Eiza Gonzalez — on partying with Sofia Vergara and recovering from teen stardom

Summary

Dinner’s on Me with Jesse Tyler Ferguson: Eiza Gonzalez — on Partying with Sofia Vergara and Recovering from Teen Stardom

Release Date: May 27, 2025

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In this insightful episode of Dinner’s on Me, host Jesse Tyler Ferguson sits down with acclaimed actress Eiza Gonzalez to delve into her journey from a troubled childhood in Mexico to becoming a recognized star in Hollywood. Their candid conversation covers Eiza’s early struggles with fame, her close-knit friendship with Sofia Vergara, the challenges of transitioning to the U.S. entertainment industry, and her aspirations for the future.

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Eiza opens up about her formative years in Mexico, where her path to stardom was both rapid and tumultuous. Starting her career after a tragic accident at age 11, Eiza used acting as a therapeutic outlet to cope with the loss of her father.

Eiza Gonzalez [13:16]: "I was 12... I was a kid who's... losing my voice so often that I started developing such fear because I couldn't control it."

Jesse relates to Eiza's experience, sharing his own beginnings in musical theater and how performing provided a safe haven for both of them.

The Impact of Teenage Stardom

The conversation takes a deep dive into the psychological effects of sudden fame during adolescence. Eiza reflects on the harsh criticism she faced in the media and the profound impact it had on her self-esteem and identity.

Eiza Gonzalez [23:17]: "It was just such a hit to the electricity of your brain... I was just so confused."

Eiza discusses the added pressure of being a role model while still grappling with her own sense of self, highlighting the long-term emotional scars left by early exposure to the spotlight.

Friendship with Sofia Vergara

A significant portion of the episode focuses on Eiza’s vibrant friendship with Sofia Vergara. They reminisce about wild parties, unforgettable trips, and the energetic presence Sofia brings to any gathering. Eiza shares amusing anecdotes about partying with Sofia and the challenges of keeping up with her dynamic personality.

Eiza Gonzalez [05:34]: "I danced mine ass off with Sofia all night."

Their bond extends beyond social settings, showcasing Sofia’s generosity and the familial environment Eiza became part of during Sofia’s 40th birthday celebration in Mexico.

Transition to Hollywood

Eiza recounts her move to Los Angeles as a means to escape the turmoil in Mexico. Initially intending to disappear, she finds herself navigating the competitive American entertainment industry. She describes her early auditions, including a memorable and humorous experience auditioning for a Star Wars project directed by J.J. Abrams.

Eiza Gonzalez [36:14]: "I have no idea... I've been auditioning for Star Wars this entire time."

This pivotal moment led to her first significant role in the American remake of From Dusk Till Dawn and eventually landing a campaign with Neutrogena, which marked her official entry into Hollywood.

Overcoming Professional Challenges

Eiza discusses the hurdles she faced while adapting to the U.S. industry, including language barriers and unfamiliar audition processes. She shares how perseverance and support from her manager and mother helped her overcome initial setbacks.

Eiza Gonzalez [34:45]: "It was so dismissive... I ended up getting another audition, and I went for it."

Her resilience paid off, leading to collaborations with renowned directors like Guy Ritchie and securing roles in high-profile projects such as Ash and Fountain of Youth.

Collaborations and Working with Directors

The episode explores Eiza’s experiences working with directors like Guy Ritchie, highlighting his collaborative and improvisational directing style. She explains how adapting to different directing methods has enhanced her versatility as an actress.

Eiza Gonzalez [43:07]: "I can learn scenes in 10 minutes... that came from working with Guy Ritchie."

Eiza also shares her excitement about upcoming projects, particularly her work alongside longtime friend Aaron Paul in the film Ash, describing the demanding yet fulfilling nature of the role.

Personal Life and Future Aspirations

Eiza opens up about her deep desire to become a mother, influenced by strong female role models in her life, including her own mother and colleagues like Michelle Williams and Natalie Portman. She emphasizes the importance of balancing personal happiness with professional responsibilities.

Eiza Gonzalez [48:03]: "I'm dying to be a mom... I'm ready for that next chapter in my life."

Her reflections extend to the support system provided by her family, especially her mother, who has been her rock through personal and professional challenges.

Conclusion

The episode concludes with Eiza and Jesse affirming their mutual respect and admiration. Eiza expresses her gratitude for the platform to share her story and encourages others to find strength in their vulnerabilities.

Eiza Gonzalez [50:53]: "I’m really dying to be a mom... I really am dying."

Jesse thanks Eiza for her openness and looks forward to future collaborations, affirming the impactful nature of their conversation.

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Notable Quotes:

• Eiza Gonzalez [13:16]: "I couldn't do anything about it. I couldn't sing."
• Eiza Gonzalez [05:34]: "I danced mine ass off with Sofia all night."
• Eiza Gonzalez [36:14]: "I've been auditioning for Star Wars this entire time."
• Eiza Gonzalez [48:03]: "I'm dying to be a mom... I really am dying."

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This episode of Dinner’s on Me provides a heartfelt and comprehensive look into Eiza Gonzalez’s life, offering listeners an authentic glimpse into the challenges and triumphs of navigating fame from a young age and finding one's place in Hollywood.

Transcript

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

So I'm here in London, knee deep in rehearsals for Here We Are at the National Theater, the late, great Stephen Sondheim's final musical, and it's been an incredible experience so far. But between the long days of learning lyrics and blocking scenes, I've come to appreciate a good system that makes everything run smoothly. Like Airbnb's Co Hosting feature. Now, if you're a host and you're juggling life like I am right now, a local co host can handle the details while you focus on your big projects. They can manage guest communication, check ins, and everything in between. So whether you're hosting while traveling or simply need some help, you can rest easy knowing someone reliable is looking after your place. And the best part? These co hosts are local pros who know your area inside and out, ensuring your guests have an unforgettable stay and you can focus on what matters most. So whether you're looking to host or need a hand while you're away, find a co [e-mail] host this episode of Dinners On Me is brought to you by Nissan. These days, it feels like the world and our lives are moving at hyperspeed. I mean, that's why I love doing this podcast. It's a chance to slow down, to truly connect with another human being and to enjoy the feeling of actually being in the present moment. On that note, I am very excited that Dinners On Me is partnering with Nissan because Nissan understands that sometimes the greatest rush comes from not rushing at all. And and with the all new Nissan Murano, you can enjoy an unapologetic refuge amidst the daily hustle and bustle of life. The Nissan Murano is not just a vehicle, it's a space where you can take a beat to catch your breath and re energize to be in the present moment. And trust me, this is the moment you'll want to be in and drive in. The Nissan Murano features an elevated modern interior design and a bold new exterior look. Plus, the expansive master panoramic moonroof adds tons of natural light to the roomy cabin with massaging leather appointed seats to help melt away the tension of the day and ambient mood lighting. With 64 color options to set the vibe just right, what's not to love? So thanks again to Nissan for sponsoring this episode of Dinner's on Me and for reminding us to take a moment and breathe. Learn more about the all new nissan [e-mail] Panoramic moonroof, ambient lighting and massaging leather appointed seats are Optional features. Hi, it's Jesse today on the show. You know her from the Netflix series three Body Problem and more recently, starring alongside Aaron Paul in the sci fi flick Ash and the new Apple TV film Fountain of Youth alongside Natalie Portman and John Krasinski. It's Aza Gonzalez.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

