INTERVIEW: Arica Himmel Discusses ABC’s Comedy ‘Mixed-ish,’ Her Inspirations, Future Career Goals, and Isolation

Arica Himmel plays a young Rainbow Johnson, aka “Bow,” in ABC’s comedy Mixed-ish, a prequel to the hit series, Black-ish.

After receiving critical acclaim for Black-ish, ABC announced Mixed-ish, which delves into Bow’s unusual upbringing. Mixed-ish follows the mid-80’s Johnson family and stars Himmel as a young Bow as they search for normality in the suburbs after their hippie commune breaks apart. The show premiered on ABC in late 2019 and is currently on its second season, airing Tuesdays.

Gaining her start in live theatre on Broadway for The Layover, Himmel has shifted focus to film aspirations, making multiple guest appearances before landing her role in Mixed-ish.

Read our exclusive interview with Arica Himmel below to find out more about her take on Bow, the new season, what lesson she hopes the show teaches viewers, future ambitions, and self-love.

GLITTER: Where did you grow up, and what started your love for acting?
ARICA: I grew up in New York City, surrounded by entertainers in my family. I love acting, singing, and dancing. After auditioning for commercials, I knew I was meant to go further. I realized there was a certain magic putting on other personalities, pretending to be other people, and giving raw emotion to entertain others. Acting has always been my passion.

GLITTER: When did you know you wanted to pursue acting as a career?
ARICA: I knew for certain when I did The Layover. We did 50 performances, and I got to work with a brilliant team, and I had a lot of fun performing for a live audience.

GLITTER: You’re currently starring in ABC’s Mixed-ish, a prequel to Black-ish, and play the younger version of Rainbow (Tracee Ellis Ross’ character). Were you a fan of Black-ish before you booked the role?
ARICA: I was definitely a fan of Black-ish; I watched it with my mom and my sister.

GLITTER: Taking on this role, what was your approach, since another version of the character already existed? Do you have any methods to staying authentic to the character? 
ARICA: I’ve watched clips of Bow Johnson on Black-ish, I’ve picked out little “Bow-isms” to mirror, but I try not to focus on nailing older Bow Johnson since my job is to show Bow’s evolution and to develop her character episode by episode.

GLITTER: What phrase would you use to describe Rainbow?
ARICA: Rainbow Johnson: Caring, kind, intelligent, and a soon-to-be boss! She still has some learning to do.

GLITTER: The new season of Mixed-ish premiered on January 26; what can you tease about Rainbow’s upcoming storylines?
ARICA: Rainbow’s storylines will follow drama with friends, having a new crush (or two), and trying to become a role model to her siblings.

GLITTER: What can fans expect from the new season, and what are you most excited for them to see?
ARICA: This season, Rainbow Johnson will continue to navigate life as a mixed-race girl growing up in the suburbs during the 80s, but she will face new challenges (new crushes, friendship drama), and her crazy but loving family will be RIGHT by her side – whether she likes it or not! I’m excited for fans to see Rainbow’s new fashion looks! She has stepped up her game!

GLITTER: What lessons do you hope the show and your character teaches viewers?
ARICA: Even though Rainbow grew up on a commune with crazy stuff taking place, she learned and continues to carry the most important values in her life: to love and accept everyone for who they are. I hope the show and my character will teach viewers this lesson.

GLITTER: Favorite part about the series taking place in the ‘80s?
ARICA: My favorite part about the series taking place in the ’80s is the fashion and music! I’ve listened to music from all decades my whole life, and the ’80s music hits different!

GLITTER: Favorite part of the comedy genre?
ARICA: With comedy, I love that you have so much space to improvise and play up the energy on certain lines.

GLITTER: What was one scene you could barely get through filming because you were laughing so much?
ARICA: I seriously could NOT get through a scene with Rainbow’s friends at the Pizza Palace because we were laughing. So. Much! I have become very close with all of Rainbow’s friends on the show; I’m happy to call them my own friends. We joke around all the time on set, even when there is silence!

GLITTER: What are your top five comedy movies or shows?
ARICA: The Office, Parks & Rec, Superstore, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and definitely Madagascar, one of my favorite childhood movies.

GLITTER: You made your theatrical debut off-Broadway in The Layover (Second Stage Theatre); what did this experience teach you?
ARICA: The experience taught me that doing theater is a lot more challenging, but the rewards are instant. You get the reaction from the audience right away, unlike film and TV. I love the challenge of performing in the theater; it teaches you discipline and so much more.

GLITTER: You guest-starred on God Friended Me, are there any stories you can share from your time on set?
ARICA: Since my character was a violinist, one of my scenes was a recital. I remember going up on the stage and playing the violin, except it sounded terrible since I don’t know how to play! I’m so thankful for the violin teacher who taught me how to make certain arm movements and really sell the performance.

GLITTER: You recurred as Harper in Thanksgiving; what attracted you to the role and project?
ARICA: What attracted me to the role was the prospect of working with such brilliant and accomplished actors like Amy Sedaris and Chris Elliott. It was my very first series.

GLITTER: Did you get any advice from Amy Sedaris and Chris Elliott while working with them?
ARICA: While working with Amy Sedaris and Chris Elliot, I picked up on how they really brought their lines to life. This helped me understand that as an actor, it’s important to add your own flavor to your lines; this can be through physicality, facial expressions, or even adding extra words.

GLITTER: You’re also a writer, what inspires you when you write?
ARICA: Simple things lying around in my room inspire me to write because I’m able to elevate them to a level of pure imagination, and that’s a lot of fun for me.

GLITTER: What intrigues you about filmmaking?
ARICA: Filmmaking allows me to show others what life is like through my eyes, how I see things, what I’m interested in. The possibilities in terms of cameras, lighting, and sound are endless.

GLITTER: Any genres you haven’t gotten to do yet and want to try in the future?
ARICA: I definitely want to do horror, suspense, thrillers, and sci-fi/fantasy genres.

GLITTER: In your opinion, what does Hollywood and the entertainment industry need to work on when it comes to inclusivity?
ARICA: I think that the industry needs to work on more diversity in front of the camera and behind the scenes. People of color, particularly women, LGBTQ+, and people with disabilities, should be represented in more lead roles. When it comes to casting Black people, I would like to see more dark-skinned Black women. They’re really underrepresented in all aspects of the industry.

GLITTER: How would you describe a day in social isolation for you?
ARICA: A day in social isolation for me would start with eating homemade waffles, then watching Law & Order: SVU all day long.

GLITTER: What did you use the extra time in quarantine to do? Did you learn anything about yourself?
ARICA: During quarantine, I used the time to discover the things I now love. I started sending handwritten letters with the cute wax stamps and flowers, of course, journaling and getting into skincare.

GLITTER: Glitter has a celebrity #SelfLoveCampaign. What does self-love mean to you?
ARICA: Self-love means loving yourself and embracing the parts of you that you’re insecure about.

GLITTER: What are the best social media platforms for fans to keep up with all things Arica?
ARICA: Instagram and TikTok!