CW 'Jane the Virgin' Cast: Star Gina Rodriguez Says TV Show Delivers 'New Perspective' on Latinos
On Oct. 13, The CW will premiere its new series "Jane the Virgin," giving the hardly seen sight of a leading Latina in primetime television a chance to shine.
Star Gina Rodriguez, who is Puerto Rican, says she can relate to her character.
"... my character's grandmother speaks Spanish and I reply in English," she told Fox News Latino. "That is the reality of my whole life and the reality of all my friends' lives. If that's not Latino enough for you then I don't know what is."
The show is based on "Juana la Virgen," a Venezuela telenovela, and follows abstinent Jane as she deals with her accidental artificial insemination.
Rodriguez found the role a better fit than as a maid on the Eva Longoria-produced serious "Devious Maids."
"I didn't want to do a show about maids because there are other stories to be told [about Latinos]," she told Fox News recently. "I know all the women on 'Devious Maids' and I love and support and wish them only the best. ... It just wasn't my dream."
According to Rodriguez, "Jane the Virgin" shows a "new perspective" on Latino culture across second and third generations, as well as "even immigrant story," she told FNL.
"Not only do you get the Latino perspective, or the telenovela format that brings all these integrated stories, but you also get such an American story with this family dynamic and beautiful writing that has a real heartbeat," the 29-year-old explained.
In addition to featuring Latino culture, "Jane the Virgin" will also feature a guest appearance by Mexican pop singer Paulina Rubio, Entertainment Weekly reports.
"When I wrote the pilot, I had in the back of my mind, the hope that one day we'd have Paulina Rubio on," Jennie Snyder Urman, show creator, said. "It's a great moment for our character and for our show. I couldn't be more thrilled. Just like Xo, I'm a huge fan!"
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Follow Scharon Harding on Twitter: @ScharHar.
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