I come in and I'm like, hi, nice to meet you. He's like, hi, nice to meet you. My name is J.J. abrams. I'm auditioning for Star Wars. I have no idea. I've been auditioning for Star wars this entire time.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

This is Dinner's on Me, and I'm your host, Jesse Tyler Ferguson. So I admittedly didn't know too much about Aza Gonzalez until I started researching her for this podcast. But the second I saw her in three Body Problem and Ash with my old neighbor Aaron Paul, no less, I was absolutely hooked. She's got fire, elegance, and this magnetism that makes you think, oh, yeah, she was definitely born for this. But her journey to stardom didn't start with red carpets. It started in a middle school auditorium playing Rizzo in Greece. Yes, that Rizzo. Now, as someone who also got my start in 50s musical theater, okay, mine was Bye Bye Birdie. But still, I felt an instant kinship. Performing was more than just fun for both of us. It was, I don't know, therapy. Now, after losing her father at the young age of 12, Aza turned to the stage as an emotional outlet. I definitely related to that pivot. For me, theater was where I could be someone else. I could escape my bullies and belt out my feelings under a spotlight. It was somewhere I felt safe for both of us. Acting wasn't just a hobby. It was a lifeline. And somewhere between jazz hands and dramatic monologues, Aza found her purpose. What's remarkable is how Eiza has turned every challenge, every heartbreak into rocket fuel. I was so excited to sit down and meet this incredible person. Hi, how are you?

[Eiza Gonzalez]

I'm good. How are you?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

So happy to meet. I brought Aza to Videer in Mid Wilshire, Los Angeles. Vadir is a dreamy rooftop bar and restaurant perched atop the Kimpton Hotel. The menu, curated by Blue Plate, Oysterette and Jean Georges veteran chef Hannon Matern, features dishes like seared prawns with almond hummus and yellow tomato saffron pasta. With its linen draped cabanas, lush tropical foliage, and sweeping views of the LA skyline, it's hard not to feel glamorous dining here. And even though LA has its fair share of rooftop sp, Vadir stands Out with a splash. Literally. It has a pool. There's just something so special about drinking a frosty beverage poolside with a view of the Hollywood sign that just oozes old school Hollywood charm. Oh, then again, A's effortless elegance and je ne sais quoi could make a strip mall food court feel like a sophisticated five star bistro. Okay, let's get to the conversation.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

I danced mine ass off with Safiya all night.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I was gonna ask if you were at the Oscars. She will start a dance party.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

I mean, the girl got me and I was like, safiya, I got to go. And I'm still feeling like I'm dying.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah. No, she is no joke. And she, she is no joke.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

That's a problem.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

She will shut a party down.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

Yeah, honey, she's like, she's like the do herself bunny. I'm like, truly, where are you getting all this energy from?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Exactly. No, every time I've been out with her, I've like excused myself early. I'd be like, I got to go to bed.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

And.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

And she's just always been that way.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

You have to Irish goodbye with her.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Absolutely.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

And discovered that the trick is Irish goodbye.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah, you can't let her know you're leaving because she will pull you back in.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

It's like the whole pause too. It's like all, like she rolls in.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

With the entire family. I remember one year at the Golden Globes. No, was it the Golden Globes or the. I mean, I don't know, one of the shows. She needed a sprinter van for the entire family.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

Of course you did.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

And she also expected. Because you know, those events, they don't, they don't give you just unlimited tickets. You can get like a ticket and then if you want anything more, it's.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

Like a plus one.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Maybe, maybe. And then if you want anything more, it's like you have to buy the tickets. And they're pretty expensive and they're usually like way in the back. Yeah, yeah, no, she bought out like seven rows of the Dolby center for her family when she was nominated for Griselda recently.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

She did? That's right.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

Cause I was there.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah, yeah.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

It's so funny. I was like, I mean, I saw the whole Pazi there. Yeah, that's where I saw them all.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I was like, yeah, it's so great. And like I met them all when I first. So on her 40th birthday, she flew us all to Mexico. We went to Playa del Carmen and we all just like took over the Rosewood. And partied for a whole week.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

And how were you after that?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Oh, decimated.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

Yeah, that sounds like a week and a half of, like, recovery.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Oh, yeah, yeah. No, we had, like, tequila tastings every night. In fact, she had, like, her own tequila with her face on. Like, the bottle. Like, she had, like, a branded tequila. Exactly. Oh, yeah, Yeah.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

I love her.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

But I met most of her family on that trip. I met, like, her ex husband. I met all her cousins. I met everyone.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

Obsessed. I'm obsessed. I'm obsessed.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

And it was like I was like, okay, I've truly been initiated into, like, the Sofia Vergara family.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

No, you're like, Colombian vibe. Absolutely. Proxy, she's so nice, isn't she?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I love her. How long have you known her?

[Eiza Gonzalez]

So I've known her for a very long time because, you know, I started soap operas, and then, like, she was in. We were all, like, in the Univision school. So I've known her directly, indirectly, for very long. But I'm very close to Alejandro, who's very close. Yeah. Her manager, who's been my friend for years. And I love her son, like, Manolo. So nice. She's always been nice to me, like, since I started, especially working in the US she's always so nice and so warm, and she's always been kind to me. I love her.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah. She was one of the first people I met on Modern Family, and she gave everyone these big hugs. Like, she'd known us for years, and she was just so Latin. So Latin.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

So Latin.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

We're like, yeah, I know, I know, I know.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

And then you see us at parties, and we're crazy. I mean, a friend of mine was watching us from afar. He's like, watching you two is hilarious because we're just.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Well, she loves when she, like, has a good friend who could speak her language with her. Because, you know, she's. She would always say, my language is getting worse and worse and worse every year I'm here.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

It really is.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I was like, how is it getting worse?

