Priscilla Quintana

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Photography: Emily Sandifer

First off, how are you?

I'm doing so well! So happy to be working during such uncertain times. I definitely never lose sight of how blessed I am to be one of the lucky ones right now. Other than that, I just moved into a new apartment so it's been so much fun setting it up and keeping myself busy with that when I'm not on set.

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Pandora recently returned to television for its second season. How did shooting go? Was it during, before or after the pandemic started?

It was smack dab in the middle of the pandemic. We were one of the first, if not the first show to test the waters and figure out how to navigate shooting during a pandemic. Our shooting schedule got pushed back about ten times before we finally got there, so you can imagine we were all so happy to finally get onto set. I'm not gonna lie, it was pretty weird. It's weird seeing all your crew in hazmat suits basically, but we did what was necessary and thankfully had no cases.

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What do you have in common personally with Jax and how are you different?

Jax and I are both so impulsive, fiercely loyal, and will go to the ends of the earth for the people that we love. We both also consider our friends to be our family. I really don't know where I would be without my little tribe of chosen family. We are different in the way that she is about 10000 times cooler than me, point blank! She's such a badass and her bravery is next level. For example, she has so many cool fight scenes where she's kicking multiple people's asses at once, where me, on the other hand, if multiple people come looking to fight me you better believe that I'm running the opposite direction!

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Where would you like to see Jax go in the future?

From season 1 to season 2, we've really seen her come into her own skin. She's softened up quite a bit and lets us see her more vulnerable side. I would like to see her continue on with that journey even more.  I think it's okay to be fierce and independent but you can also still be soft, and so she's finding that balance and I think the writers allow for us to see more of that this season.

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Good Trouble is set to return next year. Can you tell us something about the new season?

Ooooooh, our viewers are in for a real treat! I really enjoy playing Isabella — that may be my favorite character that I've played so far just because of how complex she is. She means well, but she is so scared of not being liked and so in turn, that leads to multiple complex relationships with the people around her. She has a good heart, she just steps on some toes here and there. She puts the "trouble" in Good Trouble.

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Isabella is a charming and outgoing character, who despite her confidence, is looking for validation and wants to be liked. Do you think a lot of women relate to her?

Oh, yes, absolutely. That's what's been so great about growing up for me. Really becoming more secure in who I am, and having the confidence to not need validation from outside sources. I think not only women but humans in general have this innate feeling where we want to be liked. We want others approval, so sometimes maybe we say or do things that are not necessarily true to ourselves in order to please others. But that's no way to live. Rather we should be true to who we are and the right people will come into our lives accordingly and those are the relationships that will stay.

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Finally, how are you keeping yourself busy when you're not working?

I love to read. A lot. I'm almost always reading 2 books at once. Right now I'm reading The Man Who Mistook his Wife for a Hat & my good friend Pierce Brown's book Red Rising — I highly highly highly recommend the latter! I love my TV shows too. It's great because as an actor it's so fun to watch but it's also research for me, so that helps me feel a little less guilty for binging an entire season of my favorite show in a day. I also love hanging out with my friends. I have such an eclectic, amazing group of people around me who I just adore.

We've got some rapid fire questions for you. Just answer with whatever comes to mind first!

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Jax or Isabella?

Love both, but probably Isabella!

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Would you ever like to go to space?

100000000%, but I would also like to travel to the depths of the oceans too. Mariana's trench fascinates me.

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What do you think is the most defining moment in your life?

It's still coming.

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Who has been the biggest influence in your life?

My mama.

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What is the strangest dream you've had?

Parachuting with Jessica Simpson. So random, I know. I was so sad when I woke up from that one.

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What is on your playlist at the moment?

Still Woozy, The Marias, Khalid, Santino Le Saint, and I've recently had Norah Jones' Come Away With Me album on repeat. Ooooh and I love Alina Baraz, too. I could really go on and on about music. It's such a passion of mine.