Dinner’s on Me with Jesse Tyler Ferguson - Eiza Gonzalez — on partying with Sofia Vergara and recovering from teen stardom

Episode Date: May 27, 2025

'Fountain of Youth' and 'Ash’ star Eiza Gonzalez joins the show. Over avocado toast, Eiza tells me about the pressures of being a teen sensation in Latin America, an iconic blind audition, and a supportive moment from friend and ‘Ash’ co-star Aaron Paul. This episode was recorded at Videre Rooftop Restaurant and Bar at Kimpton Hotel Wilshire in Los Angeles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This episode of Dinners On Me is brought to you by Nissan. These days, it feels like the world and our lives are moving at hyper speed. I mean, that's why I love doing this podcast. It's a chance to slow down, to truly connect with another human being, and to enjoy the feeling of actually being in the present moment. On that note, I'm very excited that Dinners On Me is partnering with Nissan, because Nissan understands that sometimes the greatest rush comes from not rushing at all. And with the all-new Nissan Murano, you can enjoy an unapologetic refuge amidst the daily hustle and bustle of life.

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and for reminding us to take a moment and breathe. Learn more about the all-new Nissan Murano at NissanUSA.com. Panoramic moonroof, ambient lighting, and massaging leather-appointed seats are optional features. This episode of Dinners on Me is brought to you by Huggies Snug and Dry. The new Huggies Snug and Dry are luxuriously soft and ultra dry. And I can personally vouch for that because when Beckett was around a year, he went through this phase where he refused pants. He just wanted to run around in diapers and nothing else. And I thought, well, if that's the

outfit of choice, it better be a good one. So I gave Huggies Snug and Dry a try. And honestly, I was shocked. They were unbelievably soft. Like, wait, is this a diaper or a cashmere throw? Kind of soft. And let's be real, listen, Beckett has standards. If something's even remotely itchy, it's coming off. But these? He didn't even try and tug at them. Experience the unexpected softness and up to 100% leak protection of Huggies Snug and Dry diapers. So even if your toddler is running a diaper-only fashion show through your living room, you

know they're comfy and covered. More parents choose the new Huggies Snug and Dry Softness versus the leading premium diaper. Huggies, we got you, baby. Hi, it's Jesse. Today on the show, you know her from the Netflix series, Three Body Problem, and more recently, starring alongside Aaron Paul in the sci-fi flick, Ash,

and the new Apple TV Plus film, Fountain of Youth, alongside Natalie Portman and John Krasinski, it's Aza Gonzalez. I come in and I'm like, hi, nice to meet you. He's like, hi, nice to meet you. My name is J.J. Abrams. I'm auditioning for Star Wars. I have no idea.

Oh my God. I've been auditioning for Star Wars this entire time. This is Dinners on Me, and I'm your host, Jesse Tyler Ferguson. So I admittedly didn't know too much about Aza Gonzalez until I started researching her for this podcast. But the second I saw her in Three Body Problem and Ash with my old neighbor, Erin Paul, no less,

I was absolutely hooked. She's got fire, elegance, and this magnetism that makes you think, oh yeah, she was definitely born for this. But her journey to stardom didn't start with red carpets. It started in a middle school auditorium playing Rizzo in Greece. Yes, that Rizzo.

Now as someone who also got my start in 50s musical theater, okay, mine was byezo. Now as someone who also got my start in 50s musical theater, okay, mine was bye-bye birdie, but still, I felt an instant kinship. Performing was more than just fun for both of us. It was, I don't know, therapy. Now after losing her father at the young age of 12,

Aza turned to the stage as an emotional outlet. I definitely related to that pivot. For me, theater was where I could be someone else. I could escape my bullies and belt out my feelings into a spotlight or somewhere I felt safe. For both of us, acting wasn't just a hobby. It was a lifeline. And somewhere between jazz hands and dramatic monologues,

Aza found her purpose. What's remarkable is how Aza has turned every challenge, every heartbreak into rocket fuel. I was so excited to sit down and meet this incredible person. Hi. How are you? I'm good, how are you? I'm so happy to meet you.