[Eiza Gonzalez]

I don't know what's getting worse, her English or her Spanish.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Like, I'm like.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

She's like, I. The. I know.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Mi m?

[Eiza Gonzalez]

Porta. She's like, I don't care. I love hanging out with her.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I know. I know. Me too. I miss her so much. I just actually called her not too long ago because I was walking through the airport and I saw, like, she was hanging out with some young person. And I know a lot about her love life. Like, I set her up with her now ex husband. So like I, you know, I feel very invested in her love life. Yeah.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

Like, what's next?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah. So I was like, why am I finding out about this from a ma? First of all, why am I, my mother, like believing everything in a tabloid?

[Eiza Gonzalez]

Yes, no, exactly. Hello.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I was like, I should know better. But I was like, who is this? So I called her, I was like, tell me all this.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

And she's like, she's like, whatever, it's just a friend.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Exactly. Yeah, yeah.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

It's so funny when these things come out on tabloids. You know what happened to me recently? I was going into the salon and I'm walking in and I'm in my car and I'm jumping off my car and in my car is my mom and my brother. And my brother's walking out and you know, like, typical, my brother's like 13 years older than me and in like old, good old brother fashion, I'm like, I just go, hey, listen, I can see that we're being tailed. Like, just be careful.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

He's like, oh, that's annoying. We're like jumping off the car. He jumps off the car to give me something and typical brother. I had like a hair. And he's like, you have a hair? And he's like touching my face, like pulling my face. I'm like, yulen, they're taking photos of us. Next thing you know, they're like, mystery man, mystery man, my brother, mystery man. Touching is in a date that is at my brother.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

That's so, so gross, by the way.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

People would read it and believe it.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

That's so funny.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

It's just a typical story of like, these things happen all the time. But yeah, anyway, he's like the coolest brother on earth. We were at the Oscar pre party and he was super cool, calm and collected with everyone.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

And that's. I've been to that party. It's like, it's overwhelming.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

It's overwhelming for sure. Like even I still, sometimes I'm like, this is so surreal. Like I'm talking to whatever and he didn't ask me for photos for anyone. But he was. There was two people. That freak. He freaked out. It was Mick Jagger.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Oh, that's a good one. I would be freaked out by that one too.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

Freaking out. He's like, oh my God, that's Mick Jagger. Oh my God, it's Mick Jagger. And Mick Jagger said hello and like spoke to him. He couldn't believe it. And then, oh my God. Thank you very much. Thank you. Are we Gonna order something.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

Oh, my goodness.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

What are you gonna have?

[Eiza Gonzalez]

I'm pretty hungry.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

French toast.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

Toast. I think I'm gonna get the avocado toast. Yeah, I'll get. At the avocado toast.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Absolutely. Yes. So I'm gonna do the oatmeal. Could I have a side of bacon?

[Eiza Gonzalez]

Yeah, me too. Thank you. Oh, my God. Oatmeal and bacon, right?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

What am I thinking? I'm out of control now. And I'll do a coffee as well.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

Absolutely. I'll do a nice latte without milk, please.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Ooh, that's what I want. I want the same thing.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

Yeah. Sweet enough?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Please. Thanks.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

Thank you.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Okay, so Mick Jagger.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

Oh, so Mick Jagger. And then Lars, the drummer for Metallica.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Oh, interesting. So he's a music guy.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

He's a music. He's a boy. You know, he's a boy. And he was like. He had, like, a couple tequilas in, and he's like, fuck it. And he went rogue. He went rogue. He didn't even ask me. He's like, lars. And I'm like. I eyed him and he's like. And Lars is so nice about it.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I also freak out around musicians.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

Me, too.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

That's the one.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

Me too.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

And I think it's just because I'm so far removed from that world. They just seem, like, otherworldly to me. Like, I feel like actors. I don't know. I know what we do is, like, a skill, and not everyone can do it. And, you know, there are bad actors.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

No, but I know what you mean.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

But singing, like, that's a whole other level.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

Like, and it's also not even just singing. Being on stage. Yeah, like, in that fashion. Like, I started singing when I was young and I developed. I actually don't think people. I developed crippling stage fright, but, like, crippling, I think, because I was so overworked and so tired. And, you know, when you're doing soap operas, as you've probably heard from Sofia, you're. It's like 16, 17 hours a day. You're doing a thousand scenes a day.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah. You're learning. A line's extremely quick.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

Extremely quick. And you're, like, jumping from one stage to the other to the other. It's, like, very, very grueling. And then when I started, I started, like, in a soap opera that I was touring, and I was so tired. So it was crippling because I always felt like I was losing my voice. Like, the way that I realized that I'm getting tired is my voice starts going Deeper and deeper and deeper, and then it just disappears. And I was losing my voice so often that I started developing such fear because I couldn't control it. I couldn't do anything about it. I couldn't sing.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

But you were okay in front of a camera. Like, you didn't have performance anxiety in.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

Front of a camera. But it's just like the fear of feeling like you can't do something in a. With 25,000 people. You're just. That is. I have nightmares about it. So when I watch people do it and own it in such an incredible way, like, I went to see Taylor Swift in London. I couldn't. I mean, I could believe it. I see them, like, so otherworldly. For sure. Like Adele.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Oh.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

Like, when I met Adele, I couldn't believe it. And she's so fun.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

She's so funny. She's so down to earth. She's like my number one.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

Yeah, me too. I met her at Aaron Paul's house. Cause do you know Aaron Paul? Yes, very well when he does, like, these, like, live concert situations, it's one of my favorite activities.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I know Adele's really close with Aaron.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

And Aaron and then his wife.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yes.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

And I met her there. And I mean, I guess again, you would think that she's, like, bombacious and fun and, like, super. But she is really funny and watching. She's my favorite show live I've ever seen, you know?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

So I have a little Adele story. I met Adele at Chrissy Teigen and John Legend's super bowl party. And I walked into the party and I thought, oh, my God. I told my husband Justin. I was like, I don't know if I can be here. Like, this is too overwhelming.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

I'm freaking out.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I'm freaking out right now. He's like, you have to go say hi to her. I was like, I know, I know. Just please give me a second. He was really pressuring me. Like, go say hi to Adele. So anyway, I casually, like, walk over to her and, like, she's like, hi, I'm Adele. I was like, yes, I know. And I was like, okay, I'm just gonna get something off my chest, and then we can be just, like, friends, and I'll be normal around you again. And I just basically was effusive. And I was like, I love you so much, and your music meant so much to me. And I used your accent in a one man sh. I had to do where I had to play someone British. I was like, I'm gonna steal from Adele. She's like, this is hilarious. Anyway, I ended up chilling out after a while and just being able to communicate with her like a normal person. A normal person?

