The Rookie's Alyssa Diaz on Being Mistaken For a Real Cop

Hey, what's up, guys? We're hanging out in the Young Hollywood studio with Alyssa Diaz. How's it going?

Hey. It's good. I'm happy to be here today.

I'm so excited to interview you because you're on all the best shows right now.

Thank you.

Narcos, Ray Donovan, The Rookie. I mean, you're killing it. God, which show's your favorite? Could you even say?

Um, they're all so different. Each one has its own flavor, you know? The Rookie is is really fun um and learning the tactical training for it is like fascinating for me. Um Narcos, being in Mexico City and telling that story and and actually playing someone that's still alive was a whole other challenge in itself and Yeah. And um Ray Donovan, like that's super intense. So they're all very different from one another, yeah.

Right. Is it fun to play a cop on The Rookie? I see you post pictures on your Instagram in the uniform. Yes. I love it. Is that fun?

It's so much fun and it gives me such an appreciation for officers and what they do for our city. It's really a selfless job and um fascinating as well.

Do you ever go on break in your uniform and people think like you're a real cop?

Yeah, actually, when we were filming the pilot, we were on Hollywood Boulevard and I had to use the bathroom really bad and we're they're like, "Oh, here's a shop." you know? So I was running down the street and then running into like the store, like looking for the bathroom and people are like, "What's going on?" you know? What's she running? There's an emergency. And like opening the door for me. "Ma'am, yes, you know, whatever you need."

Are you serious?

Yeah. And and then when I came out of the bathroom, there were two cops sitting having like dinner or something and they're like, "Hey, are you an actress?" I go, "I am." And they're like, "Okay, cuz we were wondering where your belt was." Cuz it didn't look like their belts or something. Why I didn't have my belt on. Cuz that's a whole other thing is taking off the belt to use it's a whole uh process for sure.

Yeah. That is so funny. People thought you were a real cop cuz you're like running to the street. Oh. That is so funny. I also notice you posted a picture with your dad saying that he took you to all your auditions when you were a kid.

Yes. Yeah, I started when I was 12. I was born and raised in LA. Um I think they threw me into acting as like an extra-curricular activity and I had no idea I'd still be doing it now. Yeah. Um but yeah, he took me to all my auditions and then we would have lunch like go have training food and Yeah. different things and yeah.

Did acting come easy to you when you were a kid or did you get kind of nervous at first?

Um I definitely went through an evolution like I was very natural. Like I liked going in front of people and being goofy and and whatnot. As a teenager, really refining my craft, my process and you know, finding the deeper meaning of what I was doing that came as an adult.

And now you're on all these great shows. Is it tough to bounce between all these different characters that you play? Yes. You know you're on Narcos and you're like, "Wait, I'm not a cop." No, no, no. The different characters. Sorry, it's like

It's crazy. Yeah, I definitely have developed um like a process to anchor myself in each character cuz each character is so different.

Okay, so when you're not working, what do you like to do for fun?

When I'm not working, I love going to the beach. I love reading. I love um like flea markets. I just bought a house so I'm decorating it.

How fun.

So learning all the decorating tips and techniques and I can't look at furniture anymore the same way.

It's addicting, isn't it? You'll get the interior design bug.

Yes. I'm like and there's always more to do like, "Well, I could do this, or I could do that." So it's really um fun but Yes.

Okay, so when you're not having fun, I know you're really involved in charity. You co-founded some organization.

Yeah, it's called I Am Now Me and it mentors at-risk girls um in foster care from the ages between 13 and 17 and Wow. you know, we bring a speaker in once a month and we talk about self-love, goal setting, visioning, and a lot of these girls are extremely creative. Um and I and I really think it's important to foster creativity. No matter what you do, like you have to have an outlet in some way.

Yeah. Absolutely. And before we end the segment, can we talk about your fur baby? Don't you have a little white dog?

My little fur baby. I have Rico and Chewie.

Rico and Chewie. Rico and Chewie. I love those names.

Chewie's very, he's an interesting personality. He doesn't like walking. He'll just like lay.

Oh, what an easy dog.

lay on the floor um and he does not like wind.

And wind?

Yeah. Wind he's like, "Keep those windows up." Yeah, he's just like he freezes. And um Rico is a cutie pie. He's a big snob. He just thinks he's human.

He probably knows you're his mom. He's like, "Please."

Yeah. She's on Narcos. And The Rookie. And Ray Donovan. Yeah. So my mom just bought a a stroller for him. It's a whole thing.

A stroller?

Yes, he has his own stroller.

So he really is a fur baby.

He's a fur baby. Take him down the

So cute.

My dad will rock him. He's like, "Shh" like, "He's a dog. Yes."

Are you serious? You have to post that. That is amazing.

Yeah. They just trip me out my parents.

So funny. Oh, that's so cute. Well, thank you so much for coming in. I'm so good to get to know more about you.

Oh my God, my pleasure. Yeah. Super fun.

Good luck in everything you got going on.

Thank you.