ABC’s Hit Romantic Comedy, The Baker and the Beauty Is Pan Dulce For The Soul
Not To Be Missed! Monday, May 18, 10 PM
By Roberto Leal
Can a working-class Cuban kid find true love with a beautiful, Australian superstar? This question, and many others, are explored in ABC’s sparkling, hit romantic-comedy-drama, The Baker and the Beauty. The series is an adaptation of an Israeli romantic comedy, Beauty and the Baker and it features an all-star cast of gorgeous, talented Latino actors showcasing a loving, but complicated Cuban family in Miami.
When Daniel Garcia, a baker’s son, (Victor Rasuk, The Lords of Dogtown, Godzilla), turns down a surprise proposal of marriage from his long-time girlfriend, Vanessa Sanchez (Michelle Vientimilla, Gotham, Seven Seconds), Daniel runs out and has a chance encounter with an international supermodel and entrepreneur, Noa Hamilton (Nathalie Kelley, The Vampire Diaries, Body of Proof). A whirlwind romance ensues between Daniel and Noa that stirs up conflict, controversy, and complicated family dynamics, that challenges the strength, stability, and the values of the close-knit, loving Garcia Family.
We recently interviewed Belissa Escobedo who plays the challenging role of the youngest of the Garcia clan — Natalie Garcia, the troubled 15-year old struggling with her sexual identity. We asked Escobedo who is 21, how it felt to be on a huge, primetime hit show.
“Surreal! Vibrant. Amazing!”
The Garcia Family is brought to life by Carlos Gómez, (Madam Secretary, The Glades) as Rafael Garcia, the father, and owner of Rafael’s Bakery. Lisa Vidal, (Star Trek, Being Mary Jane) is Maria Garcia, Rafael’s wife, and hands down, the sexiest Latina mom in TV history. The oldest son, Daniel, is portrayed by Rasuk. David Del Rio, (Pitch Perfect, The Belko Experiment), plays younger brother and aspiring DJ, Mateo Garcia, and Escobedo, (Don’t Look Deeper) as Natalie.
Escobedo described how the experience on the set of The Baker and the Beauty feels like a symbiotic effort between cast, crew, and writers, held together by a heartfelt sense of Latino community and sincere, mutual affection and respect.
She explained what it was like shooting most of the episodes in Puerto Rico, and she quickly responded, “With a Puerto Rican crew and all Latino cast, Spanish became the first language of choice.”
Recalling the ever-present Latino ambiance of that set brought the young actress closer to her Mexican heritage. Her character as Natalie Garcia, a 15-year-old who recently “came out of the closet,” declaring she is gay is almost the exact parallels of Escobedo’s own personal journey. “I was also 15-years old when I just blurted out to my parents, on a car ride back from dinner that I was gay, and they could no longer dislike gay people,” she recalled.
The angst of that experience has proven to be a valuable emotional tool in her portrayal of Natalie and in the communication between Natalie and her mother, Mari (Vidal). The writers on the show, according to Belissa, have been willing to tap into her own personal story to make Natalie more authentic and real.
“Today, the younger people are more comfortable and accepting of being gay,” Escobedo explained. “But the older Latino generation still has difficulty with it. Our show brings out both sides of that and I think it’s good.”
Natalie’s relationship with her fictional brother Mateo, seems very true-to-life and natural. The characters needle each other, confide in each other, and comfort and support each other, just like siblings do in real life. “On the set, people often could not tell if we were doing a scene or just interacting with each other naturally. It was funny,” laughed Escobedo.
The LA-born Latina vividly recalls the moment she decided to go into acting. “I saw America Ferrera in Josefina López’s Real women Have Curves. It was at that moment, I decided to become an actor.”
Escobedo spent a year in New York, studying and performing in theater. It was there she developed her love for the stage. “At some time, in my career, I would love to return to stage acting. It’s my first love,”
The young actress shared that the upcoming Monday, May 18, 10 PM EDT, episode of The Baker and the Beauty simply titled, Side Effects, will find all the major characters dealing with the consequences of their decisions.
“And, Natalie is going to find herself in some trouble too.”
When season two of The Baker and the Beauty is picked up by ABC, what does Escobedo foresee happening with her character, Natalie Garcia?
“I’d like to see Natalie navigating through school life with all the challenges being a teenager presents. I think it’s important young Latinas see people who look like them being represented on shows like ours.”
Following Natalie Garcia’s journey on The Baker and the Beauty will certainly be interesting, as will following the journey and career of Belissa Escobedo a rising, young star.
During the Great Depression, Hollywood provided escapism entertainment for a troubled nation by producing frothy, upbeat, romantic comedies and musicals with men dressed in tuxedos, women in evening gowns, sipping sparkling pink champagne and dancing in glitzy nightclubs to the music of Gershwin. Unfortunately, we are in such a moment again.
In these times, we need to believe in the possibility of romance. We need to laugh and cling fast to the love, safety, and security of our family. We need to see a happy, successful Latino family, like the Garcia’s, living the American Dream. We need to savor the delicious anticipation, of those intoxicating, aromatic, life-affirming pastries baking in Rafael Garcia’s oven.
Belissa Escobedo’s other TV credit include Bloody Maria, where she appears as Mosca. She is repped by A3 Artists Agency and Anonymous Content (manager).
Roberto Leal is a life-long movie buff. He writes about Latino-related subjects revolving around film, TV and multi-media for Latin Heat. He resides in San Antonio, Texas.