[Eiza Gonzalez]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

But she and my husband actually really connected because they're the same age, and they were, like, talking about Spice Girls.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

And like, oh, I love that.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

And they were, like, really connecting. She ends up asking my husband for his number. She's like, can I get your number? I want more friends. So they end up connecting. And so partly I'm kind of Justin. I'm like, well, I want her to ask me for my number. But like, I was like, yeah, yeah. Justin put us all in a chain together. So anyway, we all get on the. On a text chain together. I end up inviting her over to our house for dinner like that.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

You're like that with a dough.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I was like. She's like. She's like, we should have dinner. And I said, well, I said, yes. Do you want us to find a restaurant? She said, do you mind if I just come over to your house for dinner? I cook. I was like, sure, I'll make you dinner. So she comes over, we make dinner. My house at that time is in this on. On the street in Los Feliz. She's just so lovely and so down to earth. We ended up, like, watching RuPaul's Drag Race that night.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

It's just chilling. It's just dynamic and fun. I find that everyone that I've met that I sort of geeked out over are the most laid back, fun. When people say stories about them, they're like this, like, oh, my God, she loves the Housewives and is just like a most normal person ever. But I think that that's tied to being a musician, right? Because you have to be. I guess actors are way more insecure than a musician could ever be, because what we do, I guess it's like hiding a lot of hiding behind things or pretending to be something else. Whereas singing or being a musician, you just have to be. You have to be so comfortable in owning your space, being yourself. But that's why I think we admire them so much.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Now for a quick break, but don't go away. When we come back, Aza gets into how the trauma of childhood stardom molded her into who she is today and the unexpected way she became a breakout success in Hollywood. Okay, be right back. Some of my favorite episodes of Dinners on Me are episodes that happen over a good glass of wine. Patricia Clarkson, Keri Russell, Margo Martindale. They gave me some of the best stories I have Ever heard over a glass of wine? They definitely opened up. I mean, maybe it was the food or, you know, maybe it was the wine. I'm just saying. I always stock up at Total Wine and more. It's my go to, especially when I'm throwing a little backyard hang. They've got everything. Amazing wines, ice cold beers, even non alcoholic wines. And mocktail mixers for the friends who, you know, aren't drinking. Honestly, my guests think I have the best taste. But don't tell them that. It's actually my friend down the street at Total Wine giving me all the tips. Their guides are so helpful when I'm picking out the perfect bottles for everyone at the table with the lowest prices for over 30 years. You'll always find what you love and love what you find only at Total Wine and more. Curbside pickup and delivery available in most areas. See totalwine.com for details. Spirits not sold in Virginia and North Carolina drink responsibly. B21. If there's one thing I love more than eating at a great restaurant, it's hosting a backyard barbecue. There's just something about that first sizzle on the grill. A table full of friends and maybe, I don't know, just maybe, me pretending I'm on a cooking competition show. Maybe Whole Foods Market makes it so easy to be the host with the most. I grabbed their made in house beef burgers, no antibiotics ever, and stack them high on their soft drinks. Dreamy brioche buns. And if I want to switch things up, I'll throw on some amylou chicken sausage or try one of their fun flavored condiments that make people think I've been recipe testing all week. Their produce section is basically summer in a basket. Juicy cherries, fresh cut watermelon and heirloom tomatoes that honestly deserve their own photo shoot. And let's not sleep on dessert. The mango yuzu chantilly cake. It disappears in seconds every time need drinks. Whole Foods Markets has canned rose buzz free mocktails and a beer selection that keeps everyone happy. Start summer deliciously at Whole Foods Market. And we're back with more dinners on me. Yeah, I mean, it's interesting though because you come from a music background as well. You have two albums and you're basically the equivalent of like Miley Cyrus. Like here. Like you were on television. You were on a show.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

Yeah, Nickelodeon. Yeah.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

You were singing. You were, you know. You know you had a very successful music career.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

It wasn't that successful, I gotta say.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

It wasn't.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

You don't think it was it was not. No, it was not really successful, but it was. It's funny because when you're part of these shows, right, you're a product. You're not really yourself. Like, what Miley's achieved is, like, she's a real musician. Like, she went. And she loved it. You know, she went from being the biggest pop star from Disney to actually, like, I think she's so talented. Like, she's a real artist. And I think that for me, I wasn't that and not because I didn't. Cause I can sing and I can really do it. I think it was a combination of things. I had a real accident when I was 11, broke my nose in five pieces. And I really had, like. I would end up in the hospital with sinus infection every other day, pneumonia, bronchitis. I was always playing catch up with my health. And it was a gnarly experience because I never felt like I was under control of my instrument. And I just never felt like I could really own myself. Therefore, I didn't think that my career was, like, the way that it should have had. And I was okay with it, too. I didn't really care because I was a product of a company where they were like, okay, the girl can act and also can sing, so let's make it a double thing. But I do think that eventually some people realize, oh, no, this is more my thing than others, and it's okay to actually kind of go back and forth. And so that was sort of my experience. But it was really jarring to be so young. And being in all these shows and touring and the pressure of being a role model, too, was really challenging for me as a child, for sure.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

So when you're asked to be a role model and you're still looking for role models yourself, it's like, it's. Whoa. So, so intense. I've read that you've talked a lot about insecurity and feeling like an outsider when you're younger, which is, of course, something I really relate to. Do you think a lot of this was maybe stemmed from, you know, being a product of something and sort of not always feeling like you were maybe fully comfortable in these. In these molds that you were being put into?

[Eiza Gonzalez]

Yeah, definitely. You know, I was watching. I don't know if you saw Millie Bobby Brown. She posted about how she's been being heavily bullied by the press in this press tour. And this sort of accepting her from just transitioning into becoming a woman. Like, she's just becoming. She's not 11 anymore. She is this beautiful married. She's a wife, like. And so I really identified with what she was saying. Cause she was reading this, she was explaining about her terrifying. Oh, my goodness, this looks amazing. And I just found that really interesting.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Because what did she say that resonated with you?

[Eiza Gonzalez]

So she was reading this. She was talking about being a grown woman and sort of finding the way she wants to dress and act and be. And. And she doesn't have to do it under other people's terms. It's under her terms. And she went on and, like, reading the title, the title of these headlights headlines where she goes, you know, whatever, horrible, horrible headline. And then she'd be like, written by. And there was, like, the name of, like, a woman and a woman and a woman and a woman. And it really made me sad because I. And I spoke about this recently about, like, when I was like, a teenager, you know, I broke into the industry. My dad had just passed away in a really tragic accident, and I was really in a deep depression.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

You were young, right?

