“IT’S REALLY FREEING TO HAVE SOME CONTROL OVER WHAT WE DO AND I WAS CRAVING TO HAVE A PLACE FOR THE STORIES I WANTED TO SHARE, WHERE I DIDN’T HAVE TO ASK FOR PERMISSION”

Julieth Restrepo is impossible to ignore. She has that rare mix of intensity and ease—one minute, she’s breaking your heart on the screen, and the next, she’s making you laugh like an old friend. After years of turning in powerful performances in Latin America, she’s now making major waves in Hollywood, starring in Netflix’s The Residence, a murder mystery set in the White House from Shonda Rhimes’ powerhouse production company, Shondaland.

You probably first noticed her in Griselda, where she held her own opposite Sofia Vergara in one of the year’s most-watched series. Or maybe it was Loving Pablo, where she shared the screen with Javier Bardem and Penélope Cruz. But acting is just one part of the story—Julieth is also a producer, running her own company, Blue Rabbit Films, with a mission to tell the stories no one else is telling.

With The Residence about to drop and a slate of new projects in the works, Julieth sits down with us to talk about taking risks, breaking barriers, and why she refuses to be put in a box.

Let’s talk about The Residence. This show has all the makings of a hit—Shondaland, mystery, and a powerhouse cast. What about this project made you say, “I have to do this”?

When I got the audition, I fell in love with the script. I remember I had five scenes to prepare for Elsyie, and even though I had a 2-month-old baby at home and wasn’t planning to go back to work so soon, I couldn’t help myself, and I started preparing the tape. The scenes were so good, the dialogue was on point, and there were so many layers for her that I was really excited to have the chance to work on them.

You play Elsyie Chayle, a housekeeper caught in a murder investigation inside the White House. What did you love about this character?

She is a great mom, very committed to her job, and willing to do her best every day. She has a great heart and means well, but the fact that she is hiding something was very intriguing, and it gave me a lot to play with.

Shonda Rhimes is known for creating strong, complex female leads. How does it feel to be part of that legacy?

Incredible. I’m so grateful, and I can clearly see how she and Paul William Davies (the show’s creator and showrunner) break boundaries and stereotypes. She has opened new doors for women in front of and behind the camera. Through those powerful roles, she has given us a chance to be bold and brave, so I definitely feel supported and lucky to experience being part of those worlds.

You had a scene-stealing role in Griselda, which became a massive global hit. What was it like stepping into that world, and how did you prepare for the role of Marta Ochoa?

Thank you so much. I knew Marta was based on a real person, but I couldn’t find much about her, so it was very important for me to build her story around the script. I needed to go deep into her psychology, trusting the work we did with Andi Baiz, our director. It was really fun collaborating in the creative process with my colleagues, including the talented Sofia Vergara. The costumes, props, and makeup informed a lot of the world Marta lived in and complemented what I envisioned for her. I had a blast playing her.

You’ve worked in many genres—crime, thriller, romance, drama. What’s the common thread in the roles you’re drawn to?

I would say women with a challenge in front of them. Women that are learning something valuable about themselves and know that they have power within. Brave women in the midst of uncertainty.