Interview with Jessica Marie Garcia
Jessica Marie Garcia is best known for her role as Willow on the Disney Channel series, Liv and Maddie, but she also guest-starred on shows like Huge and The Middle. Jessica sat down with Glitter to tell us about her role in Liv and Maddie, her favorite episode to date and why, her secret crushes, and what she likes to do on her free time. Read on to find more about this amazingly strong actress!
GLITTER: What can you tell us about your role on the Disney Channel series, Liv and Maddie?
JESSICA: I play Willow. She is a tough girl, with a huge heart. She plays center for the girls’ basketball team and is Maddie’s best friend. She also has a massive crush on Joey Rooney (Maddie’s younger brother).
GLITTER: What’s it like working alongside Dove Cameron?
JESSICA: Working with Dove, is like working with one of your closest friends…probably because, she is! We have so much fun on set together. She is also such a hard worker, because she is in almost EVERY SCENE! She is always prepared and a comedic genius. I am really lucky to have her as a BFF on and off screen.
GLITTER: What other shows have you guest-starred on?
JESSICA: My first guest star role was for a show called Huge, which was on ABC Family. I played a girl named Sierra, who had a really hard time transitioning from home to a summer camp with other overweight teens. Then I was lucky enough to recur on one of my favorite shows on television, The Middle on ABC. I play Becky, a very tough girl with a knack for making weapons, and not smiling. I have been really blessed with these opportunities and I am really looking forward to seeing who I get to play next!
GLITTER: What has been your favorite episode to date and why?
JESSICA: My favorite episode was one that aired about a month ago, called “Rate-A-Rooney”. In this episode, the girls of Ridgewood High are being rated on their looks from 1-10 by a group of guys, that Willow calls the “Jerktourage”. They rate Willow a 5 and she is devastated.
It’s the first time that the audience sees Willow being vulnerable, and not the tough jock. I love that we showed this side of her, because so many kids see that there is a “tough” girl in their class and they think she has no feelings, but most of the time, the “tough” girl is going through the hardest time. Willow admits that she is hurt and actually wants guys to think she’s pretty, so she changes everything about her look. She puts on a dress, heels, makeup, everything. But at what cost? She lost who she was, to seek the approval of people that don’t truly care about her.
She learns this by talking to her friends and listening to an empowering song by Liv Rooney, called “What a Girl Is”. She then goes back to being the real Willow. What I love most about this episode, is that she turns back to being herself and gets rated a 5, again. She doesn’t change back and all of a sudden the bullies go away, she changes back and realizes that bullies are always going to be there, but she chooses how they affect her. She becomes a much stronger person, and falls even more in love with who she is. Willow is about to embark on an exciting new journey on Liv and Maddie, and I am really excited for our fans to check it out!
GLITTER: What advice do you have for teens who have been bullied? How can they overcome it?
JESSICA: I think it’s important to know, that you’re not alone. Everyone has been picked on at some point in their lives. It’s how you respond to it that shows what kind of person you are. When people bully us, we have to end the cycle there. Be the bigger person. Bullies are people that are struggling in their own lives, and are lashing out because they’re in pain. Maybe if you’re strong enough, befriend them. I know that can be much easier said than done. At the end of the day, it is just important to know, that I don’t care what anyone says about you, there is absolutely nothing wrong with you.
GLITTER: What do you like to do on your free time?
JESSICA: I like to write my own scripts. Make vision boards. Beach bonfires, movies, concerts, hikes with friends, and go see stand-up comedy, sketch groups
GLITTER: Do you have any celebrity crushes?
JESSICA: This may be a long list! Haha. Elijah Wood, Chris Pratt, Jason Momoa, Miles Teller, and Michael B. Jordan.
GLITTER: Is there something about you fans would be surprised to know?
JESSICA: I’m a klutz! I run into everything. I trip over everything- it’s kind of sad!
GLITTER: Best advice you were ever given?
JESSICA: Whether you say “I can” or “I can’t”- you’d be right.
GLITTER: What’s your definition of self-love?
JESSICA: Self-love for me, is knowing that you’re worth it. You are worth everything you want in life. Knowing that regardless what anyone says, you know what you’re capable of achieving, and you go for it.
GLITTER: What would be a dream role for you?
JESSICA: I love playing women that have an unbreakable spirit. I want to show the strength and resilience that women have and celebrate it in a role. I would like to show a deeper, and more vulnerable side to my acting that maybe you haven’t seen yet from me.
GLITTER: Is there someone you’d like to work with that you haven’t worked with already?
JESSICA: There are so many incredible actors, directors, and writers that I would love to work with someday. But if I had to pick one person, it would have to be, Angelina Jolie. I have admired her acting since I was a little girl. She embodies so much that I admire in a person. I would love to hear about her humanitarian work in other countries, and pick her brain apart about directing. I just think she would teach me so much about using your voice for the benefit of our world. I think she is such a hero.
GLITTER: Any projects you can tell us about that you’re working on next?
JESSICA: I’m in the middle of writing, directing, and starring in my first short film. I would like to submit it in my first festival this year. Also, we just got picked up for season 3 of Liv and Maddie! Very excited to see what shenanigans we get into this year!
GLITTER: How can fans follow you?
JESSICA: Facebook- Jessica Marie Garcia Fan Page
Twitter- @JessMarieGarcia
Instagram- jess_m_garcia
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Glitter Co-Founder | Writer | Journalist | Host | Tweet me @zoefowler28