[Eiza Gonzalez]

I was 12. And I was like, you know, you're going into becoming a teenager, so you're, like, ridden with hormones and you're just angsty. I mean, we have all been that age where you're, like, ridden with anxiety and all of you, we know. And on top of it, I'm mourning and I'm, like, grieving very, very, very terribly. It was like a really terrible accident that he passed. And so it was, like, really sudden, really shocking, very jarring. So now I'm like a kid who's, like, going to therapy and being forced into therapy. I don't want to talk about my feelings. I'm really struggling with my identity. And then I found glitz of happiness in acting. And my mom sort of started guiding me towards it in a way to keep me busy, just to, like, have extracurricular things to mentally occupy me. And so that's how, like, it started for me. And then I was lucky and so grateful that it happened really quickly. I, like, land my job in the first, like, year and a half of me starting to, like, enjoy into acting. And so it was an overnight thing. I was thrown into this remake of a TV show that was so famous at the time around the world. It was like a Cinderella type of story called Floricienta, and it was a remake of it in Mexico. And I was just not ready. I was like, you know, like any normal girl, like, growing into my body. I was like, chubby. I was like a normal 13, like, 14 year old, right? And so I had no idea what was going on, and it was so jarring. And I remember the first few things coming out about me. You know, I'm just, like, innocent. And that's sort of what makes me really sad. And watching her speaking about it, I can see that, like, some of the innocence has been robbed from her. And I remember, like, I did, like, a wide. They were waiting for the reveal of this character, and I came on stage and I sang a song, whatever. And so the next morning, you know, as any child, like, I'm 14. I'm watching, like, the. Like, the version of Today show in Mexico, and they're gonna talk about it, and I'm, like, sitting there just, like, I've watched the show my entire life, and I'm just 14, and I'm watching, and I'm like, oh, my God, it's just happening. This is crazy. Like, I'm doing what I want to do. And the presenters came on, and they're like 40 and 50 year olds, and they're like, ugh, she's so ugly. She's so. Oh, my God. Yeah. Yeah, she's so fat. Oh, my God, she's. They could have gotten anyone. Like, why would they get her? And I remember, even right now, I'm just, like, saying it. It was just, like, so jarring. And I was just, like, sitting there, like, embarrassed. Like, embarrassed with myself. Like, even it makes me tear up. I was just so confused. I'm like 14 years old. Like, it's just such a hit to the electricity of your brain. And I remember just going to my room and just, like, pretending like I hadn't seen it. And then it just all started and it just. It was the beginning of it all, and it was just, like, never ending. So now you become this child where you're chasing approval, and now you're, like, completely lost of identity. And you're also completely lost because you're mourning and you're grieving, so you're sad. And then I'm touring and having to smile and be a role model and pretend like I'm okay when everyone's bombarding you and being like, what you're supposed to do, what you're not supposed to do. But I feel really very, very grateful that I had amazing mother that was, like, there for me the entire way through. And she was like a mother. She wasn't a stage mom. She was a mother and made me feel safe in being myself. But I definitely got lost. I was very unkind to myself. My body, my thoughts, My soul, because I just never felt good enough. And it's something that's stays with you forever because it sort of. It brands you, it marks you for life. And so it becomes a catch up, right?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah, yeah. Those formative years, I mean, so much happens. And I think when trauma happens in those years, it does form scar tissue that's impossible to get rid of. And it's just a matter of how do you then live with that and know that you have that and like let that be a part of your story and let that be a part of what makes you stronger and feels.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

Feel safe in being vulnerable too. Like feel safe that it's okay to have that scar tissue. It's okay to like feel sometimes you weren't the best. And it all ties back to you asking me about being a singer. Cause I did quit because I couldn't take it anymore. I couldn't take the pressure anymore. And I loved it. And it made me really sad throughout the years because I genuinely think that if I would have kept it going, I could have gotten really good at it. And I. I just gave up. And I'm not a quitter. I'm not. I'm a fighter. And so for me to like accept that I quit and the. One of the most important things that I could have done with my career really hurts me. But I'm also, I try to be like kind to myself and be like, whatever.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

It's also something that you always have that gift and you always have that ability. And like, I feel like it's just an extension of like so many things you can do. I mean, I remember when like Catherine Zeta Jones, you know, was given the opportunity to do Chicago and like she had done musical theater in the West End, but like, no one knew that.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

You could do it.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

That she was. Same with Ariana Grande. Like, she's a musical theater kid and everyone's like blown away by all her comedy chops and that she can act. I'm like, yeah, that's what she does.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

She started like that, guys, and like.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Then she did this other thing and she's this incredible singer. She's known for her like, her incredible range and her unbelievable pipes in her songwriting. But like, at the root of it, like, her first passion is being on stage. She's a theater nerd and that's what she started at doing. And so, you know, it's just an extension of, I think, so many other things that you can do. I think it's great that you have that ability and you have that Stage presence. And you have that experience of being a songwriter and a singer. Like, you're gonna have a very full career because of that.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

And I always kind of like to share this because I want, like, always to use it as motivation for people to feel like you can still do it. You know what I mean? By the way, this is so good. It has, like, a bit of, like, Indian flavor to it.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Oh, really?

[Eiza Gonzalez]

Yes.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Like a little curry or something.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

Yeah, it's like curry ish in it. It's fucking good.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

It has flowers in it too. It's pretty. I'm interested in also hearing about your transition, you know, from being super famous in Mexico to, you know, success here in the States. What was your first thing here that happened in the States that you feel like people sort of perked up and recognized you for?

