‘Riverdale’ Camila Mendes Speaks Out: Teen Roles Can Pigeonhole Actors
Camila Mendes says teen breakout roles, like hers on Riverdale, can lead to a pigeonholed acting career.
The typecasting trope can be a blessing or a curse for actors. There are a host of ways to be typecast. Actors starring on major teen hit television series can find themselves in this bind. Camila Mendes, who rose to stardom for her role as Veronica Lodge in the CW’s American teen drama television series based on the characters of Archie Comics, Riverdale, speaks out regarding the issue. She recently gave her two cents on the matter to Nylon when talking about her role in the new Hulu movie Palm Springs, playing Tala, an elegant bride who’s wedding day has been stuck on repeat.
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You’re cordially invited to attend movie night. 🌴 #PalmSpringsMovie is now streaming.
“I think that no matter who you are or what you do, if you’re on a teen show, yeah, there’s an inherent pigeonhole that comes with that,” Mendes clears-up. “But I’ve watched a bunch of people before me deal with that. I do think it takes some time after coming off a show to shake it off a little bit and reset to have people perceive you in a different way, but I do think that’s changing a lot.”
trailer is out!! #PalmSpringsMovie https://t.co/e8Ty8Ma6nQ
— Camila Mendes (@CamilaMendes) June 16, 2020
In place of further negative effects of teen roles, Mendes offers her piece on a light at the end of the pigeonholed tunnel. “I don’t know if it’s because of social media and being able to control your image or if it’s this new wave of TV that people seem to find equally entertaining and as high-quality as film,” she explained. “I think people are now more open to perceiving TV actors as serious actors, period. It’s changing, but I do find that it’s kind of inevitable to be pigeonholed a little bit when you’re playing the same character for years.”
The Kissing Booth and Euphoria star, Jacob Elordi, revealed his exasperation for being type-cast as a high school jock to GQ Australia. “Nothing against that but I’ve sort of done it and it would be really hard for me to find joy in that,” he confessed. “I’m also getting older now, and I’m starting to look older, so to keep going back to high school is kind of taxing.”
Not to fear, Mendes has no career regrets. “I think there’s a reason we are where we are in our lives, and everything that has happened has led us to this moment. So I don’t know that I would do anything differently because that might lead me toward a different path and maybe one that isn’t as good,” she said. “I always have to look back on my actions and be grateful for them for teaching me lessons and creating the person that I am in this moment.”
Mendes has played the iconic role of V on Riverdale since the show first aired back in 2017.
For more on Camila Mendes’s sit-down with Nylon, you can get the full scoop here.
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