There's a beloved scene from 2019's Big Shots in which Gina Rodriguez's Jenny dances in a tavern, preparing for a night of heady night with her daughters . Undisturbed, she was in control—until Selena's "Dream About You" stopped her in her tracks. The song reminded her of a recent breakup. She paused, took a few calming breaths, and then began to sing along.
Here's a quick summary of Rodriguez's romantic sensibility: She's able to switch effortlessly between modern rom-com heroine and dramatic seriousness—more chilled than Bridget Jones, but not as dramatic as Andy Anderson in "How to Lose a Man " is so willful. That scope helped "The Great One" win acclaim both as an anti-romantic comedy and as evidence of the genre's resurgence.
It’s no surprise that Rodriguez surged here. Her character in Jane the Virgin —her breakout role—is a budding romance novelist who understands the tropes that romantic comedy audiences (and readers) love. Ten years later, the actor starred in ABC's hit supernatural sitcom Not Dead Yet . This Valentine's Day, she 's continuing her long-running love story in Netflix's new film "The Player."
Rodriguez tells Bustle you could call it a "friendship."
In "The Players ," she plays Mike, a sports writer whose circle of friends treats love like a game, and they team up to put on creative "shows" to attract the attention of potential partners. The movie hints that there might be something more to come from Mac's closest wingman Adam ( New Girl 's Damon Wayans Jr.) — a cute payoff. But despite this, the players are still the core of the team.
“It’s so cool that the ringleader is this girl,” Rodriguez said. "She was surrounded by men who loved her so much and would do anything for her and protect her. She had the power of a woman, she was in charge of love and sex. It just doesn't happen that often."
It was this dynamic that drew Rodriguez, who also served as the film's executive producer, to the script.
As for her own life, a romance writer could have written a story like this: Nearly 10 years ago, at age 39, she met her husband, fellow actor Joe LoCicero, on the set of "Jane the Virgin" (Joe LoCicero) when their son Charlie was one year old. earlier this month.
In honor of her Valentine's Day movie, Rodriguez talks romantic comedies , her favorite romantic tropes and on-screen kisses.
Mac practices all this "drama" in her love life. Have you ever borrowed any techniques from romantic comedies?
No, I've never been that creative. I'm also pretty opinionated that if I want something, I'm not going to play games to get it. But growing up—before I realized what I really wanted and how not to settle for less than what I wanted—a part of me was submissive. I'm a chameleon. I can be anything anyone wants me to be. But that's not really sustainable. It got me into relationships that were not good for me. But I wish I was more of a "player".
What romantic comedies did you fall in love with growing up?
Anything starring Julia Roberts. I love Pretty Woman. I know how controversial this is now, but man, this is awesome. [Roberts] is so gorgeous and effortless.
The same goes for anything that stars Sandra Bullock. She turned the romantic comedy into an action movie. She really modified [the genre] for me and broke the mold. I'd also say Notting Hill and Love Actually , and old-school movies like Sleepless in Seattle.
How is auditioning for a romantic comedy different from other genres?
It doesn't change how I treat them. My audition process is always about finding the humanity in the character. There’s nothing more convincing than [an actor] believing what he or she is saying. You have to love the person you're playing.
There's a lot of talk about the resurgence of romantic comedies. Great people are definitely a part of it. What are your thoughts on the current state of the genre?
Well, I think romantic comedies are timeless. They last forever. We love them because we love to laugh and cry. But what’s really exciting about the genre is newcomers being able to tell the story. It comes from a new perspective - just as human, just as relatable.
Now that you've starred in multiple love stories, how do you make sure your on-screen kisses work?
I've had a very, very lucky journey when it comes to kissing people on screen. I've been matched with some pretty incredible people, both men and women. The way to keep things from getting awkward is to keep your feelings out of it. You never make it through just a kiss. Stay professional.
What's your favorite romance trope?
Best friends fall in love. I love it so much. It never gets old. Like, yes, they fell in love. Yes, they are best friends. It's so wonderful.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
