Colombian-American actress VANESSA RUBIO stars as Carmen in COBRA KAI, the martial arts action, drama series that follows the narrative of the original Karate Kid film after 34 years. Since its launch in YouTube Red in 2018 up to it’s Netflix acquisition in 2020, the series have been garnering fans of the original Karate Kid films and converting new ones to the continuation of the tales among Johnny Lawrence, Daniel LaRusso, their families, and their devotion and own interpretation to martial arts and its values.

Vanessa can also be seen in Netflix’s BONDiNG, The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings, How to Be Single and more.

In this exclusive interview, Vanessa spoke to us about her characters from Cobra Kai and The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, how she coped during 2020’s wild ride, how her Cobra Kai character Carmen inspired her, her love for the arts, her acting journey and discover what book she would be.

How was your 2020?

What a year! 2020 has been a year of extreme highs and lows, as it has been for many. I made big moves this year but also was gripped by fear, grief and isolation. Learning to move through all these big emotions was probably the best thing I learned this year. And we were all going through it - I mean it has been a year of collective shifting and realizations. I spent the beginning of the year working on Season 2 of Netflix’s BONDiNG, which was very fun. Then lockdown happened in New York City, where I was living, and it was very challenging. I got ill with Covid in late March, but thankfully kicked it in 2 weeks. I feel like all of the uncertainty and loneliness taught all of us to value and nurture the things that really matter - our shared humanity. Although I felt pretty “stuck” I had been planning to move to California for a few years. So In August of 2020 I finally made the move, with the help of friends to help me along the way. I drove cross country and that was a real blessing. The parks in Colorado and Utah were amazing. Then Cobra Kai was released on Netflix which was a great re-birth for the show. It’s been truly amazing! I am enjoying more physical space and sunshine in California, and happy I made the move.

How were you able to cope during these wild times?

Meditating really helped, asking for help, calling friends and family, journaling, drawing, painting, singing, gardening and dancing! Definitely dancing. Protesting helped - physical protests in NYC and making calls. Making sure to move the energy and be proactive has been a big lesson.

How excited are you that you are in two amazing shows that are coming back soon? (The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (Part 4) and Cobra Kai Season 3.)

I’m super excited! Although I am not in Part 4 of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina - I was happy to be a part of Part 3. And being in Cobra Kai - and the massive success it has had is really amazing. The Karate Kid story is a very special story that has now spanned 30 plus years. And there is a reason for that - it explores themes that mean a lot to us collectively - courage, honor, standing up for yourself, determination, transformation, and the training of the mind and body.

Let’s talk about your character Nagaina from Sabina first. What’s the best thing about playing her

character?

The best thing about Nagaina is that she taught me a lot about female power and female disempowerment, the whole history of it, which is still occurring. The archetype of Medusa is intense - I highly recommend anyone to take a deep dive into it. The character taught me to stay fully grounded in a sense of power and presence with the natural and animal world. Also, I got to dance with a boa constrictor - that was amazing. I had a bit of fear but overcame it quickly in order to do my work.

What are the challenges that you experienced during filming?

I was really thrown into the deep end - but that is really where you learn to swim. The first scene I had to do was the dance with the 35 to 40 pound snake on my shoulders. Soon after I arrived in Vancouver, I learned the dance and acquainted myself with the snake. I felt challenged to fully embody this character especially for the dance scene, where I personally felt not in control, but had to overcome that because Nagaina is always in full control - she’s thousands of years old!

Now, Cobra Kai. How would you characterize Carmen’s character evolution throughout the seasons of  the show?

I truly love Carmen. Her evolution is one of releasing control and following her heart - and it leads her in surprising ways. She’s a single mother of Miguel, who is her everything. She realizes her limitations in raising a son on her own - especially when it comes to things only a man can teach a son. So when her neighbor, Johnny Lawrence, starts training Miguel, she has to evolve too, in order to let growth happen for her son in the best possible way. Surprising even to her, she begins to have feelings for Johnny. We shall see in Season 3 if they survive as a couple.

Will Carmen’s feelings for Johnny be further explored in the new season of the show?

