WATCH: Jesse García’s Advice for Artists Who Strive for More Representation in Hollywood

Our recent You Me & Joe episode was nothing short of a caffeine-fueled rollercoaster. Jesse García and our host Cynthia grabbed a cup of Joe (literally) and dived headfirst into a chat about life, career, and all things “Flamin’ Hot.”

First things first, Jesse declared his love for coffee. “My relationship with coffee is very exciting. It’s stimulating, it’s vibrant, gets me going, and it makes me poop,” he chuckled. And there we were, already feeling the vibe of this charismatic actor.

The conversation seamlessly transitioned to his latest movie, “Flamin Hot,” a film directed by the Eva Longoria. Jesse couldn’t stop praising Longoria, expressing how much he looks up to her as a filmmaker. “She comes from an acting background, so she understands how to talk to actors, but she also understands everyone’s job,” he shared. “She did a really great job making sure all the cogs were the right cogs of the machine. Everyone’s idea was considered, there is no such thing as a bad idea. She created a strong team.”

Jesse then took us on a trip down memory lane, recounting his first audition in Atlanta, just five months into acting classes. The movie was titled “Delivery Boy Chronicles,” and he mentioned, “It was literally Mexican Leaf Blower. And I didn’t know any better, I was just stoked to get my first audition.” And he got the part! The bitter-sweet taste of beginner’s luck!

The actor, known for his role in the award-winning film “Quinceañera,” shed light on the landscape of Latino representation in the film industry. He said that while there have been some victories, the struggle for more leading roles and female directors is far from over. Jesse urged aspiring artists to take matters into their own hands. “Write, produce, and direct your own stuff. Everyone has a phone. Everyone has the capability of shooting their own film. Nothing has to be perfect. But something will eventually be magical.”

“Be interesting. Don’t try to do something that has already been made. Everyone has something they wanna do, and there are other people that want to do the same thing. So form your tribe and produce the stuff you wanna produce,” he added.

Jesse then admitted to never taking a conventional acting class: “I have my own thing, I don’t really know what it is, I just make some choices and try to be interesting.” And interesting, he definitely is!

As the coffee cups neared empty, Jesse left us with powerful advice. “At the end of the day, if you feel okay looking in the mirror and saying ‘I’m okay with what I did today and how it’s gonna represent me and how I feel on the inside with that job,’ cool, you do you. But if I look at a job and I’m not 150% in, then it’s probably not the right job for me.”

So, who is Jesse Garcia? Born in Rawlins, Wyoming, and raised as a Jehovah’s Witness, this talented actor’s journey has been nothing short of remarkable. His father is from Durango, Mexico and his mother, a native of Wyoming, is of Spanish and Mexican descent. From winning Best Actor at the 2007 ALMA Awards for his role in “Quinceañera” to his portrayal of Richard Montañez in the biographical movie “Flamin’ Hot” (2023), Jesse Garcia continues to leave a mark on the entertainment industry.

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