I brought Aza to Vadier in mid-Wilshire, Los Angeles. Vadier is a dreamy rooftop bar and restaurant perched atop the Kempton Hotel. The menu, curated by blue-plate oysterette and Jean-George veteran chef Hannan Maddern, features dishes like seared prawns with almond hummus and yellow tomato saffron pasta. With its linen-draped cabanas, lush tropical foliage, and sweeping views of the LA skyline, it's hard not to feel glamorous dining here. And even though LA has its fair share of rooftop spots, Vadier stands out with a splash. Literally, it has a pool.

There's just something so special about drinking a frosty beverage poolside with a view of the Hollywood sign that just oozes old-school Hollywood charm. Oh, then again, Aysa's effortless elegance and Je ne sais quoi could make a strip mall food court feel like a sophisticated five-star bistro. OK, let's get to the conversation. I danced my ass off with Safiya on my absence. I was going to ask if you were at the Oscars.

She will start a dance party. I mean, the girl got me, and I was like, Sophia, I got to go, and I'm still feeling like I'm dying. Yeah, no, she is no joke, and she... She is no joke, that's a good way of putting it. She will shut a party down. Yeah, honey, she's like the do-or-sell bunny. I'm like, where are you getting all this energy from?

Exactly, no, every time I've been out with her, I've excused myself early, I've like, excuse myself early. I'd be like, I got to go to bed. And she's just always been that way. You have to Irish goodbye with her. Absolutely. I've discovered that the trick is Irish goodbye. Yeah, you can't let her know you're leaving

because she will pull you back in. It's like the whole pausey, too. It's like all like, oh. She rolls in with the entire family. I remember one year at the Golden Globes, no, what's it, the Golden Globes with the Emmys? I don't know, one of the shows, she needed a Sprinter van for the entire family.

Of course she did. And she also expected, because you know, those events, they don't give you just unlimited tickets. You can get like a ticket, and then if you want anything more. A ticket and like a plus one, maybe. And then if you want anything more,

it's like you have to buy the tickets, and they're pretty expensive, and they're usually like way in the back. Yeah, yeah, no, she wanted. She bought out like seven rows of the Dolby Center for her family when she was nominated for Griselda recently. She did, that's right. Yeah.

Because I was there. Yeah, yeah. It's so funny. I was like, I mean, I saw the whole posse there. Yeah, yeah. That's where I saw them all. I was like. Yeah, it's so great.

And like I met them all when I first, so on her 40th birthday, she flew us all to Mexico. We went to Playa del Carmen and we all just like took over the Rosewood and partied for a whole week. And she. How were you after that? Oh, decimated. Yeah, that sounds like a week and a half of like recovery.

Oh yeah, yeah. No, we had like tequila tastings every night. In fact, she had like her own tequila with her base on, like the bottle, like she had and a half of recovery. Oh yeah, yeah. We have tequila tastings every night. In fact, she had her own tequila with her base on, the bottle. She had a branded tequila. And her name. Exactly, oh yeah, yeah, yeah. I love her.

But I met most of her family on that trip. I met her ex-husband, I met all her cousins, I met everyone. I'm obsessed, I'm obsessed. It was like, I was like, okay, I've truly been initiated into the Sofia Vergara family. Now you're like Colombian by like proxy. She's so nice, isn't she?

I love her. I do love her. How long have you known her? So I've known her for a very long time because you know, I started soap operas and then like she was in, we were all like in the Univision school. So I've known her directly and directly

for very, very long, but I'm very close to Alejandro, who's very close. Her manager. Yeah, her manager who's been my friend for years. And I love her son, Manolo, so much. She's always been nice to me. Since I started, especially working in the US, she's always so nice and so warm, and she's always been kind to me.

I love her. Yeah, she was one of the first people I met on Modern Family, and she gave everyone these big hugs, like she'd known us for years. And she was just so, so Latin. So Latin. Yeah, I know, I know, I know. And then you see us at parties and we're crazy.

I mean, a friend of mine was watching us from afar. He's like, watching you too is hilarious. Cause we're just like, I love you so, so, so much. Yeah, yeah, yeah. She loves when she like has a good friend who can speak her language with her because she would always say, my language is getting worse and worse and worse every year I'm here.

It really is. I was like, how is it getting worse? I don't know what's getting worse, her English or her Spanish. She's like, I don't care. She's like, I don't care. I love hanging out with her. I know, I know, me too. I miss her so much.

