Fangirlish sat down with The Rookie star Lisseth Chavez to talk about her role as Celina Juarez, the evolution of her character, and how her journey as an actress intersects with her on-screen experiences. From reflecting on her earlier role in Chicago P.D. to teasing future storylines, Chavez shared insights into Celina’s development, the importance of her storylines, and her hopes for the future of the series.
From Vanessa Rojas to Celina Juarez
Reflecting on what it’s been like to play two different police officers on television, Chavez acknowledged the unusual but exciting experience of jumping from one cop drama to another. “It’s crazy to jump from a police [show] to another police show,” she explains. “They do have a lot of similarities and a lot of differences. Differences in as far as like their background.” Chavez describes Vanessa Rojas from Chicago P.D. as someone who “comes from a foster care system and [that] has a lot of street smarts and that makes her the cop she was,” while Celina Juarez is different in that “at a young age [she] experienced her sister being kidnapped,” a trauma that shaped her approach to policing.
Both characters are “fearless women who want to do good,” but their personalities diverge. “Celina is very spiritual, very superstitious. She’s into astrology,” Chavez notes, contrasting her with Vanessa, who “was more still guarded.” She adds, “It has been fun being able to just go from Intelligence to becoming a rookie again… I feel like as a rookie, I can make mistakes.” Chavez credits her past role for practical skills too “[Thanks to Vanessa Rojas] I’m being able to use a gun or hold it. So Rojas gifted me that so I could keep it moving forward.”
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A Past to Discover
Chavez also touched on a recent episode of The Rookie in which Celina participates in “Plain Clothes Day” and discusses the unique challenges of being a Latina officer. She described the episode as a standout moment, both personally and professionally. “Plain Clothes was a very big episode for Celina and for me [as an actress].” She describes the pivotal moment where Celina asserts herself and said, “She felt the need to stand up for herself just to let [Nolan] know that she did everything right.”
For the actress, she sees it as a turning point, both in the character’s development and in her relationship with Nolan. “A part of Nolan wants to protect Celina. But Celina just needed him to know that she can take care of herself and can handle the situation.” For Chavez, the moment was empowering: “It was a very big moment and I was proud of Celina for standing up for herself.”
As the show progresses, we’re eager to see more of Celina’s personal history, especially with the recent introduction of a romantic interest. Chavez teased that more of Celina’s backstory will be revealed soon. “We will see a little bit, just a little bit of her sister,” she shared. “Her background does come back in one of the future episodes. And Celina, may or may not get some closure.” She’s also particularly excited about introducing a new character: her mother. “We will get to see Mama Juarez. She’s awesome! I’m excited to tell that story.”
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Life Beyond the Uniform
On a lighter note, Chavez was asked about Celina’s living situation with fellow officer Lucy Chen and whether fans might get a glimpse of their off-duty camaraderie. The actress didn’t hesitate before saying, “Oh, yes!” We will get to see the bond between Celina and Lucy grow and that “you will see how close Lucy Chen and Celina Juarez have gotten.” And she shared on how their interactions on screen reflect genuine friendship. “I think we do get to see that where it’s just like two friends talking about boys or what’s happening. We do get to explore that.” (And we’re both just as eager to see Celina giving Lucy advice about Tim! Fingers crossed for that scene to happen!)
When asked about the possibility of returning for another season, Chavez didn’t hesitate. Without missing a beat, she exclaims, “Oh, my God, yes! May they hear you.” And like the rest of us, she’s waiting for news herself. “I’m like also waiting [for a confirmation of a new season].”
With her heartfelt portrayal of Celina Juarez and a clear passion for the role, Lisseth Chavez is poised to continue bringing depth and vibrancy to The Rookie and we can’t wait to see what’s next for her!
The Rookie Season 7 airs Tuesdays at 9 pm on ABC.
