Judy Reyes Discusses Acting Roles, Latinx Representation, and Hollywood Industry Challenges

Judy Reyes, an actor born in the Bronx of Dominican heritage, recently returned to her role as nurse Carla Espinosa in the revived ABC sitcom 'Scrubs' for four episodes. Simultaneously, she stars as Lieutenant Selena Soto in the second season of ABC's crime drama 'High Potential.' Reyes also serves as an executive producer for 'Freestyle: A Love Story,' a stage production at Lehman College's Lovinger Theatre in the Bronx that explores freestyle music history. In an interview, she reflected on portraying older characters, noting that Carla now has four children and faces physical limitations. Reyes highlighted her efforts to incorporate Latinx identity into her work, such as using a mug with the Dominican Republic flag on set. She discussed Hollywood's evolving representation of Latinos in leadership roles, acknowledging progress but expressing concern over recent setbacks. Reyes commented on industry challenges, including streaming shifts, mergers like Paramount-Warner Bros., and workforce impacts. She remains active with her production company GoodTalk Films, collaborating on community projects like a Latina women's football club in Los Angeles. Reyes emphasized the importance of telling diverse stories and supporting fellow creatives amid industry changes.