I just actually called her not too long ago because I was walking to the airport and I saw like she was hanging out with some young person. I know a lot about her love life. Like I set her up with her now ex-husband. So like I feel very invested in her love life. Yeah, so I was like, why am I finding out about this from a man?

First of all, why am I my mother like believing everything in a tabloid? Yeah, exactly, hello. You should know better. I was like, who is this? So I called her, I was like, tell me all this, and she's like, I don't know. She's like, whatever, it's just a friend.

Exactly, yeah, yeah. It's so funny when these things come out on tabloids. You know what happened to me recently? I was going into the salon and I'm walking in and I'm in my car and jumping off my car and in my car is my mom and my brother and my brother's walking out and you know like typical brother, he's my brother, he's like 13 years older than me.

And in like old, good old brother fashion, I'm like, I just go, hey listen, I can see that we're being tailed, like just be careful. He's like, oh that's annoying. We're like jumping off the car. He jumps off the car to give me something. And typical brother, I had like a hair, and he's like, you have a hair,

and he's like touching my face, like pulling my face. I'm like, Yulen, they're taking photos of us. Next thing you know, they're like mystery man. I was like, say mystery man. Mystery man, my brother. Mystery man touching, and I take the days at my brother. That's so gross. And the way people would read it at my brother. That's so gross. And the way people would read it and believe it.

That's so funny. It's just a typical story of like, these things happen all the time, but yeah. Anyway, he's like the coolest brother on earth. We were at the Oscar pre-party, and he was super cool, calm, and collected with everyone. And that's, I've been to that party. It's like, it's overwhelming.

It's overwhelming, for sure. Like, even I still sometimes I'm like, and collected with everyone. And I've been to that party. It's overwhelming. It's overwhelming, for sure. Even I still sometimes, I'm like, this is so surreal. I'm talking to whatever. And he didn't ask me for photos for anyone, but there was two people that he freaked out. It was Mick Jagger. Oh, that's a good one. I would be freaked out by that one, too.

He's like, oh my god, that's Mick Jagger. Oh my god, it's Mick Jagger. And Mick Jagger said hello and spoke to him, and he couldn't believe, he's like, oh my god, that's Mick Jagger, oh my god, it's Mick Jagger. And Mick Jagger said hello and like spoke to him and he couldn't believe it. And then, oh my god, thank you very much, thank you. Are we gonna order something? Yeah. Oh my goodness.

What are you gonna have? I'm pretty hungry. French toast? I think I'm gonna get the avocado toast. That's good. Yeah, I'll get it the avocado toast. Absolutely. Yes, I got, so I'm gonna do the oatmeal. Can I have a side of bacon?

Yeah, me too. Yeah? Thank you. Oh my god. Oat side of bacon? Yeah, me too. Yeah? Thank you, oh my God. Oh, same thing. Oatmeal with bacon. Right, what am I thinking? Yeah, you're right, listen, no judgment. I'm out of control now.

And I'll do a coffee as well. Absolutely. I'll do a nice latte with oatmeal, please. Ooh, that's what I want. Thank you. I want the same thing. Yeah, search on that. Please, thanks.

Thank you. Okay, so Mick Jagger. Oh, so Mick Jagger and then Lars, the drummer for Metallica. Oh, interesting, so he's a music guy. He's a music, he's a boy, you know, he's a boy. And he was like, he had like a couple tequilas in and he's like, fuck it.

And he went rogue, he went rogue. He didn't even ask me, he's like, Lars, and I'm like, I hired him and he's like, and Lars is so nice about it. I also freak out around musicians. Me too. That's the one. And I think it's just because I'm so far removed

from that world. They just seem like otherworldly to me. I feel like actors, I don't know. I know what we do is like a skill and not everyone can do it. And there are bad actors. No, but I know what you mean. But singing, that's a whole other level.

And it's also not even just singing. Being on stage. Yeah. In that fashion, I started singing when I was young. And I developed, I actually don't think people know this, I developed crippling stage fright. But like crippling. I think because I was so overworked and so tired.

And when you're doing soap operas, as you've probably heard from Sophia, it's like 16, 17 hours a day. You're doing a thousand scenes a day. Yeah, you're learning your lines extremely quick. Extremely quick, and you're like jumping from one take to the other take. It's like very, very grueling.

