Digame: Gloria Calderón Kellett is Dedicated to Telling Latinx Stories on Television
Gloria Calderón Kellett is the executive producer, co-creator, co-showrunner, director, and actress on the critically acclaimed sitcom One Day at a Time
Photo: JC Olivera/Getty Images for Prime Video
Gloria Calderón Kellett is the executive producer, co-creator, co-showrunner, director, and actress on the critically acclaimed sitcom One Day at a Time. She recently signed a deal with Amazon Studios with her company GloNation and the first series from that deal, With Love, is out and it’s centered on a Mexican American family in Oregon. She has her first feature film coming out entitled We Were There Too, described as a 80s coming of age story with Black, brown, and LGBTQ kids.
Calderón Kellett is the daughter of Cuban immigrants and is known for infusing her culture and Latinx representation into her projects. She spent her early years as a writer/producer on shows including Devious Maids, Rules of Engagement, and How I Met You Mother. Her acting credits include Jane the Virgin, Angie Tribeca, Dead To Me, How I Met Your Mother, One Day at a Time, and United We Fall, for which she also wrote and directed.
She is also a founding member of the Untitled Latinx Project, an advocacy group of Latina showrunners, who most put together a “Dear Hollywood” letter about how to better address the issues of the Latinx community. “We’ve all been through this collective trauma and I just want to make something joyful. I just want to see Black and brown, queer, and Asian joy on screen,” she said during a screening of With Love.
Which Latina(s) have had the greatest impact on your life and why?
My mother and grandmother for their strength, humor, perseverance. Rita Moreno [West Side Story] because it was the first time I ever saw myself on television. America Ferrera because Real Women Have Curves was like the first modern depiction of me out there.
If you had a superpower, what would it be?
To be able to pause time, have the ability to play with time. I never have enough time and would love to be able to pause and get even more work done and not miss out on family time and be able to make even more time for family.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Other people’s opinion of you is none of your business.
What would you title the autobiography of your life?
No, you shut up!
What was the first thing you bought with your own money?
A car when I was 16! I saved up.
What do you wish more people understood about what you do?
That it’s really hard. That it’s so hard! And it never stops.
What motivates you?
My why. My family who came here from another country not speaking English with a dream of freedom and prosperity and I am their wildest dreams come to life!
How did you end up on the professional path you’re on now?
Tenacity
What is your greatest professional achievement so far? Personal achievement?
Getting to make two shows! As a showrunner, you’re lucky to get to make one so I’m so grateful to have made two that I’m so proud of and love. Having a family!
What is a goal you have that you haven’t accomplished yet and what are you doing to get closer to accomplishing it?
I’d like to direct a feature. I’m writing them!
Quick Fire:
Shoutout an Instagram account that could use more love and tell us why you’re a fan
@withloveonprime, of course!
Shoutout your favorite Latina owned business and why:
I’d love to highlight @thisisabouthumanity, @vivecosmetics, @albisacandles
Name your favorites:
Snack: oh! Trail mix or apples and peanut butter
Song: “Brown eyed girl” by Van Morrison
Artist: Art — Kate Miccuci. She designed my logo, it’s simple and beautiful and from the heart!
Musician — Gloria Estefan. What a badass and kind person!