I really can’t say too much - but of course the feelings are there. She has to decide if forgiveness is in the cards for Johnny.

What are the challenges and the highs that you experienced during filming?

I feel like Carmen is a character of strong emotion. She’s a keen observer and feeler and has a lot of dignity and grace. I felt as an actor that I always had to be full on doing her scenes, fully charged. The pace of filming is pretty quick which can be a bit challenging but can also give great results.

How did you manage to rise above the challenges?

I always try to meditate especially when filming. I do vocal warm ups. When the time comes to do the work I just let go and have the goal of full presence - because that’s really where the magic can happen.

If your character could have its own soundtrack, what would it be and why?

OMG. Soundtrack? I don’t know but I actually have a playlist for Carmen’s character. It has a lot of romantic songs on it, two Bruce Springsteen songs - because the 80s and I grew up in New Jersey, so. Who else is on there? Lucinda Williams, The Eagles, Lalo Rodriguez, Neil Young to name a few. She likes a good melody, the kind that makes you dance in the kitchen. And she’s a romantic, as much as she tries to hide it.

Everyone’s process is different and each has their unique approach to things. Can you walk us through your creative process whenever you go and film a scene?

Great question. It varies. I do write a lot and pay attention to what I resonate with. Sometimes I write a letter to my character to break the ice and then I write as the character and let my imagination flow. I’ll run the lines with friends if I feel the need for it. I dig into my own memory of similar circumstance and bring what I know about it to the character. I listen. I get as specific as I can. If it’s a historical or archetypal character I research my butt off. I love History- it was one of my majors in college.

How did acting start for you? Was it something that you’ve always wanted from a young age?

I always loved the arts - drawing, singing, imagining, and especially making people laugh. I love to play the clown. I think it was natural in me. I was always finding ways to tell a story, whether drawn, written, or acted out. But I did get pretty shy in adolescence. I think I tucked away the desire to entertain or act for a while. It was after I graduated from NYU that I actually opened that door again and took a summer program at American Academy of Dramatic Arts in NYC. After that I was hooked and continued in any way I could after that. I went to different studios, and stayed at T. Schrieber Studio for two years. Then I found a great teacher from Circle in a Square who taught a night class, and that really gave me the solid base I needed to work with confidence. It’s been a cumulative process.

Who and what inspires you?

My parents inspire me, my grandparents too. Perseverance and resilience inspires me. I saw and learned a lot from my parents’ work ethic and drive. They came to New Jersey as a young married couple from Colombia. They worked hard to buy a house and always had a team drive about them. My grandparents on my mother’s side were a mixed race couple. I am inspired by the love they shared that sheltered them from any outside criticism. Musicians inspire me, creatives who work to stay creating inspire me. People who live out their true life mission and leave a legacy teaching and inspiring others - that is inspiring for me.

Out of all the roles that you’ve played, is there any role/character that resonated with you the most and why?

Probably Carmen. It’s a character and role that brings up a lot of things I saw and felt growing up - in the 80s and 90s. And she carries herself with so much dignity, how can I not be inspired by her? She is the type of character who is very giving and very loving.

Aside from acting, what else keeps you busy?

Making art, singing, endlessly organizing my closet. I love to go hiking and spend time with my friends and cousins here in Cali.

Have you done any new paintings this year?

Not really aside from some small ones I did in quarantine. But I think that will change soon!

What’s a valuable lesson that you’ve learned that you always carry with you?

I’ve learned that the deepest riches you carry within yourself, just as you are right now. And that in any situation staying present and showing yourself some kindness and some love is the best thing you can ever do.

If you were a book, what book would you be and why?

I’d probably be a children’s book or a graphic novel. I would be a long book with beautiful drawings. There would be several worlds to journey through and many characters and colors. It would be like one of those beautifully bound large books with gold colored edges and a beautiful shimmery cover. I’d like to think this book is magical, that the pages are still being written. And if you open it again and re-read it - you’d swear there were new pages and passages. It would be the type of book that whispers to you one moment and then makes you laugh with its frank in-your-face tone. Maybe Kurt Vonnegut, Neil Gaiman, and Tori Amos and Sally Rooney would be influences. It would be poetic for sure.