And then when I started, I started like in a soap opera that I was touring, and I was so tired. So it was crippling because I always felt like I was losing my voice. Like the way that I realized that I was touring and I was so tired. So it was crippling because I always felt like I was losing my voice. Like the way that I realized that I'm getting tired as my voice starts going like deeper and deeper and deeper and then it just disappears. And I was losing my voice so often

that I started developing such fear because I couldn't control it. I couldn't do anything about it. I couldn't sing. But you were okay in front of a camera. Like you didn't have performance anxiety in front of a camera. None, but it's just like the fear of feeling

like you can't do something in a stage with 25,000 people. Live, yeah. That is, I have nightmares about it. So when I watch people do it and own it in such an incredible way, like I went to see Taylor Swift in London. I couldn't, I mean I could believe it. I see them like so otherworldly for sure. Like Adele. Oh. Like when I met Adele, I couldn't, I mean I could believe it. I see them like so otherworldly for sure, like Adele.

Like when I met Adele I couldn't believe it. And she's so fun. She's so funny, she's so down to earth. She's like my number one. Yeah, me too. I met her at Aaron Paul's house, cause do you know Aaron Paul? Yes, very well.

When he does like these like live concert situations that it's one of my favorite activities. I know Adele's really close with Aaron. And Aaron and then his wife. And I met her there and I mean I at a concert situation. It's one of my favorite activities. I know Adele's really close with Erin. And Erin and then his wife. And I met her there. And I mean, I guess, again, you would think that she's like bombastious and fun and like super, but she is really funny and watching,

she's my favorite show live I've ever seen. You know, so I have a little Adele story. I met Adele at Chrissy Teigen and John Legend's Super Bowl party. Oh, fun. And I walked into the party and I thought, oh my God, I told my husband Justin, I was like, I don't know if I can be here. Like this is too overwhelming.

I'm freaking out. I'm freaking out right now. He's like, you have to go say hi to her. I was like, I know, I know, just please give me a second. He was really pressuring me. Like go say hi to Adele. So anyway, I casually like walk over to her and like she's like, hi, I'm Adele.

I was like, yes, I know. And I was like, okay, I'm just gonna get something off my chest. And then we can, okay, I'm just gonna get something off my chest and then we can be just friends and I'll be normal around you again. And I just basically was effusive and I was like, I love you so much and your music means so much to me.

And I used your accent in a one man show I had to do where I had to play someone British. I was like, I'm gonna steal from Madel. She's like, this is hilarious. Anyway, I ended up chilling out after a while and just being able to communicate with her. A normal person. But she and my husband actually really connected

because they're the same age and they were talking about Spice Girls. Oh, I love that. And they were really connecting. She ends up asking my husband for his number. She's like, call, get your number. I want more friends. So they end up connecting. And so partly I'm kinda jealous. I'm like, well, I want her to ask me for his number. She's like, call get your number. I want more friends. So they end up connecting.

And so partly I've kind of just like, I want her to ask me for my number, but like I was like, yeah, yeah, Justin put us all on a chain together. So anyway, we all get on a text chain together. I end up inviting her over to our house for dinner. She comes over. You're like that with a dough.

I was like, she's like, we should have dinner. And I said, yes, do you want us to find a restaurant? She said, do you mind if I just come over to your house for dinner? I cook, I was like, sure, like, we should have dinner. And I said, yes, do you want us to find a restaurant? She said, do you mind if I just come over to your house for dinner? I cook, I was like, sure, I'll make you dinner. So she comes over, we make dinner. My house at that time is on the street in Los Feliz. She's just so lovely and so down to earth.

We ended up watching RuPaul's drag race that night. It's just chilling. It's just like dynamic and fun. I find that everyone that I've met that I geeked out over, are the most laid back, fun. When people say stories about them, they're like this, oh my God, she loves the housewives, and is just like a most normal person ever.

