Julieth Restrepo is part of the cast in the new mystery drama, The Residence on Netflix. Restrepo is one of Netflix regular international faces, as she was recently seen in Griselda, alongside Sofia Vergara. Now we get to see her be a part a murder mystery at one of the most popular addresses in the world, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC. Also known as the White House.

I had the opportunity to connect with the Colombian actress, Julieth Restrepo. She expressed her enthusiasm of getting to be a part of another Netflix series. In parallel with the timing of her 10th anniversary in the U.S. We also spoke about her past projects and how they helped her achieve today’s victories. As well as the projects she is looking to work with and we will be seeing her in soon.

Nancy Tapia: Hi. How are you?

Julieth Restrepo: I’m good. How are you?

Nancy Tapia: I’m doing phenomenal. Get to talk to you about The Residence.

Julieth Restrepo: Oh, nice. Have you been able to watch something?

Nancy Tapia: Yes. I actually watched about four episodes, I think. I lost track. I watched quite a few, haha…

Julieth Restrepo: Okay, cool. Because my biggest one is like seven, so you’ll get there and I’m excited for you to watch that one too!

Nancy Tapia: Well, I will get there, but in a way it’s kind of good that I haven’t watched it because I can’t talk about spoilers.

Julieth Restrepo: I know. It’s so hard, haha…Yeah. It’s going to be really hard for you not to spoil anything. It’s so hard even for me. Because I’m like, what can I say? What can’t I say?

Nancy Tapia: But even with what I got to see, I think your character kinda gives herself away…Haha…

Julieth Restrepo: Haha…Yeah. I mean, I got the script for the audition and I loved it. Even though you don’t see much about “Elsyie” in the first couple of episodes, you get to know her better later and until the very end, you don’t know what she has in her mind, which is amazing. And the way it’s written is just incredible too. Because we all have a moment to shine in the show, and I really appreciate that. I mean, it’s written in such a beautiful, funny, and smart way that we all have to just collaborate and create together. So we all have to do a lot with each other in the show.

Nancy Tapia: I remember I spoke to you in June last year, and you talked about Griselda during NALIP’s 25th anniversary…

Julieth Restrepo: Oh, yes. Now I remember you, because you sounded familiar. Now I can place you. Yeah. So good to talk to you again.

Julieth Restrepo Habla De Su Personaje En Griselda | NALIP 25 Aniversario

Nancy Tapia: Same here. Yes. So we talked about the success of Griselda and then making it internationally on Netflix, aside from the Latin stuff. You were so giddy about The Residence, but you couldn’t really tell me much.

Julieth Restrepo: Yeah, haha…Now I can, finally. Yeah. It’s been too long.

Nancy Tapia: I have to congratulate you for how far you’ve come.

Julieth Restrepo: Thank you.

Nancy Tapia: When it comes to the American market. But tell me, what’s one of the things about working with Netflix since this is another project, working with them?

Julieth Restrepo: Well, it wasn’t like I planned it. It’s hard to plan something like this because it’s so special. It’s great. But I am so lucky to be able to work with people that want to celebrate. They want to celebrate diversity, and they want to celebrate different content and they’re open to open conversations too. I know it sounds like I said it twice. They want to open conversations. They want to touch on different topics. And I see the impact that Shondaland has on Netflix and I see what they’ve done. Shonda Rhimes (executive producer), she’s done incredible with Netflix, not only because she’s amazing. But because she’s opening new doors to artists all the time and she’s able to create and just have amazing teams too. So I think Netflix is all about that. They’re taking risks, which I love. I think Griselda was a big risk they took, and I applaud them for that.

With The Residence, I think even though we’re coming back to murder mysteries, which we’ve seen before, I don’t think we’ve seen anything like The Residence. Which is something that I love about the show. We have a president married to a man, which is new and amazing and incredible, and I love it. I’m one of the few Latin people that we have in the show, so we have a little bit of everything. The whole world mixes in the show and on Netflix too. So I’m proud of it, and I’m so lucky, to be honest. I’m so

grateful.

Nancy Tapia: Yes, we’ve seen various versions of mystery films and series, but this one’s in the White House. What was that experience filming in a set like that?

Julieth Restrepo: Surreal, I have so many pictures and videos that I haven’t shared, and I can’t wait. I want to see the show coming out so I can just really share everything I saw because it was so detailed and it was so well thought out, and it was just planned. Every little thing that you see in the show is exactly how the White House looks inside, so that’s incredible too. All the books and the paintings and the wallpapers, everything they did was amazing. So I’m in awe of everything they did. What is great about having a murder mystery in the White House is that you are trying to find out who did it while you are discovering the White House inside in a way that you’ve never seen before. 

