Liza Colón-Zayas was taught that leading ladies ‘long and bony and blond and must be perfect’. Her Emmy for ‘the Bear’ says Anders.

Liza Colón-Zayas spent decades cutting her place in an industry that does not often make room for women who look like her. On 53, the Bronx resident steals scenes The bear And earn prices – all while the definition of a leading lady is being reformed.

The Afro-Latina actress brings equal parts of the heart and grit for the role of Tina Marrero, a line chef in the kitchen of Carmy in the restaurant in the middle of the FX series, now four seasons strong. Colón-Zayas recently earned her second Emmy nomination for excellent supporting actress in a comedy series after he became the first Latina to won the prize in 2024 and control Legends Meryl Streep and Carol Burnett to start up.

The fact that this breakthrough happened in the career in her 1950s is not lost, nor is the reality that it does not fit in the typical form of what Hollywood has long been considered to be salable. And yet, here she is her own path, embraces the moment and remains loyal to the “Bronx girl” that she has always been.

‘Show up on a set of The bear The dream lives, “she tells me during our conversation for Yahoo’s Unauthorized series.

Looking back, Colón-Zayas wish that she had been more friendly for herself in times when she did not reach the professional milestones that she had hoped, even while working as an actress for more than 30 years.

‘You do this thing where you are, oh, if you’re not this By 30 [then you aren’t enough]. In retrospect I think: Wow, I was still a child,“She says:” Then you pass the 50, and it doesn’t make you damn you. “

That is not entirely true-to-Zayas regards itself as a “work in progress” and is dedicated to “not [being] Afraid not to be good at things. ‘It is with that spirit that she is moving ahead in Hollywood, embraces her journey as a late -comer who is armed with knowledge and experience and opposition to pressure to change herself.

You previously received more than 1,000 rejections for TV and film roles The bear. What helped you to continue to believe in yourself?

[Acting is] My passion. I knew I had something. And I have guardian angels who would remind me of it [along the way, which] kept me going.

You never had a moment when you thought: I’m ready.

No, no. I had to change the imagination of what it would look like. But I knew I had something. I knew I could channel something. [Besides,] I had no other skills. … I was not good at business or mathematics, so I had to make this work. [In between jobs] I did a lot about the pace. [Then] I became an educational artist, and with that I was able to reach people and use my acting skills. That kept me going.

You said that you don’t look like a leading lady. What does they look like for you, and do you think the idea of the leading lady has shifted at all?

Yes, it is shifted – but not enough. Growing up for me, there really was nobody [onscreen] That looked like me – probably until well into the 2000s. And I don’t know I am a leading lady. For me, a leading lady like: you are long and bony and blond and perfect – and I just didn’t see that. So I actually don’t like being a leading lady. I like the character roles. They are juicier [and] Much more interesting. I love messy. And now I get these awards and these trophies. It’s not just about that – that is outside of my control – but people pay attention [which is] necessary. People feel seen when they see me.

Have you felt pressure to change yourself to match the long -standing ideals of Hollywood?

I always feel pressure to fit in a Hollywood -Mal, to be thinner. … luckily I am at an age that I can recognize the value of being a Bronx girl and to embrace myself. The real art – the great writers and directors are looking for that. But I’m still struggling with it, I’m not going to lie.

As a Bronx girl, what are you not apologetic about?

So many things. I am not apologetically tough and sometimes come out when I have to. It is survival. I am not always modest.

I read a profile on you in the New York Times, and it started with opening the window of your Bronx house and the shouting of “silence” to the noisy people on the street below.

I try to work on not being so reactionary, but when I get to that point, I can’t apologize for that. It is clear that you have brought it to yourself [laughs].

By talking about Tina’s career path to the kitchen of Carmy, you said that “ageism is real.” What would you say to people who feel that the world wants them to disappear at a certain age?

I would drop an F-bomb, but I won’t do that because I am working on these things [laughs]. But: no, too bad. Dealing with it. It is insane how we as a society want to throw away all this experience and wisdom and value. I recently let me walk and said, “You have to do fillers.” It was someone I know [but] Not good. I thought How sad for you to say that to me. … why should you try to put that in my head? Who hurt you? It is not as if it is not already in my head, but you know, I don’t want a face from Mar-A-Lago. I want to look like me. It does not mean that we cannot take care of ourselves. But it’s because I Do you want, not because I don’t feel important.

I feel that it is becoming more difficult to resist the Vuller-Obseded world in which we are.

It is not to put down someone who does. Listen, I’m working on things. But I would never tell anyone, especially women [after] All the pain that caused me [experiencing] Looksism and Ageism. And while I see how it works counterproductively and it is, like, Oh no, honey. I don’t think it does what you wanted it to do. I feel [ageism] Is real, but the only way to fight it is to go deeper into love and embrace ourselves.

Tina often wears a simple, no-nonsense uniform. How does steps on a red carpet feel in full glamor unlike that?

The truth is that it can take its toll. I appreciate it to be celebrated and to dress up and be appreciated by designers. But it is difficult because I still have to reverse my brain again because I do not fit into a certain formula with which I grew up. So it’s hard for me to feel really comfortable in that lens. Plus, sucking heels.

You have appeared with your husband, David Zayas, in The bear And on his show Right. How is your real partner doing, and has the way you have worked together changed over the years?

We have acted together for decades. We started in the same theater company – that’s how we met – so acting opposite him is the most natural thing. He is just so grounded. He always supports and encourages me and tries to relieve my doubts. And he is just so good at what he does. It’s a joy. I like to work with him. It is absolutely, 1,000% is the best.

You mentioned your grandchildren in your Emmy speech. How is that part of your life?

Oh, [my granddaughter and grandson] Are great. My granddaughter is officially larger than me. She goes 11 out of 40. Every time she visits, she would like to stand next to me and see how much [taller she had gotten]. And then … boom. I had something like: “Are you happy now?” [Laughs] They are both so smart, and they are good children, and they love to hang around with the grandparents. We have fun.

There is wisdom that is passed on between generations. What is a lesson you have learned from your mother, who recently turned 87?

To always look on the positive side. To just try to be joyful. Man, she has had a rough life and she doesn’t sink in it. She always just wants to laugh and be encouraging and not allow negativity to influence. I have to lean a lot more on that.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.