Ginger Gonzaga

Ginger Gonzaga, an actor, writer, and director with experience in both film and TV, is known for her role as Christy on “Togetherness,” Maggie on “I’m Dying Up Here,” and Maya on “Mixology.” She also appeared in the Netflix comedy series “Space Force” as a congresswoman known as AYC, who is based on the real-life New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio- Cortez. Her more recent work includes the new Marvel series on Disney+ “She-Hulk,” which follows Jennifer Walters, also known as She-Hulk, a lawyer and cousin of Bruce Banner who receives an emergency blood transfusion from Banner and ends up experiencing a somewhat milder version of his Hulk condition. In the series, she is the best friend of Jennifer Walters, played by Tatiana Maslany. It has been announced that she will star as Helen in the new CBS series adaptation of the 1994 film “True Lies.”

Top by HYUN MI NIELSEN
Bracelets by Christina Brampti
Ring by Tzuri Gueta Paris
Shoes by Fendi

What can you tell us about your new series “She-Hulk”?
Nothing without the marvel police coming to my home, kidnapping me ,and reminding me I’m sworn to silence. Next question, lady!

J/k. But Marvel is VERY secretive. It’s part of the fun. I CAN say that She Hulk is rad. It’s heavily comedic and Jessica Gao wrote amazing scripts full of really smart satire, silly characters, and so much fun. She had an amazing vision for She Hulk, and our cast did everything we could to support it because we were all so proud to be a part of what she wrote. I think audiences will be excited to see what Marvel characters pop up in the show, who haven’t been on screen before. Tatiana Maslany really brings She Hulk to life. There was always a profound moment in each scene where I could really SEE the comic book character, as if the drawing came to life and flew out of the book and onto her face. It was wild.

It seems like the love for the Marvel Universe only grows, and it’s exciting to see a new female character making her way to the screen. What was it like to be a part of that process?
It’s awesome and I think overdue, so it’s cool to be in the thick of it all these characters leading their shows. I think the most interesting projects are ones that show the least represented groups; women, diverse communities, etc., because they are offering something NEW, something that isn’t ALWAYS on screen, and that very element alone ends up being so intoxicating on screen. Diversity on screen leads to diverse story-telling and there’s nothing more exciting than a new and fresh story people haven’t seen. More so than simply showing females as leads, I think it’s important to show dynamic females as leads. In “She Hulk,” we explore what it’s like being a woman in your 30s and there’s a great deal of feminist commentary throughout the show that is cleverly woven throughout. It was such a pleasure working with people like Tatiana and our director, Anu Valia, who are both kind, professional, sensitive leaders and artists who cared about what the show meant for women. We knew that we had the opportunity to say a lot about the female experience, while also being funny and fun. One of the great things about Marvel is that there is always so much room for important subjects to be presented in an exciting, palatable way. I had a great experience on this show because I was given a ton of freedom to improvise, Whenever I’m unleashed, I do my best work, and I got to be very unleashed on this show.

**Left:**
Bodysuit by SANTICLER
Bra by HYUN MI NIELSEN
Pants by Vegan Tiger
Earrings & Necklace by Tzuri Gueta Paris
Bracelet by MONIES
Shoes. Charles David
**Right:**
Jacket by Walter Van Beirendonck
Jewelry by MONIES
Pant & Top set by KIDSOFBROKENFUTURE
Shoes by SAINT LAURENT

Did you have a favorite part of the show and production process or a favorite moment from the project as a whole?
For “She Hulk,” my favorite part was definitely getting to hang with some of my new besties. We were spoiled with all these dynamic talents in the cast. Josh Segarra and I love being very quirky so he was a great buddy on set, and Renee Elise Goldsberry, who, as you know is so iconic from Hamilton, would sing to me when we were doing our weird CGI 360 wardrobe scans. Tatiana and I would do spontaneous dance parties when we could sneak them in on set to de-stress, or when there was a lightning storm that halted production. Jessica would cook generous elaborate dinners for all of us too. I collected a lot of fun personal memories on this job.

On this project, in particular, I was allowed to design all of my make up looks and I styled myself more on this job than any other character. I cared so much about making sure that my character was stylish and cool because, well, I’m fashion-obsessed, but also, because as a child it would have meant a lot to me to see a Filipina character on screen, especially if she looked cool and was fun and rad. There isn’t much Filipino representation on screen, so I take it very seriously. On this job in particular, I really went the extra mile with styling a lot of my clothes. Our costumer bought some of my real clothes and I shopped and shopped online while I was stuck inside during our mid-covid production, constantly sending over links as well all tried to get outfits on time. I’m so grateful to Marvel for allowing me to do that, it meant a lot to me, and helped make Nikki, Nikki.

