Peruvian Breakout Actress Talks BOSCH and Latinx Representation

Peruvian Starlet Denise G. Sanchez is a first generation Peruvian-American actress born and raised in Connecticut in a tight knit Peruvian Community. She currently plays Reina Vasquez on Bosch: Legacy, set to stream on IMDb TV and Amazon, which is her first big gig. “I have worked so hard for a long time and to finally see that it’s paid off is an incredible sense of accomplishment,” she told LATV.

Acting has always been her passion, but having community, family and being attached to her Peruvian roots are equally important. “I spent my formative summer seasons traveling to Peru where I stayed with extended family. I was very lucky to experience the richness of our culture from such a young age,” she says.

We’re sharing exclusive Q&A sessions with Latina artists you should know. Check out Denise’s.

What makes you passionate about your work? 

I love to get into the mind of each character. I submerge myself into their world through research, and love to create back stories to fill in the holes to help create and add to their life. It’s an incredibly fun and rewarding thing to do.

Photo Credit: Eric Barron Photography

How have you seen diversity and representation of Latinas in your industry change over the years?

For so long we have seen a white washed version of the Latinx community, but I’ve been seeing that narrative slowly change. More Latinx writers and directors are getting opportunities to create stories with talent that looks different from what the world has been used to and it’s a beautiful thing- but Hollywood needs to speed it up! It’s not just about how we look or how we are portrayed,  it’s also about the stories behind what makes each Latinx community so different from one another yet bound together in our struggle for representation.

Tell us about the biggest struggles or obstacles you’ve encountered in your acting career

As a Latinx actress, I found that I didn’t fit neatly into the prescribed boxes created by the entertainment industry for women of color. It was always, “you’re too much of this or too little of that,” and as a result I found myself questioning my own sense of self.  This was hard to overcome because as an actor confidence is key, and the once confident girl was beginning to lose faith that anyone would see me beyond my complex appearance. What got me through was my family and prayer. They encouraged me beyond belief and it’s because of them that I am still standing. 

The biggest lesson you’ve learned and can share with younger Latinas

Be open and honest about what you want, never be afraid to ask for exactly what you deserve. If they say no, ask someone until you find the ‘Yes’ you’ve been looking for. 

Photo credit: Dana Patrick Studios

 Follow along Denise’s journey on social media and check back with us for another Q&A.