Sierra Capri

“We can only do so much as individuals but together we can make vast change,” SIERRA CAPRI states. “There are parts of Flint, Michigan that still don’t have water, school shootings are at their highest rate and police brutality has yet to stop. We can only do so much as individuals but together we can make vast changes.” She opens up conversation about the state of the country, something she has already learned to navigate in the ever-polarizing world as a 20-yearold actress of color. On My Block has registered with a wide scale of fans, partly due to its dedication toward inclusivity and familiarity. The actor’s portrayals have certainly left a mark on viewers and is the reasoning as to why the coming-of-age show became increasingly popular--everything from Capri’s earnest portrayal of Monse to Diego Tinoco’s unequivocally nerdy approach to Cesar.

Differing from her character, Monse’s South Central, Los Angeles destination,Capri hails from the East Coast with most of her formative years unfolding inGeorgia.

“I was born in Baltimore, Maryland but raised mostly in Georgia and that's where I did my self-tape. I was going into my last year of college when I saw the casting for On My Block online. When I was an extra on the film Hidden Figures, I had met a woman on set who was a self-tape coach and I remembered her and reached out for her help. Acting was something I always wanted to pursue I even wanted to go to an arts college, but my parents asked that I get a degree in something else first before pursuing an acting career. However, my love and passion for it was so strong I couldn't resist trying. Since I was in my last year I definitely want to go back eventually and finish, but right now I’m focused on my dreams and what I’d like to accomplish,” she states.

For most of Capri’s life, she found herself being an introvert in a family that honored the pillars of faith, honesty, and manifesting your aspirations into reality. Assessing those spheres of determination that were quickly supported by her parents, she only began formulating a game plan to star in roles as she was a student in arts college.

“The biggest lesson I have learned is that I have more control over my destiny than I realized. If you put your mind to it and continue to have faith in yourself, it can happen,” she states. Breaking down those initial walls of insecurity and self-doubt that prelude the stages of achieving one’s dreams are imperative, yet they often do require that little push both from yourself and your support group. Declarations of self-love manifested into tangible realities for Capri, realities that gravitated her towards the lead role in one of the most popular Netflix series.

She attributes her own ascribed ethos and values to her family’s testaments to love and honesty. “I come from a very loving family and was close to both of my parents. They always kept me grounded and mindful of what’s important in life and worth your energy and what’s not, which has been very helpful since being in the entertainment industry,” she says. “However, spending my childhood in Baltimore exposed me to a couple of realities that definitely helped shape my character. You always have to be on guard, and Monse is usually ready for anything.”

When Capri finds herself dealing with moments of mental exhaustion and painful reckonings, especially intertwining student life and working as an actress, she finds herself turning to the monumental women in her life. “There are a couple of people, definitely my mom. My mother has always given me the best advice. She's my rock and continues to help me become the best version of me. Ironically, Lisa Marcos who plays my mother on the show is amazing and has given me some great advice as well. Also, Wendy Davis is a mentor of mine that I know I can talk to,” she says.

On My Block is the brainchild of Lauren Iungerich, Eddie Gonzalez, and Jeremy Hatt. Capri’s character, Monse, chronicles the narratives of Los Angeles youth culture and friendship in the confines of a stratified neighborhood. Monse’s willpower instills inspiration amongst the mass viewership the show has garnered since it’s release in 2018 and has cultivated Sierra Capri’s presence as a breakthrough actress.

On My Block is a masterful depiction of reality with the harsh blurred lines and the awkward run-ins that make up being a teenager. There’s a level of humanization that Capri and her castmates bring into the characters that breathe in universality that anyone can find themselves relating to. “I have so many great memories with the cast that it hardly feels like work. Definitely scenes between Monse and her

mom are usually the hardest to film because I have a close relationship with my mom, so it was challenging at times,” she attests.

Capri found an intersection between the headstrong Monse and her personal introverted nature. She attributed playing Monse as a form of a therapy that counteracts the paradox between her genuine self and the character that she plays on screen. “To make the transition I honestly just stayed close to God and asked that he kept me focus on my end goal and not get distracted by things that come along with being in entertainment. In all honesty nothing has changed in my life other than the fact I met the cast of OMB and get to call them family. I couldn’t imagine my life without them. In real life, I’m quite shy and a lot older than my character so when I got the opportunity to play Monse it was like therapy. Being able to be almost the complete opposite onscreen of who I am and in a different mind-frame lets me be free to all emotions and movements,” she states.

Carving a world for herself in On My Block and the current film she is working on, Capri projects that her future will reach pique fulfillment once she dabbles in each genre and attains her degree,“There are so many things I’d like to do. However, I want to continue to be a part of meaningful projects that will start conversations or bring upon change. I’d love to do a film in every genre as long as the story resonates with people. A goal outside of acting is definitely to get my degree, as well as become more involved in the community,” she states. Sierra Capri’s armor is her ambition and self-awareness. “I think the biggest misconception people have is that since you’re on a T.V. show now the world is at your feet and that's not the case. There is a lot of work involved and discipline required. Not everyone is going to be in your corner and have your best interest at heart, so you have to be mindful of who you surround yourself with. Luckily, I have always been aware of who I am and since I love what I do anything I experience is a lesson that I’m grateful for,” she says.

Capri has expanded the image of actresses of color– one that is not defined by monolithic stereotypes or generalizations. She has tapped in cornerstones of her own personality to represent characters that are on their own personal explorations of figuring out the complexities of friendships and living in a world that harbors hate and prejudice. Ultimately, speaking to finding glimmers of hope within harsh realities.