Dance Mogul Magazine Exclusive… 

Dance Mogul: How did you get into acting?
Valeria Jauregui: I was a timid child in public and outgoing in my room and where I felt comfortable. My mom, who has always had an unwavering faith in me, pushed me to audition for theatre, and that’s sort of where it all began. I guess I just felt such rapturous joy when acting that I never wanted to stop.  I’m also a very demonstrative person by nature so that helps.

Dance Mogul: Who has been some of your inspirations in the field?
Valeria Jauregui: So many. From the classics that started Hollywood like Audrey Hepburn, Judy Garland, Vivian Leigh, and more, to the greats from right now like Meryl Streep, Leonardo DiCaprio, etc. Admiring and studying their work is fascinating and inspires me to always keep learning more to become a better actress.

Dance Mogul: How do you balance your personal life with your career?
Valeria Jauregui: Well, I’ve had to become homeschooled. I’m also graduating a year early to be able to work more so it’s forced me to work harder with school. When I decided to dedicate myself to such a hard industry, I also chose to sacrifice a lot of typical teenage experiences. So as much as I try to see my friends and go out and have fun, I usually end up having to cancel because something work-related came up. I have a few very close friends who understand entirely and help me balance everything out as well.

Dance Mogul: Tell us about your current projects?
Valeria Jauregui: I just finished shooting Deputy on Fox playing the role of Maggie Hollister. Deputy blends the spirit of a classic Western with a modern-day attitude and emotionally driven, visceral storytelling. Deputy brings a gritty authenticity to the modern cop drama by featuring an ensemble of ambitious and complicated human beings who won’t rest until justice is served. My role as Maggie has been fun to play because she’s sweet, sarcastic, and very caring. We like to joke around on set about how she’s the most understanding fourteen-year-old there ever was. Playing her is challenging in a sense where I still have to keep in mind that she is way younger than me, and being 14, you think you know everything when you don’t.

Dance Mogul: How are you holding up during the pandemic?
Valeria Jauregui: Well, I haven’t been sane throughout the whole quarantine. I’ve had my days where it gets to me, and I have zero motivation, but at the same time, I try to keep a positive mindset and do things I enjoy! I would say to anyone struggling to defeat boredom; being bored is one of the greatest things that can happen to you, so use it wisely! When I’m bored and I choose to go on my phone I find myself going down the classic Instagram- self-sabotaging dive where I start comparing myself to people who appear to have it perfectly. In times like these, we rely so much on technology and are so driven to spend more time on social media to connect with others, but social media can be very contrived and manipulative. I am saying this because I know many girls feel the same way from what I’ve seen going around. It breaks my heart that it can be that way because we should focus on ourselves and practice spreading love and compassion at the end of the day. Anyways back to what I was saying is that I’ve chosen not to focus on scrolling and defeating my self-esteem. If I am bored and want to kick back and go on my phone, I watch videos of things that inspire me to get up and better myself. I’ll recommend this YouTube channel called “StyleLikeU.” Their videos have gotten me through some of my most challenging quarantine days when I feel very self-deprecating. Use your boredom to get creative. Paint something, read something, watch something… this list is endless. It’s going to be hard at first and feel pointless, but it gets better and easier. Also, call your loved ones and stay close to the people who bring you positivity in these dark times. Now that I’m out of school, I’ve been doing things such as working out, playing Mario Kart with my brothers, writing, etc. And of course, learning more about the things I am interested in so that way I leave quarantine with a more advanced skill set and a healthier mindset.

Dance Mogul: What are some of your favorite shows to watch these days?
Valeria Jauregui: I binged Midnight Gospel on Netflix a few weeks ago. I would say it’s unlike anything I’ve ever watched, and I did enjoy it. Rick and Morty is the show I go back to if I don’t know what to watch because it never gets old. I also, like everyone else, binged Outer Banks and loved it. Hollywood on Netflix is also amazing!

Dance Mogul: What advice do you have for up and coming actors and actresses?
Valeria Jauregui: Stay true to yourself and never limit your learning, for there is always something to learn to expand your mind and acting space. It will get hard, and you’ll have to make sacrifices so make sure you love it. When you like something the hard things won’t matter much.

Dance Mogul: What else do we have to look forward to from you in the future?
Valeria Jauregui: I am continuing to audition so definitely staying in the film industry. I am also working on writing songs and releasing music. I’ll be going to college next semester, so I will for sure be busy. I will keep you updated on my Instagram for what’s to come.

Dance Mogul: Is there anyone you would like to thank for helping you on your journey?
Valeria Jauregui: My family, all of my teachers, and of course my agents and managers.