'Party of Five' star Elizabeth Grullón says her character Sully is a lot cooler than she is: 'She's a warrior'
Freeform’s ‘Party of Five’ reboot has managed to create a conversation among fans with its heart-wrenching plotline and a cast that upholds diversity to its very core.
Recently, the series introduced us to yet another interesting character through Elizabeth Grullón’s role. The actress essays Sully, an activist at an immigrant’s rights organization.
In an exclusive interview with MEA WorldWide (MEAWW), Grullón reflected on playing a part in the series which has dared to showcase issues that are often overlooked in the world of entertainment.
Talking about the relevance ‘Party of Five’ holds in the present time, Grullón said, “it’s refreshing to have a series on the air that showcases brilliant Latinx actors and characters and focuses on family. Also, it's great to have a show that shines a light on the deportation and immigration processes that most Americans probably don’t get to see in a real way.“
She further stated that working on the show has helped her learn a lot about her own trajectory. “It’s really meaningful to have a series that encourages that kind of dialogue and empathy,” she explained.
Reflecting on her role in ‘Party of Five’, Grullón described Sully as “a compassionate warrior who has dedicated her life to speaking on behalf of the silenced”.
“She is someone who understands deeply that being undocumented does not make someone an 'alien' — they are in fact still a human being. She has educated herself and steeled her nerves to be able to protect the dignity of these people,” Grullón said as she beautifully peeled layers of Sully’s persona.
When asked if she can relate to Sully, Grullón was quick to respond, “honestly she’s much cooler than I am. She’s more selfless and doesn’t care about other people’s approval. I’m an actor, she’s a freedom fighter.
The actress also talked about her Latinx heritage with much pride, which she believes has influenced everything she does in “one way or another(sic)".
Terming herself as a “first-generation American who is 100% Dominican”, Grullón explained, “I grew up surrounded by the sounds, language, food of our culture. Also, I’m proud to represent one of the severely underrepresented demographies in television, film and media, which is the dark-skinned Latina. Even on Spanish language programming, the Afro-Latinx representation is almost non-existent.”
However, for Sully, she drew inspiration from real-life freedom fighters like “Martin Luther King Jr. and Thich Nhat Hanh — people who loved so hard they couldn’t sit idly by. People who moved from a place of love rather than anger or hatred.”
Grullón concluded by talking about her upcoming projects which include her starring as the villain in 'Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order' and playing another strong female character in the slasher comedy ‘Road Head’.
'Party of Five' airs on Wednesdays on Freeform.
