Justina Machado had been a working actress for 26 years, with big roles on six feet under ER and Queen of the South, when she came to terms with the fact that she might never jump to the

next level. And then, of course, she did, earning the lead role in the reboot of one day at a time.

We talk about the decision Justina made that led to that inflection point and her new role as the title

character on the horror of Dolores Roach, a comedy horror series about a woman returning from

prison, trying to build a new life,

only to end up with blood on her hands.

Justina shares the well of pain that allows her to act from her gut, an undeniable fortitude

that has made her a star.

Music Justina, thank you so much for doing this.

Thank you so much for having me.

It seems to me in the retelling of your story that you moved to L.A. without a really clear plan of what it is you're going to do in L.A. Tell me if I'm wrong. Tell me. I moved to New York first. And what was it you thought New York was going to offer you? I wanted to be a star. I wanted to be a Broadway star. I was single-minded when I was young. I just wanted to be a star. And did New York pan out for you? It did. But then I got a job

in L.A. I got a pilot in Los Angeles. And then I never went back to New York City. I just kept

working in L.A.

What was that pilot?

It was called Second Noah, and I was actually fired from the series.

When it went to series, I got fired.

And it was my first big job and my first huge disappointment.

But because I came from such a tough kind of background, you just keep going.

You know, that's what I'm grateful for, is the background that I have kind of has helped me a lot in Hollywood because it's not easy.

You have what is, in some ways, a pretty unusual experience in Hollywood, which is that you have been, you're a working actor

for a very long period of time for about 26 years, which like, one, just that survival is

incredible. And then to also have been a working actress for 26 years before you finally get the

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