[Eiza Gonzalez]

So I had this situation happen to me that where, like, my boyfriend cheated on me with a sex tape.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

And so I was so traumatized and it was so aggressive and I was so jarred by it. I was, like, in the deepest depression of my life. I was sobbing every other day. And so I couldn't be in Mexico anymore. It was getting really harsh for me at that time. I was like, 23. And it goes back to sort of what I was talking about earlier. They were just not okay with me growing up. The prez was just really not okay with it. There was always a way to take a turn for negativity. I was just really angry. I was just feeling really, like, just fed up with it. And I just got to a place where I was like, I'm done. I just can't. I can't, like, face this anymore. And I sort of came to LA to kind of hide. And, yeah, I just was, like, going out and drinking and partying and drinking and partying and drinking and partying. And I just wanted to, like, shut down completely. And my mom was like. Because my mom managed me forever. She was like, I think you should try while you're there to, like, audition. I was like, mom, that's not how it works. Like, you have to have a chance.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

You were really just here to, like, disappear.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

Disappear.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Now for a quick break, but don't go away. When we come back, Aza tells me about unknowingly auditioning for one of Hollywood's biggest movies, working alongside longtime friend Aaron Paul and adapting to Guy Ritchie's unconventional, off the cuff directing style. Okay, be right back. This episode of Dinners on Me is brought to you by Huggies little Snugglers. Huggies is the only leading brand with all around blowout protection for sizes 1 and 2. All of my parents out there know there is nothing worse than a blowout. And listen, when Sully was a newborn I thought I was ready for anything. I had the diaper bag packed, the burp claws folded, the white noise machine was charged. What I wasn't ready for I a blowout in the car seat in the middle of L A traffic. I will spare you the details, but it was, it was cinematic. After that we switched to Huggies Little Snugglers and honestly I wish we had sooner. These diapers gave us peace of mind when we needed it most. You shouldn't have to live your life worrying about how you'll deal with the next inevitable blowout. Huggies Little Snugglers are up to 100% leak proof with blowout protection in the front and back for sizes one and two. So you can actually leave the house without fear. Huggies Little Snugglers, the only leading brand with low out protection in every direction. Huggies, we got you baby. Hey podcast listeners, have you heard? You can listen to your favorite podcasts ad free. That's good news. With Amazon Music you have access to the largest catalog of ad free top podcasts included with your prime membership. To start listening, download the Amazon music app for free or go to Amazon.com adfreepodcasts that's Amazon.com adfreepodc to catch up on the latest episodes without the ads. And we're back with more dinners on me. What were you, what were you doing for work?

[Eiza Gonzalez]

I just finished my last soap opera, that show that I was telling you about where I was playing this girl and I just didn't know who I wanted to be. I was like 23, 24. I felt a lot of pressure to get married because in Mexico it was like all my friends, by the time they were already kind of married and have having kids and I wasn't thinking of transitioning to the US like the last thing was, oh, I want to go to Hollywood. Like that was not even a train of thought. I was coming often to LA because I would record albums here. So it felt like my second home for a while. So anyway, I'm just here chilling and eventually I started doing auditions and I sucked at it. I like remember one casting director being so mean to me. I'd never even auditioned in English. Like I'd never done anything in a foreign language. And so I'm sitting there and I have the sides in my hand because we don't Audition like that in Mexico, it's completely different. So I'm like. With the sides in the room. And she's like, that's. What are you doing? I'm like, I'm reading the scene. Because I think I'd watch movies where I'd see, like, in the movies. Like, in the scene of the movie.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

They'Re holding the pages.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

You're holding the pages.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah. That's what Emma Stone did in La La Land.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

Exactly. I'd seen this over and over again. No one walks you through this process.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

It's a weird thing, too.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

It's a weird thing. Like, I wish more people were like. That's why I love to. To watch, like, inside the actor studio and hear, like, actors talk about it. Because it made me feel like, okay, I'm not so dumb. So anyway, I was, like, reading the side, and she's like, you. And she said something really mean. She. She said something like, well, you're obviously gonna work cause you're pretty. It was so.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Wow. It's so dismissive.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

It was like, well, you're obviously.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I love a veiled insult with, like, a compliment.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

She's like, well, you're obviously gonna work, or you're pretty, but you should probably figure this out. It was just not kind. And I remember being like, it's never gonna happen, and sort of left really deflated. And so I ended up getting another audition, and I went for it. And I, like, this time, I really was like, okay, I'm gonna read these scenes, study them, like, thoroughly. And I'm reading this scene, and I'm studying, and I'm studying. And it's like, untitled, whatever. And I'm like, okay, I'm going to this untitled whatever audition. I'm like, come into this untitled whatever audition. I don't know what I'm talking about. I do it. So I did this, like, a couple of times, and I'm reading for this untitled thing. And then on, like, the third or fourth audition, I don't really remember, they're like, you have to sign an NDA. And I'm like, what is this? I'm like, I've never heard of an NDA either. And so I'm like, okay, I'm doing this NDA. Okay, great. And you're gonna meet with the director. So I come in and they're.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

You have no idea what this.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

I have no idea. I have no idea what I'm auditioning for. Because I don't even know that you're supposed to. You can ask, because I don't have an. At this point, I have no agency. I don't have an agent, a manager, an assistant. I don't. Nothing. A publicist. No idea.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Just a mom at home.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

Just a mom and an imdbage and an email. That's it. That's all I have. And so I come in and I'm like, hi, nice to meet you. He's like, hi, nice to meet you. My name is J.J. abrams. I'm auditioning for Star Wars. I have no idea. Oh, my God. I've been auditioning for Star wars this entire time.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Wait, what were the sides like?

[Eiza Gonzalez]

It was for the sky or like the Rise Awakening? I don't remember.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

So it felt like it was some sort of sci fi thing.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

It was just. It was words that. Because, by the way, I feel very, very guilty. I'd never watched Star wars before for some reason.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

But you knew who J.J. abrams was.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

Yes. When they said J.J. abrams, I'm like. But I kind of didn't, though. I didn't. I didn't. Like, I knew that it was like a Hollywood scene.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah, it's Gracie Abrams, dad.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

Exactly. It's Gracie Abrams. I love you. I'm sorry. Sad. So then I, like, couldn't believe it and obviously didn't get it, whatever. And I went back to Mexico and I was like, wow, that was a great experience. Like, I am back to soap operas. Like, I can tell my friends that I auditioned for Star wars, never got it, and moved on with my life. And so I'm in a. I've told this story before, but I'm in a bridal shoot and I'm like, in a bride's gown, and I get a phone call and I pick up and they're like, hi, is this Aza Gonzalez? I'm like, yes, hi. She's like, my name's Mary Verneau. I was wondering if you could audition. I have this audition for you. She's like, I'm a casting director in la. I'm like, oh, sure, sure. Yeah. I was like. She's like, it's really timely. Like, could you audition, like, right now? And I'm in the middle of the shoot, and I'm like, you're wearing a bridal gown? Yeah, yeah. And I'm like, yeah, yeah, I can totally do it. She's like, are you sure? I'm like, yeah, yeah, yeah. Like, we need it tomorrow. And I had this bridal shoot the entire day. So my mom had this boyfriend at the time who's like a. My musician. And so she's like, calling him. And she's like, bring a camera. We're gonna have a lunch break run in. So he's like, running in with a camera. Oh, my God. I never did, like, I've never done this. He's running into with a camera. Like, my makeup artist gives me her T shirt. I'm like, in this T shirt. And she's like, just read. I'm like, I'm not gonna have time for. To memorize. She's like, just read the sides. I was like, thank God. And I said, yeah. And I'm like, with the sides on the wall. Just, like, reading. And I have a gown. I wish I could find the photo. I have a bridal gown on the bottom, like. And then the top. I just have a T shirt.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Party on the bottom.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

