Movies

Gigi Zumbado takes the edge off new Valentine’s Day slasher ‘Heart Eyes’

BBG News

In the recently released Valentine’s Day horror film titled “Heart Eyes”, love turns out to be lethal. However, actress Gigi Zumbado adds a touch of humor and warmth to this playful yet gory production.

In this movie, a Cuban-American actor appears alongside Olivia Holt (“Ally”) and Mason Gooding (“Jay”), who work together at a marketing agency. On Valentine’s Day, they find themselves in each other’s company, but not romantically involved. Simultaneously, the “Heart Eyes Killer,” infamous for murdering young couples in Boston and Philadelphia, has chosen Seattle as his new target city.

Under the guidance of director Josh Ruben and in association with Screen Gems and Spyglass Media Group, who are known for producing the “Scream” series, get ready for an edge-of-your-seat experience with the movie titled “Heart Eyes”.

In these instances, the scary aspect becomes less prominent as Ally and Jay engage in humorously exaggerated romantic moments that are typical of romantic comedies.

The horror vibe is put on hold when Ally and Jay exhibit over-the-top, comical romantic scenes reminiscent of a romantic comedy.

In lighter moments, Zumbado’s charm is evident in her character, Monica – who is Ally’s colleague, confidante, and sometimes fashion critic. The strong bond between the characters on screen might be a reflection of Zumbado’s genuine nature as a friend to women in real life.

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Growing up in the vibrant city of Miami, I, along with my two talented siblings Carmela and Marisela Zumbado, have been making our mark in the dynamic world of showbiz, all three of us pursuing our dreams as actors.

Gigi Zumbado mentioned during their Zoom conversation with De Los that there are three chances for us in the raffle. Although we have distinct backgrounds, we often read for the same roles. We frequently exchange ideas and offer guidance to one another,” Gigi shared.

Born as the youngest among three siblings, Zumbado has blazed her unique trail in the entertainment industry. She’s best known for playing Tammy Ocampo in the Epix series “Bridge and Tunnel,” and gracing the screens of films such as “Pitch Perfect 2” and “Tone-Deaf.” Additionally, she will be seen in an upcoming comedy pilot on CBS titled “DMV,” alongside veterans from “Saturday Night Live,” Tim Meadows and Molly Kearney.

Before Zumbado embarks on her bright future, though, will her character Monica make it through Valentine’s Day without any harm? Zumbado recently discussed with De Los the production of “Heart Eyes” and infusing a touch of Little Havana in Hollywood.

The following Q&A has been lightly edited for clarity and length and contains spoilers.

What do you think of your character Monica who lightened up an otherwise tense thriller? I adore her! She’s such a hoot. Monica is a joy to play. It’s amusing because it feels like I’m in a completely different film compared to everyone else. I tend to forget how nerve-wracking, chaotic, and frantic the scene is. Monica brought comic relief, making us laugh and easing the tension.

In a different twist from the other characters, yours seems to be from a movie that resembles a Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen production. However, I can’t elaborate much on the horror elements of it. Instead, it was more about sharing laughter and enjoying a fun day with Olivia Holt, almost like we were constantly “kiki-ing”.

I found myself wondering, “Was Monica going to be part of the horror?” But it was refreshing to witness a friend character who managed to survive in the storyline. What an unusual yet delightful twist! [laughs]

If you found yourself in a situation where you needed to protect yourself against the notorious “Heart Eyes” killer, what would you employ as your defense?

Well, let me show you. This one here is quite petite, more of a kitten heel, not particularly formidable. But my dad always instilled in my sisters and I, “If you’ve got a heel, use it.” So, this could be used in a pinch!

Does it feel unique to be part of a family where acting is the norm? Are your parents performers by profession?

My parents don’t act for a living though. Occasionally, I do self-recorded auditions with mom, and that experience can be quite chilling, especially when trying to elicit an authentic performance from her if my sisters aren’t around.

It’s enjoyable for us because our parents didn’t force us into it; rather, we were the amusement in our household. We spent most of our time dancing and playing musical instruments. As a result, our passion for entertainment was born from music.

The three of us currently reside together in Hollywood. If Carmela enters an audition before me, she’ll exit the room and say something like, “Alright, they disliked that, they enjoyed this, they’re searching for this.” This gives me an extra minute to prepare. Then, if Marisela goes next, I’ll say, “Alright Mari, they appreciated these aspects of Carmela and those of me, but you should focus on this and (continue with details).

We’re incredibly fortunate. It’s hard for me to imagine navigating this field without having two close friends by my side, encouraging and supporting me every step of the way. I couldn’t manage it without my siblings.

What’s it like to reside in L.A., being from a Miami family? It seems we’ve transformed the Hollywood Hills into our own Little Havana! We have our mother with us, and our father joined us out here. With all of our grandparents gone, we visit home less frequently, but now our aunts, uncles, and cousins come to L.A. for holidays. We’re such a close-knit family that we aren’t accepting any other place as our new home.

What’s your next step? I’m thrilled about a pilot I filmed in Montreal back in November titled “DMV.” It’s a CBS production, a comedic series set in the workplace, and boasts an exceptionally gifted, side-splittingly funny cast that I’ve had the pleasure of working with.

In simpler terms, I find myself dwarfed by comedic giants, these SNL veterans, who are truly remarkable. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for us to progress because it was an exhilarating experience and their talent is simply astounding – it felt like attending a TED Talk, observing them all collaborate was truly inspiring.

As a cinephile, I’ve been keeping tabs on the project, thrilled to see it in development. And let me tell you, Dana Klein’s genius doesn’t stop at transforming my character – she rebranded her as Cecilia, a vibrant Cuban woman hailing from Miami. It was an exhilarating experience for me, channeling my roots and giving a glimpse of Miami’s unique flavor to CBS viewers.

It’s great to see more Latino characters in mainstream media who are not defined solely by their backstory, but rather allowed to simply exist and be themselves.”

In “Heart Eyes,” the character Monica was an open-ethnicity role that I happened to play because I am Latina. In the past, I’ve only been considered for roles specifically written for Cuban girls, and I was often asked if I spoke fluent Spanish and if I was raised speaking it. However, I feel that this is not a realistic or accurate representation of the world, as it should not be necessary to have a specific Latin backstory in order to play a character from a Latin background.

In my opinion, we have many commonalities across our diverse cultures, and it was gratifying to see that this role wasn’t dependent on being Hispanic or Latina. However, I am indeed Latina, and the writer has given me the opportunity to express that aspect of myself. Yet, securing this role wasn’t based on my ethnicity; rather, it felt like a genuine compliment when they allowed me to bring my unique identity into the character.

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2025-02-06 02:32

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