“Encanto”s Adassa On Disney Role, The Little Mermaid, And Dream Co-Star

This double-threat just made her Disney debut!

You might remember this actress as the Billboard artist chart-topper, working with music icons like Pitbull and Daddy Yankee. Now, she’s joined the musical talents of Lin Manuel Miranda for the new Animated movie “Encanto”!

We had the absolute honor of talking on her children’s reaction to the role, Lin Manuel Miranda, and more!

Q: What first sparked your interest in acting?

A: “Acting is a way to live another reality. I absolutely love becoming different characters who thrive within another world. Placing myself inside the mind of the character and unraveling from the inside out why it behaves, thinks, and acts in this or that way. Being directed by Byron Howard, Jared Bush and co-director Charise Castro Smith was such a pleasure because they gave me a bit of the backstory of Dolores, who she was in the family and what her behavior was like. Then Lin Manuel took me to journey through her musical side in which I was also able to bring my Reggaeton flavor front and center. I was able to interpret what I felt was the reality she lives in and the person she was, sweet, soft, informative, but sometimes going a bit overboard with the truth.”

Q: Tell us about your new role in Disney’s Encanto?

A: “Dolores is funny, expressive, soft-spoken, charming and she’s the first to know the town’s biggest secrets and juiciest revelations. She was blessed with extraordinary hearing, not even a whisper gets past her! She also has her own dreams that may never come true. Her loyalty is to her family and strives to make them proud, especially Abuela. She lives in an enchanted town in the Colombian mountains with her exceptional family with unique abilities and powers like super strength, healing and more, except for Mirabel, her cousin the only “ordinary” Madrigal that somehow will have to find a way to save the Madrigal magic which is in danger.

This was a dream role for me since I identify so much with Dolores! Sometimes I also have felt invisible, unwanted and overlooked, but she keeps moving forward offering her family her gift full heartedly, awaiting the moment to share with everyone all that she knows. Sometimes she can’t help but speak softly and fast since she has so much information inside it’s hard to contain it all!”

Q: What was your favorite Disney movie growing up?

A: “My trajectory was defined by The Little Mermaid! When I saw this film as a child I knew that I wanted to be part of that world. I wanted to sing and I dreamed of being a cast member at a Disney park or at least hand out maps dressed in Disney magic, something that was put on the backburner when I was signed to Universal Latino by VP Walter Kolm, manager of Maluma who is the heartthrob of the film. After traveling and singing with artists such as Pitbull, Snoop Dogg, Ciara, Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee among others, I thought that dream would never be, but then came Encanto and now here I am, part of this magical world, Disney’s 60^th Animated Film inspired by Colombia, the birthplace of my Parents!”

Q: How have your children reacted to your new role?

A: “They couldn’t believe it and once they did, they wanted to tell all of their friends so for many months it was a highly guarded family secret until the cast was officially announced by Disney. My daughter Alyssa Bella Candiani also had the joy of being cast in the film as one of the town children, so for us it’s a family affair!”

Q: If you could star in a movie with any actress, who would you choose and why?

Other than Stephanie Beatriz which is an absolute dynamic actress and a delight in Encanto, I would LOVE to star in a Movie alongside Kristen Bell. I admire the comical spin she puts on any role, how down to earth she is and how she is the girl next door, yet at the same time the perfect friend you’d just love to hang out with at a party. I have followed her body of work for years from Veronica Mars to The Good Place, Frozen, Bad Moms, Queenpins… too many to mention!!! Both of us being working mom’s, married, she is also an incredible singer which would be so fun to play off of one another if given the opportunity, I’d just add in my Afro-LatinX to the mix! 

Q: Can we expect more solo music from you in the future?

A: “Absolutely! Making music for me is like breathing I can never stop doing it. Currently I’m releasing a couple of singles through CHR records and also Sky Urbano, mixing my Colombian Roots with Reggaeton and a Mexican edge.”

Q: When not blowing up the music and acting scene, what do you like to do?

A: “I love working on film and tv music with my husband Gabriel Candiani he owns Sky Urbano a music library, I also enjoy cooking, spending time with my family and kids and finding my spiritual center.”

Q: Where can we follow your amazing journey?

A: “You can follow me via twitter, or instagram @adassaofficial on my Facebook page @adassamusic or on my youtube channel @adassaofficial.”

Written and Conducted By: Je’Kayla Crawford

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Je’Kayla Crawford– Founder and Entertainment Writer– Je’Kayla has been a journalist for years and decided to start a publication of her own, New Scene. When not helping her team and working on the monthly issues, you can find her watching a movie on Netflix or baking using a viral Tasty recipe.