Smash - Ana Vargas | Krysta Rodriguez #2: "Ana is the reason the Diva exist" - Karen - Page 3

**airali_glo** · 03-14-2015, 03:27 PM

She looks great, indeed

I'm sure she's inspiring for all those women (but people in general) who are dealing with cancer and she's giving them the strenght to fight.

Yeah, her fears were real, but she took the chance and faced them. It's not for everyone, because people feel already so vulnerable, in those moments.

***shinebrighterxx*** · 03-15-2015, 12:34 AM

I'm sure of that too

Some people struggle to face fears so she's brave & strong for being able to do that

**airali_glo** · 03-16-2015, 03:44 PM

I hope this chemo treatments work!

***shinebrighterxx*** · 03-17-2015, 01:11 AM

Same!

**airali_glo** · 03-23-2015, 02:14 PM

She'll appear on Chasing Life (the same show where Andy guest starred months ago). Art imitates life

Quote:

TVLine Items: Chasing Life Adds Smash Star, Chris Tucker on Netflix and More

Another former Smash star is checking into ABC Family’s Chasing Life.

RELATEDChasing Life Finale Preview: Italia Ricci on Leo’s ‘Crazy’ Proposal, Other Twists

Krysta Rodriguez, who played Ana Vargas in the NBC drama’s second season, is joining the cast of Chasing Life, our sister publication Variety reports, playing Vanessa, a fellow cancer patient who befriends April during her current hospital stay; the actress recently revealed her own breast cancer diagnosis.

Rodriguez’s Smash co-star Andy Mientus, who recently appeared on The CW’s The Flash, also played a cancer patient on Chasing Life.

source

Andy congratulated and said also

https://twitter.com/andymientus/stat...55752875896832

***shinebrighterxx*** · 03-24-2015, 01:20 AM

A flashback could be cool

Interesting to have someone with cancer playing someone with cancer. Thanks for the news

**airali_glo** · 03-24-2015, 02:53 PM

She can surely relate, but I wonder if that's too much for her

I mean she already has cancer in real life, then you also play a character with the same disease?
It's always work, I know...and maybe this way she can deal with it in a different way, but...she'll leave the set and bring the emotions and stuff with her, after all.

***shinebrighterxx*** · 03-24-2015, 10:30 PM

I was thinking that too

. It must be hard to take on a role which hits close to home so she's brave & strong to be able to do that. Maybe she hadn't thought of that & it'll hit her later though?

I hope that won't be the case

**airali_glo** · 03-26-2015, 02:31 PM

I don't know, but she should know that

I mean, if you audition for a character that has cancer you can't expect to have an easy journey. An actor should be able to separate himself from the character, but it doesn't always happen.

Maybe her character won't have a bad ending like Andy's.

***shinebrighterxx*** · 03-27-2015, 03:10 AM

That's true

I hope it has a happy ending

**airali_glo** · 03-28-2015, 02:44 PM

The chemo seems to affect her memory. She says it's temporary, though

Quote:

Now the new thing I’m dealing with is Chemo Brain. THIS IS FOR REAL FOLKS! I have lost my damn mind! Full portions of my brain feel like they are missing. Words disappear from memory and if my train of thought gets interrupted it’s a painful experience trying to get back on. I had heard of this before but I didn’t really think it would affect me. I have always had a steel trap brain. I started my Broadway career being a swing which means you have to learn every part in the show and go on without any rehearsal. I knew my lines and everyone else’s immediately and I got paid the bucks to do it. I really thought this part of my brain would hold up but it went out as quickly as you could say “what?!” I’ve had to have a very particular amount of grace with myself during this time. It’s very disconcerting to lose something you rely on so heavily, but it’s temporary. The people around me love me anyway and will be there waiting for me to finally supply the word I’m looking for. Wait for it… It’s coming, I swear.

Chemo Style! Part 2 | ChemoCouture

***shinebrighterxx*** · 03-28-2015, 06:32 PM

I never knew that much about what chemo does to people but that sounds very painful. Especially for someone who had such a strong & good memory. I can't imagine what that would be like for her to lose that much

**airali_glo** · 03-29-2015, 02:08 PM

She's right about swings, they're the biggest workers of all shows, they must know a lot of roles and be ready to go on scene at any moment.

She seems to be positive about it, though, I hope she stays strong!

**airali_glo** · 04-11-2015, 01:47 PM

She talked on Cosmopolitan's blog about her Chasing Life experience

The blog post is also a resume about her cancer story, so I'll post only the CL part

Quote:

Much to my surprise, my story caught the attention of the writers of the ABC Family series Chasing Life. This is a gorgeous, unflinching show about a vibrant woman who is diagnosed with cancer in her 20s and is forced to navigate her new circumstances while still trying to achieve the life that she aspires to. They were writing their second season so they made room for me in the role of Vanessa, a no-nonsense cancer patient who forces April, the career-driven lead character, to reevaluate what's important in her life. Italia Ricci plays the role of April with incredible depth and joy, and she, along with the entire cast and crew, are dedicated to making the experience of cancer entirely authentic. Their attention to reality was what led to me having one of the most empowering experiences of my career.

My character is seen for the first time in the beginning of her treatments (that is, before hair loss). For these scenes, I wear a wig. But as the treatment goes on, the creator and I agreed that Vanessa would have no qualms about proudly displaying her bald head. If you've been following my journey, you know that I wasn't necessarily as bold in my own life. But instead of fighting it, I breathed a giant sigh of relief. For the first time since my diagnosis, I was giving myself permission to be seen as I really am. The girl who was once afraid to go to the movies sans hair is going to appear on national television, completely bare.

Turns out, being an actress with cancer has revealed a bravery in me that I never would have expected. One of the benefits of acting is the ability to be other people, to throw yourself head first into a role and know that your own personality will be waiting for you when you're done. But this time, my life and art were intersecting in a way that couldn't be separated and owning that took some time. I don't regret keeping my diagnosis under wraps while I found my way. Each one of my jobs served a purpose in its perfect time. Directing was my temporary escape and the film was my chance to prove to myself that cancer didn't have to define me. But Chasing Life gave me the gift of not having to deny myself. I can sit in a treatment chair with a fake infusion IV, having conversations about chemo brain and clinical trials. I can speak about my own experiences freely and not be looked at as a liability. And the first time I made my au naturel entrance, I drew on the bravery of my character and the support of this remarkable show to push me. Just like Vanessa, I had no more qualms. I can't wait to see what else she is going to teach me.

The Amazing Thing That Happened When I Started Being Open About Having Cancer

***shinebrighterxx*** · 04-19-2015, 06:30 PM

Sorry, the amount of times i've gone to reply to this... I've just been so tired to actually do more than skim it. Now that i've at least read the part posted on here i'm glad I did as it is interesting to know about how she is going about taking on the different roles & she can use this role to push herself & be braver. I'm glad it is a positive experience for her to be on CL & isn't turning into a negative experience. The more she shares the prouder I am of her & the more inspiring she becomes


Fan Forum > Archived Television Shows > Smash > Ana Vargas \| Krysta Rodriguez #2: "Ana is the reason the Diva exist" - Karen