We’ve seen shows at the White House. We’ve seen comedies and dramas and films and TV shows, but you’ve never seen it in this way. And there’s so many hidden gems inside the White House that you get to see through The Residence that I am. I’m so excited about that too. I was really excited about discovering all of that while we were shooting inside those beautiful sets they built.

Nancy Tapia: Did you get to meet Kylie Minogue?

Julieth Restrepo: Yes, I did! I did! I was so excited. I was telling all my friends, “Hey, I think today is the day.” We don’t have any scenes together with dialogue or anything, but we run into each other a few times. And one day she was leaving the set because she was done for the day, and I was starting my day and I had to introduce myself. Of course I had to because it was probably my only chance to really exchange some

words with her. I love her. I admire her. She’s so beautiful. And she does it so well in the show. I mean, she’s great. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her acting. So it was great seeing her in person and after that, seeing her on the show because I finished the show and I watched everything and I’m like, “Wow, she’s great.” We didn’t take a picture because we were inside the set, and it was complicated. But I am obsessed with her and I’m so glad that she’s part of the show too.

Nancy Tapia: I know. I was like, what? We get a little taste of her too, as an actress.

Julieth Restrepo: She had scenes. She had some good scenes. So I’m glad that Paul William Davies (showrunner/executive producer) thought about that and gave her the space to do that. And gave us the space to celebrate what she’s accomplished because she’s incredible.

Nancy Tapia: Speaking of accomplishments, I was happy for you when you shared your post yesterday when you’re like after 10 years and seeing yourself on the billboard.

Julieth Restrepo: Oh my God, I got goosebumps right now. And I got goosebumps yesterday and I cried because it’s so surreal. When I moved to LA, of course you think about that. You’re like, “Oh, maybe one day I’ll be in one of those posters.” My friends sent me a few videos last week and I was like, you know what, I’m going to go and find them because I need to see one in person. I haven’t seen it and I did, and I was with my husband and my baby in the car. And now I’m going to cry because it was just … Yeah. It felt surreal, but it felt like, wow, it’s happening. I don’t know what’s going to happen next. I don’t know. But just the celebration of my first 10 years in LA and 20 since I started acting. It’s crazy. And being able to celebrate those years with my family and my friends that have supported me all the way, and they’re rooting for me from Colombia. So it’s very emotional haha…in a good way.

Nancy Tapia: Yeah. So what do you seek to do? It’s like a new phase that you’re entering.

Julieth Restrepo: It seems like a new phase. Yeah, I’ve been producing for the last five years. So I’m ready to just keep exploring new roles and opening doors for my colleagues too. For my Latin people too. I know Sofia Vergara (“Griselda”) has opened so many doors for us, so I want to do that if I can in some way. So I’m developing new ideas. I’m pitching new projects that I want to make in Colombia and here in the States for films and TV that I’ve been working on, so that’s coming. I produced a short film last year that I’m submitting now to festivals, so that’s very exciting too. I don’t want to stop, but now I have a baby so my priorities have changed a little, or a lot. Haha…but of course I want to keep working, but I want to work on projects that have a meaning to me too. 

I did this movie, Dear Gentlemen, a couple of years ago in Colombia. I’ve been promoting it too. We’re going to open the Chicago Latino Film Festival in a couple of weeks with that film, and it’s about how women gain the right to vote in Colombia. So I want to be part of those projects. I know The Residence, yeah, it’s a murder mystery. It’s a dramedy, it’s not like we’re changing lives or we’re not saving lives with these types of shows, but I know we’re making a difference. I know we’re sending a message at least with my characters to my people, the Latin people saying, “Hey, there’s a space for us here too” and we’re doing it. It takes time, coming back to the 10 years of me moving here. Yeah, it does take time, but it’s worth it. We’re just having this new space also for artists, Latin artists too. So I’m so proud to be part of that. I’m so glad that I met you at NALIP because that was so special too. So I hope everything we’re doing makes a difference and the things that are coming for me, hopefully open doors and not only for me, but for my people too.

Nancy Tapia: Well, congratulations. One of my favorite earlier projects of yours was La Promesa.

Julieth Restrepo: Have you watched La Promesa? Oh my God!

Nancy Tapia: I watched it!

Julieth Restrepo: I got goosebumps. Oh, really?

Nancy Tapia: Yeah, from 2013, I loved it. That was meaningful. If you’re talking about something meaningful, that was strong too.

