Black Dress by J’AMEMME
Choker + Cuff Bracelet by Elisheva & Constance
Gold Ring by Milena L'Annunziata
Black Heels by INGILIZ

Angelique Cabral, an American actress, is known for her decades-long career in film and television, recently including the 2023 animated musical “Wish.” Notable for her role in the CBS sitcom “Life in Pieces” and the 2011 romantic-comedy “Friends with Benefits.” She began her career when she was only 6 months old. Most recently she was a regular on “Maggie” for HULU and “UNDONE” for Amazon. She also voice acted in the DreamWorks animated series “Dragons: The Nine Realms” as Hazel Gonzalez. She heavily recurred on “BIG SKY” for ABC and has had notable television appearances on shows “GRACE AND FRANKIE,” “GENTIFIED,” and “TRANSPARENT”-to name a few. Cabral has also starred in several Off-Broadway shows including “Tape” and “Rubirosa.” In September 2023, she was cast as Queen Amaya of Rosas opposite Chris Pine in “Wish,” also starring Ariana DeBose. A celebration of Disney Studios’ centennial production, the film opened to positive reviews with critic Lisa Johnson Mandell praising the “extraordinarily talented voice cast.” Since its November 2023 release, “Wish” has been nominated for Best Animated Feature by the Critics’ Choice Movie Awards and the Golden Globe Awards. Disney’s WISH is available in the United States on digital retailers such as Apple TV, Prime Video, and Fandango.

**Left:**
Green + Blue Set by Atelier Ndigo
Gold Heels by INGILIZ
Green + Gold Earrings by Veronica Tharmalingam
Gold Bracelet by Nickho Rey
Green Ring by Collection by Rin
**Right:**
Black Dress by J’AMEMME
Choker + Cuff Bracelet by Elisheva & Constance
Gold Ring by Milena L'Annunziata
Black Heels by INGILIZ

You booked your professional job when you were just a baby. Did you ever explore other careers or was Hollywood always your dream?
My first "dream" was really Broadway. I was a staunch musical theater performer growing up, I did all the plays in school starting in third grade and then theater around Carmel (my hometown) until l left for college! I majored in Musical Theater and then TV/film came after that. I had many other careers, as I was "pounding the pavement" auditioning: I was a Montessori pre-school teacher for five years, then a nanny, tutor, caterer, personal assistant, I did kids birthday parties, I was a foot model, print model, hostess, waitress, golf cart girl, lifeguard, you name it, I did it. I was always hustling and pivoting.

You’ve starred in a number of sitcoms and comedies. Is there something about that genre that attracts you?
I love comedy because of the pace, and the musicality of it. I find comedy much more challenging in a way because of the timing; you can't get it wrong or the jokes don't land. And it's hard to edit that out, it's hard to cut around bad timing. An acting teacher once said if you can do comedy well, you can do anything, and in my career, I have seen that to be true.

You’ve also done a number of Off-Broadway shows in the past. Is theater something you’d like to further pursue in the future?
Yes, absolutely, in fact I just talked about this with my team. I want to get back on stage, there is nothing like live theater, it's terrifying and exhilarating and I crave that. “Wish” and the singing ignited that again in me and I can't wait to dive into that, it's been years and I'm excited to see what I can do in live theater now.

In Wish, was voice acting easier or more challenging than anticipated?
I had never experienced voice acting at the scale I did for “Wish,” so this was new for me. It was easier in some ways, because you aren't dealing with lights, makeup, wardrobe, all the moving parts of doing a live action show, and it was freeing because of that. But it was also challenging. You are alone in the booth, it's just you for four hours at a time, and the emotion behind it is exhausting. It reminds me of theater in a way, because of the output. It's also challenging because there is no one to "act to" or "act with." it's just you! I never met any of my co-stars until long after we wrapped and were doing press. We are taking direction from our incredible directors Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn, and they guided us and got us to where we need to be, but acting alone is wild, and it stretched me and made me a better actor for sure.

