“I had to excuse myself and go to the ladies room to take a moment for myself.
It was overwhelming because you see yourself, and it’s you, but it’s not you.
It’s a transformation.
Olga Merediz in the film ‘In The Heights.'.Warner Bros. Pictures
It’s a creation and a transformation, but you’re there too.
Your essence is there.
It’s like,Whew.
Olga Merediz as Abuela Claudia with the rest of the cast of ‘In the Heights’.Warner Bros. Pictures
I don’t know.”
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: How long has this journey been playing Abuela Claudia?
OLGA MEREDIZ:Since before 2007.
I started with this project and withLin-Manuel Mirandafrom the readings and the workshops before Off Broadway.
I was playing another character, the mother, and my song was “Carnival” at that point.
It’s a very challenging song, vocally, technically, emotionally.
No, no, no.
Don’t take me away from the part I’m doing."
Has that changed at all asIn The Heightshas gotten bigger and bigger?
These kids, they’re rapping?
It’s a rap musical?
I don’t know if I should do it."
And I like this kid Lin."
And then [playing her] I definitely felt very attached to this character.
I felt I gave a part of myself.
And her story with her Cuban background is just very touching to me.
I cry when I think about it.
Somebody just asked me, “Do you like to watch your performance?”
I don’t want to.
When I’m in it, I’m telling the story, I’m reliving it.
You have to tell the story in that way or else.
It has to cost you.
And so I don’t want to watch myself.
I just want to give her to everyone.
And I do feel a tremendous connection with Lin, with Quiara, and now with Jon Chu.
And definitely with this matriarch Abuela Claudia.
There were never talks about me playing her in the movie.
I went, “Of course I would like to audition, what do you mean?!”
That’s what I wanted to do, whether I got the part or not.
You mentioned that you were playing a different role and then ended up as Abuela Claudia.
How has it felt playing someone of an older generation?
You’ve always been quite younger than Abuela Claudia.
I don’t think I can do it."
But I said, “Okay,” and I really prepared myself.
At that moment, I didn’t connect and didn’t want to do it.
Then after I got into playing her, I was like, “Wow, this is rich.
This has so much depth.
I can really relate to it.
And then the elderly part, I just watched a lot of elderly people walking down New York streets.
And what I noticed was they’re overlooked.
People are like, “Get out of the way, I’m going to 14th street!”
So I tell people that I experienced ageism.
When I would come out as Olga, people would treat me in a different way.
And I used that for Abuela Claudia.
How’d you react to their plans to translate “Paciencia y Fe” to film?
And did it take a lot of rehearsal?
Did you have notes on what you want it to bring to it?
What are you talking about, the subways?”
[Laughs] But as you see, it’s magnificent, it’s magical.
I didn’t like the idea at first, but then it grew on me.
And again, the song, there’s some little changes from the stage version.
And yes, it took a lot of rehearsal.
I spent a lot of time with Chris Scott, the choreographer, and those young dancers.
They were from all over the United States.
And so I had to explain to them Abuela Claudia’s psyche, her world.
How older people, all they have is their past, this is all they have.
We were like a tight-knit community.
Is that something you paid attention to?
Which reminds me I better start singing again.
It had to be together.
So yeah, it was very important for me to be in tip-top shape for that.
Much, much bigger.
I don’t even remember the Tonys.
And all these mentions, it just feels like a reward for all the years, all the judges.
It’s overwhelming, but I’m trying to take it all in.
It doesn’t matter.
That’s all you might do.
What is your relationship to Abuela Claudia now?
Did doing the film feel like a farewell to her?
Is she a definitive role you would revisit?
A legacy you’re happy to keep?
I’m happy to have that legacy.
I was like, “Is this it?
Is this my final farewell to Abuela Claudia?”
[Laughs] Except I’ll be the right age.
In The Heightswill be released in theaters Friday and available to stream on HBO Max.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