Yeah, party on the top. And I'm like, reading it. Whatever. And then the next day, they're like, you have to fly in to meet with the director. The director's Robert Rodriguez. You're gonna meet him. And I was like, okay. So I come in, I meet with Robert, I do an audition, I do another one, and I book my first show here, which was From Dusk Till dawn. And I moved to Austin, and I start doing this show, and I'm like, my first ever in English. I'm playing the role that Salma Hayek played forever. And then right after that, the head of Neutrogena at the time was Latina. And so she had wanted to sign me for Clean and Clear years before. So when she found out, you said.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

No to that, by the way, and that's why it was available.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

Thank you. I really appreciate it. You changed my career. You changed my life. And so then she was like, oh, I heard you. You're transitioning to America, so I'd love to make you the face of Neutrogena in America. So I'm like, great. So then I go into my Neutrogena, my first. This will happen like that. Like, it just. It's so crazy. When it's meant to be, it's meant to be. I really believe it.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

You have, like, this bonkers year coming up. I mean, there's so many incredible films that you're, like, gonna be in. And I. First of all, I'm really interested in talking, obviously, about Ash with our mutual friend.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

Our mutual friend Aaron.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Aaron Paul. I watched the trailer, and I was like, how do I categorize this? Is it space horror? Is it sci fi thriller? Is it all those things? I mean, it looks insane.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

Insane, yeah. It's such A fun movie. I was so lucky to be able to work with Aaron on that because it was a really demanding movie.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Is that where you met him?

[Eiza Gonzalez]

No, we've been friends forever.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Okay.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

We've been friends for a very long time. And so from being friends, we'd been wanting to do something together. And so when this came about, they were looking for an actor and there was this other actor that had, like, the two original actors had dropped out of the project. And I was like. They mentioned Aaron. The director mentioned Aaron in the. In the zoom. And I called Aaron and I said, can you imagine how fun would it be if we were together in this movie in New Zealand with your kids and your wife? And we'd be like, just hang out every day, like this is a dream. And he was like, he was the. He said, listen, Aza, this is long overdue for you. You. You deserve a leading role. And I couldn't be more happy to be there for you and be able to provide that for you. And I was just like. That stayed with me in such a way that I will never forget because he. He, like, that's a gift. When you're an actor, you're giving it to other people. And so he did. He came in and it was a really hard job. And you need a friend in that job. You need a companion that is gonna be there through it with you in a way that you feel safe. And he was just awesome. I love Aaron. I couldn't be happier. And I'm obsessed with the movie. It's crazy. It's a crazy movie.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah. I mean, the trailer looks insane. I can't wait to see it.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

Yeah. I'm glad that the substance did so well this year because it just goes to show that people are open to, like, fun, off the wall horror. Crazy new. It feels like a new wave of cinemas coming in again. You know, we get those hits once in a while and I'm excited. I feel like this movie falls into that category.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah, absolutely. Just like movies that sort of change the genre and make people. Yeah. Big swings.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

This is a big swing. It's a big swing.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah, I love that. Talk to me a little bit about working with Guy Ritchie so much because he's one of my favorite directors. I've never worked with him. Every friend of mine who has worked with him has absolutely loved him. Yeah, I know. He has a very collaborative set. A lot of improv is encouraged, which for me, when I hear the word improv, I'm like, terrifying. Terrifying.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

Yes, terrifying. But what do you Mean, didn't you do so much for Modern Family?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I did. I mean, yeah.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

What do you mean? I would think you would be like, the king of it in that show. You guys were like, comedy is like, the hardest thing to do.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Comedy is hard. But like, the other cast members, specifically Eric Stonestreet, who played my husband.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

Yeah.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Is a really good improviser.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

He's so good.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Thank you.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

So funny.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

He's a great improviser. So I would just, like, follow him. But if it was me having to lead that, I'd be like, let's see where this goes.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

I'm sure you would be able to do it now.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I have more confidence with every success, that's for sure. But you have two movies with Guy coming out this year, so I have.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

In the Gray and I have Fountain of Youth.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

Which is coming out pretty soon. I love Guy, you know, again, I'm a tough girl. Like, I like straight to the head, Tell me what's wrong. Let's nip it in the bud and move forward. And that's how he works. He's very like, yeah, this isn't working, you know, and you have to really be ready for it. Not in a way that it feels like, oh, you're a bully.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Let's just be truthful.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

Let's move on. Let's be truthful and let's figure this out. Exactly. In a collaborative way. And so it can be really challenging if you have more of a traditional way of, like, you like to learn your scenes like seven weeks before, which that's me. And I used to be like that, and I'm still like that. I think you just adjust to different directors and you start learning different. Different talents. Like, now I can learn scenes in 10 minutes, and if I have to, I'll figure it out. And that came from working with Guy Ritchie. So if you're gonna work with him, you better know that you have to be ready. That he'll be like, nah, change the entire scene 10 minutes before. You'll be great.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

To doing multi camera sitcoms, which I did for a while.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

Okay.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Because they would change scenes. If you do it in front of a live audience, if the line didn't get a laugh, they would come in and like, rewrite the whole scene.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

No way.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

And they wouldn't even show you pages. They just sort of like, tell you what they want you to say. You repeat it back to them a few times. And then is this. And he does that doesn't. Okay. Yeah. And then you do it in front of the Audience. And, like, if you start to go off, they stop you and you have to start again because they don't want the audience to be spoiled. They don't want the audience to hear the wrong blow of the joke or whatever.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

Wow.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

So it's a lot of pressure, but it's really exhilarating. And I attribute it to, like, feeling like, you know, jumping off the plane. Yes. Yes.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

That you. You're nailing it. That's the feeling that it feels like to work with Guy Ritchie. He really gets a. A high from working with actors that are willing to play and open so he'll repeat you. And I really feel very proud of being a type of actress that directors want to work with again. I think it says a lot about actors. And, yeah, I would. I mean, in the gray, when we got in the gray, I didn't even read the script, and I said, yes. Like, I just will do anything for Guy because I know that he's always gonna try to elevate what you're doing and make you look better and smarter. And I know that what you're getting is gonna be something fun. And I love Guy Ritchie movies. They're so fun.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Me, too. Me, too.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

They're so fun.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

They're so fun to watch.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

So fun.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I can't wait to see it.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

Fountain of Youth is just your good old.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Is this Natalie Portman?

