Sixtos Sisters: Unapologetically Sixtos!

AM: Working sisters—three beautiful young and gorgeous women—competitors in an unforgiving industry, how do you manage to get through it without sibling rivalry?

The three look at each other and smile.

ANDREA: We’ve been in the business since we were children—I think we started in 2000— 

ALICIA: We did print for four years prior to jumping into acting and it’s been a given that we support each other.

VERONICA: Our parents always made it a point to reiterate that if we were serious about pursuing show business, that we always support each other.

ALICIA: No matter what—

VERONICA: When our parents agreed to move us to L.A., we knew how expensive it was going to be for the three of us to pursue acting careers. So if one of us booked a gig and made money, we would help each other with the acting classes.

ANDREA: Our Parents instilled the mantra “all for one and one for all.”

ALICIA: We have the careers we have today because we helped each other… financially, emotionally and spiritually.  And, I can’t imagine a time when we won’t be each other’s support system.

AM: You rarely see this level of family unity in Hollywood. What amazing parents you have to have put make the sacrifices they made to help you nurture your creative passions.

ALICIA: Our parents wanted us to be free and develop into the artists we each were meant to be and not some manufactured Hollywood impression of what they think we should be. Our mom did not want us to be slaves stuck in some modern day contracts.

VERONICA: Our dad put into our minds that we would work hard.

ANDREA: Mom wanted us to train and go after the roles we wanted.

AM: No wonder you are all so grounded and centered. They instilled these values that are rare in this industry.

ALICIA: Our dad worked extra hard to afford us independence to pursue acting and our mom was there to take us to auditions—both always encouraging us.

ANDREA: We’re blessed and lucky. Although our mother has never been our official manager, she’s always been our “momager,” she is always there watching our backs.

AM: Yes, you’re blessed because in entertainment industry families, well there tends to be some dysfunction.

ALICIA: Well, we do have our debates and disagreements, but our foundation of love and togetherness always prevails.

VERONICA: We’re family and we’re always going to be siblings acting or no acting careers.

AM: Any sibling jealous? What happens when you’re up for the same roles?

The ladies laugh – Yeah, that happens often!

ALICIA: It happens. It can’t be helped. We often go out for the same roles… I mean for a long time we had the same agent. And, there have been roles that we really want and didn’t get.

VERONICA: Of course it happens, but with us, thank goodness, it happens on a small scale. That thing about ‘one for all and all for one,’ kicks in.

ANDREA: From childhood, we were taught that better one of us gets booked than none of us.

ALICIA:  We get over any disappointments, shake it off and then focus on the sister that did get booked and we go all in to support her so she delivers the best performance possible. We were taught that the roles we got were the ones we were supposed to get.

AM: In 2006, your feature film debut in the indie “Quincienera,” set you in motion and there’s been no slowing down since. We really got to know the debt of your range in teen hit East Los High, portraying Maya Martinez. Tell me about landing this role.

ALICIA:  I really wanted this part. And it was hard because my sister Andrea was also up for it, but ‘Maya’ I really pushed hard for because I felt this is the role I have been waiting for. She’s rough and tough around the edges trying to survive her circumstances. I had been working consistently for Disney and Nickelodeon, all sweet [one-dimensional] roles. ‘Maya’ was complicated.

AM:  How long did you wait before you knew you won the role?

ALICIA:   Well, I auditioned and when I didn’t hear anything I was beginning to get anxious, so naturally I thought ‘I didn’t get it.’ I took a trip to the Grand Canyon to rewind and deal with my disappointment. But the day I got back, I got the call that I booked it. It was amazing! I thought it was lost.

AM: This industry is a bunch of highs and lows.

ALICIA: Yeah, but you just keep at it.  I recently completed a pilot, “Monsters Of Gods.” Have worked on The Fosters as Carmen Cruz for three seasons, and East Los High for three seasons.

AM: What is your ultimate goal as far as acting is concerned?

ALICIA: I enjoy indie films because most of the roles have grit. But, the thing is, television is turning into film and a lot of film actors going to TV because there are more opportunities for interesting and stories with great substance.

AM: Yes, actors work on TV for the paycheck and film for the passion. But no doubt about it, TV is a bigger paycheck.

ALICIA: My thoughts about TV have changed a lot. I just started watching “Feud” and I love it!

AM: I love it too!

ALICIA: More TV shows are being shot like films and that has elevated the interest of movie stars to rethink the TV arena. This is why I enjoyed working on “Monsters Of God,” it felt like I was working on a feature film.

AM: I also hear you have another passion—painting.

ALICIA:  It’s a great stress reliever for me. I put all my frustration into these paintings, and when one is done, I feel so good. Like a weight is lifted off my chest.

AM: You also wanted East Los High, but didn’t get cast until season two. But from what I hear, it was worth the wait. Tell us about your groundbreaking role.

