Television and film star Constance Marie joins us just before the holidays to talk all about her guest-starring role in the upcoming Christmas episode of NBC’s Lopez vs. Lopez, where she plays a member of George’s ex-wife’s extended family visiting for noche buena (Christmas Eve). Constance originally starred alongside George Lopez in his self-titled sitcom for six seasons before it was abruptly canceled in 2007 and during our conversation, she reflects on how far Hispanic and Latine representation has come since her early career days, what it was like reuniting with George and several other co-stars from their previous show, and 

“Brownface isn’t happening as much,” she said. “They used to slap a little bronzer on Catherine Zeta-Jones or George Hamilton and all of a sudden they’re Latino! Glenn Close played a Latina, Anjelica Houston, and Marisa Tomei. Now we actually get to be in our own storylines. Before they’d write this great [script] and not even see Latinos for it. You can’t do that with any other ethnicity, but it doesn’t happen as much. The time for that is over.”

Having been part of so many trailblazing projects for Latinx representation, from PBS’ American Family or The George Lopez Show to 1997’s Selena, we asked Constance who made her feel represented growing up, and the actress had this to say. “There wasn’t any really, except for one and it was profound. It was Lynda Carter in Wonder Woman, because I found out she was half Mexican-American and I was like “yes! Some representation that I love!” Once I found that out, it made me feel like I had a place. I don’t think people realize that if you don’t see yourself reflected, you don’t feel include or a part of this wonderful melting pot of America.”

Lopez vs Lopez airs Fridays at 8pm ET on NBC, available to stream next day on Peacock.