[Eiza Gonzalez]

Yes. It's your good old Thoroughback. She's the best. It's a dream. I love her and Krasinski. They couldn't be nicer.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

And Donald Gleason. Like, the whole cast was just absolutely fun and entertaining, and we got to travel the world together. So we started in Thailand. We then went to Vienna. Then we went to Egypt.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Oh, my God.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

Then we were in London. So we, you know, we're like a traveling band. Yeah. Traveling band all together, around the world in different costumes. And it was so cool. We're, like, trying restaurants, going places. It just. It was the warmest group of people and really sweet. Natalie's just, like, such an incredible mom as well, which I was, like, so inspired by that, being around her. I wanted to be an actress of. Set this millions of times, and I feel, like, embarrassed to say it to her, but I want to be an actress because of her, so being able to work with her was shocking. But I think that what blew me away more was the fact that she was an incredible mom. She's like an incredible mother. She was there with her kids. She was, like, going back and forth the entire time to Paris to not miss anything for her kids. She was like, producing this entire birthday for her son and his bar mitzvah. And it was just like, wow, you are.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

That's really inspiring. It's something. I love meeting people like that because I'm juggling two kids.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

Exactly.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

You know, and like, Michelle Williams is the same way. She's an incredible mother. And she told me when she goes, you know, it's important for my kids to see me happy doing the things that I love doing, even if it does take me away from them sometimes, because I want them to know that they should always be. Be putting themselves in a position where they're doing things that make them happy. And it's really important for me to lead by example. And so hearing her brilliant phrase it in that way really struck with me because I, you know, sometimes I just think of it. It's like, oh, I'm being selfish. I'm going off to do a. To do a job for myself. But really is setting example of, like, leading with happiness.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

Yeah, yeah. And by the way, everyone on that set was doing that. Like, you know, John was there with Emily. Emily would come to set and their kids, and they're incredible parents. Like, another person who I didn't know who could be the most hilarious human being is Emily. I guess it makes sense if you're married to John Krasinski, you have to be.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

So they seem like a really cool couple.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

They're the coolest couple I've ever met. I genuinely would guy and I would say, wow, what a couple. Like, they are a dream together. And it was just so cool to watch because she is a working mother too, you know, I was just really inspired and it was a great environment to be around and I just really enjoyed. Enjoyed that movie.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Do you. Do you want to be a mother or is that something that you do?

[Eiza Gonzalez]

I'm dying to be a mom. Just have a lot, a lot in the process to make it there.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I understand.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

I have to find a suitor. By the way, you don't really. Nowadays, which is kind of.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

No, you absolutely do not.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

But I really. I really am dying.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I think you'd be an incredible mom.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

I'm really, really dying to be a mom. I'm dying to. And especially when I see, as I said, I see these amazing women. I just. I'm ready for that next chapter in my life. I don't know when it happens and will it happen, if it'll be a blessing, but I really. Yeah, I really.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

It sounds like you had such a great woman to look up to.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

And your mom, I mean, she's the best. She's with me right now. She's living with me. We're sort of dealing with her health at the moment. And she's been such. Even in these tough times, she's. Her spirit is so positive and so, so encouraging and a profound, deep woman with so much knowledge and unspoken, too. You know, I feel like I always have to. To, like, excuse. Express myself. And she's just like, quiet and confident, and I just look up to her so much. Everyone's like, oh, how hard your life. It has to be a lot. I said, it has to be hard for my mother because she's the one sort of gauging the whole thing. She's sort of the architect of the project. She's sort of guiding me through it all because I'm just like, sort of guy. And yes, of course, I have an autonomy and a personality, but if you don't have that level of love and parents and kindness surrounding you, you don't get to do these things. You don't get to have these careers. We see it often, you know, so I'm grateful.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

And I'm sure there's a lot of empathy there, too. You know, you having grief of losing your father. You know, she also lost her partner and had two kids to take care of and like, that's.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

And her parents all in one year.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Oh, God bless her.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

Both her parents, my father, and had to take care of two, you know, grieving children, and she just navigated.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

It's a woman with a lot of.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

Strength while being a super, highly successful businesswoman running a career, being there for herself. Like, that's the school I went to, so I really want to be able to bring that to my children in the future. And sort of all these things that sound like tragedies, but they're all like, wins to me. I always see that amazing things have come out from tragic situations. You have to be like, oh, there's a. There's a terrible downfall. What's the positive in this? What is coming out of this? Even right now, I'm living it very, very vividly with my mother. And I'm just like, there's something really positive out of this. Like, you got to take it out and really focus all on that.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah. Yeah. I'm so happy to meet you. You're just such a light.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

You too. Thank you so much.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Of course. It's so wonderful to meet you. I cannot wait to see Ash. It looks so great.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

Oh, I can't wait for you to watch it. And I also, next time we go out, we have to do a dance party, too.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Oh, for sure.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

Next time I see you on a dance, I'm gonna run to you.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Well, now that I know that you roll with Sofia, I'm gonna make sure that she puts us in the same room together very soon.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

And maybe next time, you can put me on a group chat with Adele as well. You, your husband, and Adele and me.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I think she's changed her color.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

You're like, where are you?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Absolutely.

[Eiza Gonzalez]

Thank you so much. Thank you.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

This episode of Dinners on Me was recorded at Videer in Los Angeles, California. Next week on Dinners on Me, you know him as Manuel Alberto Javier Alejandro Ramirez Delgado, also known as my stepbrother Manny. On Modern Family, it's Rico Rodriguez. We'll reminisce about our time together on the set of Modern Family, and Rico opens up about how the loss of his father shaped his approach to acting. And if you don't want to wait until next week to listen, you can download that episode right now by subscribing to Dinners On Me. Plus, as a subscriber, not only do you get access to new episodes one week early, you'll also be able to listen completely ad free. Just click try free at the top of the Dinners on Me show page on Apple Podcasts to start your free trial today. Dinners on Me is a production of Sony Music Entertainment and a kid named Beckett Productions. It's hosted by me, Jesse Tyler Ferguson. It's executive produced by me and Jonathan Hirsch. Our showrunner is Joanna Clay. Our associate producer is Alyssa Metcalf. Sam Baer engineered this episode. Hans Dale. She composed our theme music. Our head of production is Sammy Allison. Special thanks to Tameka Balance Kolasny and Justin Makita. I'm Jesse Tyler Ferguson. Join me next week.