ANDREA: Yeah, I auditioned for Maya in season one but we all know big sis, Alicia booked that one. It was close (she teases her sister) because I got a call back. In season two, I went in for two characters and while they liked me for both, I got cast as the high school brainiac Jocelyn Reyes—valedictorian.

AM: But I hear you made history as Jocelyn…

ANDREA: Well, she comes out as a lesbian during her senior year and never before had a Latina teenager ever come out on a TV show.

AM: Was accepting this role hard for you based on all the prejudices still out there.

ANDREA: I have a boyfriend and we were raised to be accepting of diversity. I loved that Jocelyn was like no other character I had ever portrayed. High school is rough so I enjoyed all the twists and turns she navigates through life. She is being raised by her traditional, religious grandparents who have great hopes for her future. 

AM: Has Hulu decided on a season four?

ANDREA: Not sure. But no matter what, it has been a fun journey for three years.

AM: What are you working on now?

ANDREA: I just booked a feature film that shoots in mid-September. A strong supporting lead character “Linda.” She’s so funny a JAP: Jewish-American Princess from Brooklyn who marries into money and lives the dream.

AM: I’m told you’re also a pretty good photographer, tell us about this.

ANDREA: We’ve all been around the camera since birth. Our mom is a professional photographer, and since I was young, I’m the one who loved picking up her camera and started taking pictures.  Today, there are times when I help my mom, and it turns out, I’m pretty good at it and really love it.

AM: All three of you sisters act and have that side passion that makes you unique. I hear, Veronica, you’re the singer?

VERONICA: Music grounds me. I play guitar and am a songwriter—Singer/songwriter. I listen to a lot of 90’s music growing up, (she laughs) because I’m a 90’s baby! The Cranberries are a big music influence. I play indie-acoustic-folk music and that’s what I generally write. Yeah, I love it! Music, TV and film.

AM: Lots of similarities between the three of you?

VERONICA: Alicia and Andrea, we do have a lot in common yet, we each are unique because our second passions are just as important to us as the acting is. Alicia and Andrea’s art and photography are beautiful, professional not just a hobby. But for me these past three years it has really slowed down on the acting side so I’ve focused more on my music and performing live at important L.A. venues, at least once a month. I’m all hands-on, I book and promote the gigs on my own. I get invited back often and this is how I’ve kept myself sane in this crazy industry.

AM: It’s a hard industry.

VERONICA: It is easy to get disillusioned and what to give up. My two older sisters both worked on a hit show and everywhere I went, I was the one sister who was not on the show and people just always pressed me about East Los High. So to keep focused and what kept me going and made me unique, was my music thing. It’s how I stay balanced and sane.

AM:  Tell me about your debut feature film ‘Hostile Border.’ I can’t wait to see it.

VERONICA: A-MAZING opportunity and my debut feature film. Lots of pressure working with amazing veteran actors… it had a theatrical release last year and now you can basically find it anywhere, Netflix, Amazon, etc.

AM: My favorite thing about you three, aside from your loving attitude toward each other is the depth of your souls – I feel like your old souls for such young people… based on what I’m hearing.  You’re so much beyond just three beautiful young ladies. Young people today walk around in a fog.  You defy your age. But I guess this is what is setting each of you apart from the crowd.

ALICIA: We also keep each other grounded because you can get lost in Hollywood especially in these times when everyone is about social media. We always keep saying to ourselves that we must stay true to ourselves and unapologetically us.

AM: I love that! Centered and grounded. How do you stay on the journey unfazed, I mean, this industry is brutal.

ALICIA: We’re lucky that so far all three of us have been on the journey together and we are there for each other. Whenever I’m feeling discouraged, and there have been plenty of times that I just want to be done with it, I remind myself that it is what I’ve always wanted to do.

AM:  That’s important to remember.

ALICIA:  Something I’ve realized over the past several years is the importance of self-development, constantly grounding yourself and knowing yourself as much as you possibly can because if you’re constantly looking for validation, it will break you… you can’t base your self-worth from this because it will lead to a downhill, self-destructive cycle. I feel that I’m where I am because of the work that I’ve put into myself – feel the best that I’ve ever felt.  You can’t look for validation from the professionals who reject you.

ANDREA: Passion comes first. You do the work, you do the best you can and then you leave it behind you. If you get a callback and/or book it, that’s great. But if you don’t you can’t be attached to it. If you don’t book it then it wasn’t meant to be.

VERONICA: Steven Anderson, our acting coach for the past nine years, has always beat it into our heads, that it’s not about pleasing anyone, it’s about doing your best work. And if you do your best work for you, then that’s all.

AM: Thank you ladies for this wonderful conversation. No doubt, we will all be hearing more about you. And, not to be confused with that popular other reality sister show, you three are the full package: Talent. Fearless. Gorgeous.

ALICIA: And, we didn’t get a chance to discuss our older sister, Casandra Dawn, not in front of the camera but a Sephora makeup artist and esthetician facialist. She makes sure we’re always in top form.