‘I DIDN’T THINK WE WERE DONE WITH BROOKLYN 99
The actor feels that change and important conversations can come out of entertaining art
When the plug was pulled on the popular comedy show, Brooklyn Nine-Nine (B99) in May last year, many fans and critics were shocked. But actor Stephanie Beatriz, who plays the no-nonsense detective Rosa Diaz on the show, was more clear-eyed.
“I didn’t think we were done with the world of B99, but I’m also realistic,” she said recently, adding, “I thought if someone picks it up and lets us finish out the ride for a few more episodes, then that seems like the best-case scenario.”
Instead, a 13-episode season was green lit and later was extended by five episodes — season 6 began this month. The renewal gives fans a chance to uncover more about Rosa. The character is best known to fans for her anger management issues, deadpan disposition, and secrecy.
“In comedy you have the ‘straight man’, who’s basically the deadpan, flat comedy partner,” Beatriz said, adding, “And in Brooklyn Nine-Nine, the bi woman is a straight man, which is hilarious.”
In reality, the generally bubbly Beatriz, 37, is the emotional antithesis of Rosa. Even so, she sees shades of her own personality in Rosa’s fierceness and candour. She disclosed that she identified as queer in a 2016 tweet. If the revelation on the show made Rosa’s identification official, it wasn’t especially noteworthy to the actor. “In my mind, I think, I was playing her as someone who was attracted to all genders,” Beatriz said.
As work on season 5 began, writer-producer Dan Goor had asked Beatriz if she would be comfortable with Rosa coming out as bisexual, to parallel Beatriz’s own revelation.
“I was thrilled by it,” the actor said. She was open with the staff about her own experiences, as well as the experiences of other queer Latinos in her life, “because I wanted the story to feel real.” True to form for the brusque Rosa, the disclosure came in two sentences: “I’m dating a woman. I’m bi.”
A proudly silly cop sitcom might seem like an unlikely catalyst for change. But in Rosa’s progression, Beatriz sees the chance to move the emotional needle for a certain segment of the fan base.
“I’ve been watching this character on my favourite show for five seasons — now do I hate her because she’s bi?” she said, rhetorically. “I think the best learning, growing, and conversations with people can come out of art, and particularly fun art that makes you laugh.”
THE NEW YORK TIMES
STEPHANIE BEATRIZ’S CHARACTER, THE NO-NONSENSE DETECTIVE ROSA PARKS, CAME OUT AS BISEXUAL IN THE PREVIOUS SEASON OF THE SHOW