**Left:**
Rose Gold Set by NEMOZENA
Gold Shoes by INGILIZ
Gold + Pink Earrings by S A U L Ė ®
Gold Circle Necklace by Elisheva & Constance
Gold Circle Ring by Georgina Jewelry
**Right:**
Green + Blue Set by Atelier Ndigo
Gold Heels by INGILIZ
Green + Gold Earrings by Veronica Tharmalingam
Gold Bracelet by Nickho Rey
Green Ring by Collection by Rin

Was there an audition process? If so, what was it like?
For the “Wish” audition, I had to put myself on tape, it was about 10 pages of sides and then a song a cappella. I remember specifically thinking "Oh man, I will never get this" but I took a swing, I went for it, and I surprised myself. It was a blast. The callback was the same, the character had changed dramatically from my first audition (the callback was several months later) and again, I really went for it and had a blast.

What was the preparation for Queen Amaya in comparison to your other roles?
To prep for Queen Amaya, I had to make sure my voice was in good shape before each session, vocal heath and clarity was important. I would read my pages several times the night before. I kept Queen Amaya "with me" the entire time I was recording “Wish.” I do that with characters, they are infused with me for the entirety of the project. I would think like her and speak like her often, to keep it fresh in me.

During voice acting, how do you maintain chemistry with your co-stars knowing you can’t rely on body language or physicality?
During voice acting, there is no chemistry to maintain because we aren't in the rooms with each other! You are entirely on your own, and you perform each line dozens of times and then in editing they find the chemistry that works for the scene.

Alongside the cast, you perform the song “Knowing What I Know Now”. Have you ever sung for a series or film before?
What was the experience like?I have never sung for a series or job before at this level. I have done bits of songs here and there in TV shows, but nothing like this. The experience was one of the highlights of my career thus far, it was so much fun to sing again. I took lessons for months and had several coaching sessions and listening to Julia Michaels on her recording and learning the songs from her was remarkable. The day of the recording was a blast, I got to sing for about four hours with Benjamin Rice and Julia, and they directed me and I wept and it was so hard but so fun and so fulfilling. I was nervous and I came out of there feeling like a Bonafede singer.

Rose Gold Set by NEMOZENA
Gold Shoes by INGILIZ
Gold + Pink Earrings by S A U L Ė ®
Gold Circle Necklace by Elisheva & Constance
Gold Circle Ring by Georgina Jewelry

Would you be open to starring in a possible sequel? If so, where would you imagine the character arc going?
Of course, I would be open to starring in “Wish” 2. What a dream! I would love to see how Queen Amaya rules the kingdom of Rosas, and I imagine that she leads with grace and dignity. The ending of “Wish” leaves many possibilities for these characters and their journeys, and I would love to see how Asha navigates being a "Fairy Godmother" and what happens with all the wishes.

Some people underestimate comedies or musicals as a genre. What makes them special in comparison to drama and “serious” films?
When people underestimate comedies or musicals I always say you have no idea how hard it is. The musicality, nuance, and pace of comedy, and integrating music into storytelling is an art. Not every actor can do it, and it also takes extreme listening to be able to land a joke or sing a song, and as a teacher for many years, I have seen actors struggle with comedy more than drama.

What has been your favorite guest role you’ve done on a TV show?
My favorite guest role I have ever done on TV was Fox Paris on "Don't Trust the B in Apt 23." She was the most fun, most snarky character I have every played and she changed my career and life. I am still best friends with Krysten Ritter, who was the star of the show, and I just loved Fox so much.

If you could star in any past Disney animated movie, what would it be and which character would you portray?
My favorite Disney movie growing up was “The Little Mermaid” and I would have loved to be Ariel. I knew the entire soundtrack by heart (still do) and tried so badly to sound just like Ariel. Part of “Your World” is still one of my favorite songs and I sing it with my daughter now.

Social Media.
Instagram: @angeliquecabral
Twitter: @AngeliqueCabral

CREW CREDITS:
PhotoBook Editor-In-Chief: Alison Hernon
PhotoBook Creative Director: Mike Ruiz @mikeruiz.one
Photographer: Ylva Erevall
Talent: Angelique Cabral
Fashion Stylist: Kaij
Hair: Matilde Campos at TMG using Oribe and Leonor Greyl
Makeup: Jamie Greenberg at The Wall Group
Tearsheets by Daniel López, Art Director, PhotoBook Magazine
Interview by Sneha KC, Contributor, PhotoBook Magazine