**Left:**
Jacket by Icosae #icosae
Ring by Christina Brampti
Socks by VETEMENTS
Shoes by SAINT LAURENT
**Right:**
Jacket by Walter Van Beirendonck
Jewelry by MONIES
Pant & Top set by KIDSOFBROKENFUTURE

How do you prepare for a role?
I basically just make sure that my character is a fully dynamic human, whether it’s something super goofy or something dramatic. I think about my character’s goals and wants, how that character exists in the world, her struggles, and sort of what anchors or doesn’t anchor that character. Once I have that in my body, I use that as my true north, but then once I’m on set, I improvise the shit out of anything I do. I’m so lucky to be given the freedom to improvise. It makes my brain so happy and everything seems natural on camera when it’s coming off the top of your head like any other normal thought. For “She Hulk,” I was incredibly lucky. When I auditioned, I auditioned for one role (what role? I have no clue, again, Marvel is VERY secretive), but then I improvised so much in my audition that they changed the character that I play and wrote specifically for me. It was such an honor. Jessica wrote so well for me, and then when she would hand me script pages, she’d be like, “here you go! I know you’ll put some Ginger stank on it,” and then I would play around on set. In hindsight, by “stank” she might have been talking about my body odor, since I often hold my script pages underneath my armpits and Atlanta is hot AF, but I’m gonna just keep telling myself that my natural deodorant works and she meant I could improvise.

It was announced that you will be playing the role of Helen on the new series “True Lies”? Are you able to share more about the project, or will we have to wait and see for ourselves?
Yes! Thank you! I never thought I’d agree to do a remake of anything, but filming the pilot was so much fun, and “True Lies” has one of the kindest groups of producers that I’ve ever worked with, so I’m glad I did. My costar Steve Howey is a wonderful and hilarious actor and we make a really great team. After filming the pilot, I definitely have a new respect for actions stars too because, WOW, all of that physical work is so major. Holding my body up on a wire as if I were hanging from a helicopter was the most intense ab work out I’ve ever had, and the next day I started drafting my will. Meanwhile, Tom Cruise is actually out there hanging from airplanes take-after-take and probably doesn’t even take an Advil. Respect. He probably remembers to stretch. True Lies has a lot of laughs and heart and Hijinx and sexy vibes with a cast full of chemistry, so I’m excited for viewers to watch it.

**Left:**
Jacket by Icosae #icosae
Ring by Christina Brampti
Socks by VETEMENTS
Shoes by SAINT LAURENT
**Right:**
Pants by Y/PROJECT
Necklace by MONIES
Gloves by Marta Miljanic
Shoes by TAMARA MELLON

Do you have any other goals for the coming years?
Yes! I have a dark, satirical feature that I wrote, so at the moment I’m writing a lot of the music for it. It’s in the market right now and my goal is to direct it after I wrap the first season of “True Lies.” It’s my new baby and I can’t wait to birth it! I’ve been working on it for about four years and I have a wonderful team of fancy creatives and crew that I’ll use once it goes, and the thought of being able to hire some of my favorite kind, creative, talented people that I’ve collected over the past 15 years is almost as exciting to me as making my film itself. I’m also pitching a couple TV shows and hope to make a documentary idea I’ve had for several years if I have the time. I want to make projects with a lot of purpose and purge everything that’s in my brain until I’m 88 and die on Broadway or something.

Pants by Y/PROJECT
Necklace by MONIES
Gloves by Marta Miljanic
Shoes by TAMARA MELLON

If you weren’t acting or working in film and television, what would you be doing?
I’d probably be focusing more on music or be a lawyer with a social justice focus or helping abusive victims professionally. Maybe I’d be a therapist. I feel like I’m already that to several people in my life, but it’s nice to get paid for it. LOOKING AT YOU, Abigale and Janice, and Charles and Haley and Frank! (j/k I don’t have any friends with those names)

Social Media.
@gingerthejester and my art account on Instagram is gingyartaccount
My Only Fans is BOOBSBOOBSBOOBS

CREW CREDITS:
PhotoBook Editor-In-Chief + Producer: Alison Hernon
PhotoBook Creative Director + Photographer: Mike Ruiz + @mikeruiz.one
Talent: Ginger Gonzaga
Fashion Stylist: Jennifer Fein
Hair: Richard Collins
Makeup: Raquel Moreno
Director (Video): Omar Perineau
Director of Photography (Video): Adrien Bourguignon
Camera Assistant (Video): Henry Mann
Editor (Video): Omar Perineau
Colorist (Video): Steeven Petitteville
Music (Video): Fred Falke
Assistants to Photographer: Ozzie Gutierrez & Fabian Pourmand
Tearsheets by Daniel López, Associate Art Director, PhotoBook Magazine
Interview by Alessa Hatch, Contributor, PhotoBook Magazine
*Special thank you to PLEASE DO NOT ENTER.