like my dad and coming up short a lot of the time, I think it would have been very satisfying as a kid,” Beatriz said.
“I would’ve popped in a VHS and looked at a Disney heroine that looked just like me. It would’ve been really cool, and now it possibly will be really cool for someone else.”
Nov. 28 birthdays:
Motown Records founder Berry Gordy Jr. is 92. Singer Randy Newman is 78. Musician Paul Shaffer is 72. Actor Ed Harris is 71. Actor S. Epatha Merkerson is 69. Director Alfonso Cuaron is 60. Comedian Jon Stewart is 59. Singer Dawn Robinson is 53. Actor Aimee Garcia is 43. Actor Daniel Henney is 42.