The actress has always thought of herself as a Hollywood outsider.
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Keyla Monterroso Mejia whispers when she says her co-stars names: Larry David.
All of these things are like,What is my life?
Monterroso Mejia tells me over Zoom on a January afternoon, referencing her rapid rise to comedic fame.
She feels so removed from the radius of Hollywoods sparkle.
In some ways, quite literally.
I never meet people who really know what Im talking about when I mention these areas, she says.
Monterroso Mejia is a unique case study of a Hollywood outsider turned in-demand actress.
She isnt a former child actress finding superstardom in adulthood, nor a Harvard-Westlake grad fighting nepo-baby allegations.
She chose the former.
I hang out with my brother, and it puts me back into reality, she says.
If I didnt get this job, or if I dont look this way, its not important.
Whats happening out here is important.
The next few months for Monterroso Mejia will continue to be a parade of promo tours and red carpets.
Shes already kicked off the year with not one, but two feature films.
I have to call him Will Ferrell.
Were not on a first-name basis.
It has to be Mr. Will Ferrell.
As a hoping-to-make-it-actress, she spent years commuting to L.A. for acting classes and auditions.
She booked a few indie films and small theater gigs; all drama-focused roles.
You have a comedy thing going, you should run with this, the actress recalls.
Within the span of one week in late 2020, Monterroso Mejia landed two major roles.
Most notably, her television breakout on season 11 of HBOs long-standing hitCurb.
It was onCurbthat Quinta Brunson first saw Monterroso Mejia and offered her a recurring role onAbbott Elementarys second season.
Success hasnt changed Monterroso Mejias ethos of approaching her time on set as a student.
Being on set and seeing them work in real time is a huge tool.
Its like,Oh my God, I just watched a fucking genius artist workshop a choice.Thats priceless.
Most of these women are usually a thorn in another characters side.
As she describes the mindset change, she speaks in gestures, presenting her Maria Sofia side.
That energy in my characters shifts into confidence.
In that one hour, I just tell myself,Fuck it.
Just go for it, bitch.
Monterroso Mejias characters also all dance a fine line of likability.
Theyre all annoying to some degree, but never unbearably so.
she says, laughing at how pretentious she sounds.
As an actress, I do attempt to have my characters not be one-dimensional…
It almost always falls short and is not enough, but its never not trying.
Something that feels plucked from Monterroso Mejias own life.
Shes never not trying.
The disbelief that shes the star is not a coy act, but the very heart of her hustle.
Whatever gets the job.
Later, she adds, I really hope to be in this business for a really long time.
But the future is a tricky concept for Black and brown girls with imposter syndrome.
Everything that transpired has been more than I thought was possible for myself, she says.
Sometimes Im like,Yes, Im so excited.
Bring it on.And then other times Im like,Dang, I dont want to be too greedy.
Ive already done so much.
Maybe one day shell get an Oscar.
Or eventually be able to afford that house in the Hollywood Hillsright next to Mr. Will Ferrell.
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