Julieth Restrepo: That was my first time as the lead in a show, and I remember I was 23 when we did it. That meant so much to me, not only because of the human trafficking topic, but because I was establishing my career in Colombia. Of course, one day I wanted to make the big move, and I didn’t know if it was going to be New York or LA, but I knew I wanted to work somewhere else.

Doing La Promesa showed me how amazing it is just being able to do something that has so much power. Because the stories we tell need to have that power, so we can go to the world with that. So I can’t believe that so many years after we did that, we’re having this conversation. So that confirms that we just have to do it because we love it, but it needs to have meaning too. So I think that’s the only way to change history and change patterns and open conversations. So I’m so glad. I mean, I’m kind of a bit in shock about that. I’m a bit in shock about it right now. I’m like, what? I wasn’t expecting this.

Nancy Tapia: I’ve been following your career since I watched La Promesa, actually.

Julieth Restrepo: Oh, my God…

Nancy Tapia: You’ve done some great stuff. You’re a great actress and I’m a little bit of a fan. I told you that at NALIP too. So I was excited to talk to you, again.

Julieth Restrepo: I remember that. Yeah. Oh, my God. Thank you, thank you. Yeah, it means a lot, what you’re saying. Really, it means a lot. So thank you for sharing, and hopefully we’ll have more of these conversations in the future. Talking about the things we’re doing and creating. I want to work with more passionate people. People that appreciate what we do, and people that are just passionate about telling stories, good stories, and celebrate who we are and how different we are. In my career being able to play “Ana” in La Promesa, she was a survivor of human trafficking. Then Griselda, I was “Marta Ochoa.” I mean, that was completely different. Then I was “Esmeralda Arboleda” (“Estimados Señores”), a woman that changed so much for us in Colombia. Then I’m talking about “Elsyie” right now with The Residence, and I’m like, that’s why I chose to be an actor.

It’s been 20 years since I chose my career and since I started acting. So I guess, yeah, it’s worth it since we’re still talking about it. Oh my God, you made my day, haha… Thank you so much. I have so many flashbacks from La Promesa, and I’m still friends with Aislinn Derbez (“Miss Bala”) and Nicole Santamaria (“Griselda”) is a good friend of mine. She lives in LA, so we’re sharing the dream and just still fighting for our dreams and waiting to see each other on billboards. And now that that’s happening, it’s like, well, let’s just do it together. Let’s do one more thing together. That will be just super fun  again.

Nancy Tapia: Well, I look forward to it and get to talk to you again for a new project. And yeah, The Residence is a little different, but you know what, you’re saving people from their personal life to distract with some entertainment. Because we do need it…

Julieth Restrepo: Thank you for saying that. It’s like, with The Residence, I feel like … I just watched the whole thing with my husband. He didn’t know anything about it. I mean, he knew that I had a wonderful time, but that’s all he knew. He didn’t know much about the story. I just love that we had this refreshing opportunity. It’s a good time for us to get something refreshing. That’s a better way to put it. It is refreshing. It’s entertaining. It’s fun and it’s smart too. It’s a way for us to celebrate so many talented people that you’re going to see in the show. We love seeing films and TV because I guess we can take some time off from our lives, and that’s a good feeling. It’s great and it’s funny, I’m very proud of it.

I’ve done so many things that I’m very proud of, but with this one in particular, I’m also celebrating that when I moved to the States, I barely spoke English. Now I’m part of a show with my heroes, where I’m working at the White House with the president haha…It’s just kind of crazy. I’m also celebrating all the amazing people that work in real life at the White House. And Latin people working in the States, fighting for their dreams. She’s fighting for their dreams and in her own way. So I hope that inspires people too, when they see “Elsyie” and they hopefully like her. I mean, we’ll see. We’ll see.

Nancy Tapia: Yeah. Well, I can’t wait to watch that episode, but thank you so much for your time. And again, congratulations. I look forward to speaking to you in the future for one of your new projects.

Julieth Restrepo: Thank you. And if you finish the show, if you want to talk again, I’m open to it. Because I know you’ll have some questions too, so I’m here for it. Thank you, Nancy.

Nancy Tapia: Yes. I’m open to it after it comes out, and then we can talk about spoilers.

Julieth Restrepo: Oh yeah, totally. Then we’ll be completely honest about everything we saw, because then we know what happened. Thank you, Nancy.

Nancy Tapia: Thank you, cuidate mucho.

Julieth Restrepo: Have a good one. Tu tambien, bye-bye.

The Residence is available to stream on Netflix

Source: LRMExclusive, Netflix