But I think that that's tied to being a musician, because you have to be, I guess actors are way more insecure than a musician could ever be because what we do, I guess it's like hiding, a lot of hiding behind things or pretending to be something else. Whereas singing or being a musician, you just have to be, you have to be so comfortable in owning your space, being yourself,

but that's why I think we admire them so much. Now for a quick break, but don't go away. When we come back, Aza gets into how the trauma of childhood stardom molded her into who she is today and the unexpected way she became a breakout success in Hollywood. Okay, be right back. Some of my favorite episodes of Dinners on Me are

episodes that happen over a good glass of wine. Patricia Clarkson, Kerry Russell, Margot Martindale, they gave me some of the best stories I have ever heard over a glass of wine. They definitely opened up. I mean, maybe it was the food or maybe it was the wine. Well, I'm just saying. I always stock up at Total Wine and more. It's my go-to, especially when I'm throwing

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Curbside pickup and delivery available in most areas. See TotalWine.com for details. Spirits not sold in Virginia and North Carolina. Drink responsibly, B21. Hey, podcast listeners. I'm Chris Morocco, food director of Bon Appetit and Epicurious and host of the Dinner SOS podcast. Every week on Dinner SOS, my Test Kitchen colleagues and I help listeners figure out

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Happy cooking. And we're back with more Dinners on Me. Yeah, I mean, it's interesting though, because you come from a music background as well. You have two albums and you're basically like the equivalent of Miley Cyrus, like here, like you were on television, you were on a show, like Nickelodeon, you were singing, you had a very successful music career. It wasn't that successful, I gotta say.

It wasn't, you don't think it was? It was not, no, it was not really successful. But it was, it's funny, because when you're part of these shows, right, you're a product, you're not really yourself, like what Miley's achieved is like she's a real musician. Like she went and she loved it. You know, she went from being the biggest pop star from Disney to actually like,

I think she's so talented. Like she's a real artist. And I think that for me, I wasn't that and not because I didn't, because I can sing and I can really do it. I think it was a combination of things. I had a real accident when I was 11, broke my nose in five pieces and I really had like, I would end up in the hospital with sinus infection every other day, pneumonia, bronchitis.

I was always paying catch up with my health. And it was a gnarly experience because I never felt like I was under control of my instrument. And I just never felt like I could really own myself. Therefore, I didn't think that my career was like the way that it should have had. And I was okay with it, too. I didn't really care. Because I was a product of a company where they were like, okay, the girl can act and also can sing, so let's like make it a double thing. But I do think that eventually some people realize,

oh no, this is more my thing than others. And it's okay to actually kind of go back and forth. And so that was sort of my experience, but it was really jarring to be so young and being in all these shows and touring and the pressure of being a role model too was really challenging for me as a child. For sure, so when you're asked to be a role model

and you're still looking for role models yourself, it's like, it's whoa, so, so intense. I've read that you've talked a lot about insecurity and feeling like an outsider when you're younger, which is of course something I really relate to. Do you think a lot of this was maybe stemmed from, you know, being a product of something and sort of not always feeling like you were maybe fully

comfortable in these, in these these bulbs that you were being put into? Yeah, definitely. You know, I was watching, I don't know if you saw Millie Bobby Brown. She posted about how she's been being heavily bullied by the press in this press tour and the sort of accepting her from just transitioning

into becoming a woman. Like she's just becoming, she's not 11 anymore. She is this beautiful, married, she's a wife. And so I really identified with what she was saying because she was reading this, she was explaining about her terrifying, oh my goodness, this looks amazing. And I just found that really interesting because-

What did she say that resonated with you? So she was reading this, she was talking about being a grown woman and sort of finding the way she wants to dress and act and be. And she doesn't have to do it under other people's terms, it's under her terms. And she went on and like reading

the title of these headlines, headlines where she goes, whatever, a horrible, horrible headline. And then she'd be like, written by, and there was like the name of like a woman, and a woman, and a woman, and a woman. And it really made me sad because I, and I spoke about this recently,

about like when I was like a teenager, you know, I broke into the industry. My dad had just passed away in a really tragic accident. And I was really in a deep depression. You were young, right? I was 12 and I was like, you know, you're going into becoming a teenager so you're like ridden with hormones

and you're just angsty. I mean, we have all been that age where you're like ridden with anxiety and all of you, we know. And on top of it, I'm mourning and I'm like grieving very, very, very terribly. It was like a really terrible accident that he passed. And so it was like really sudden,

really shocking, very jarring. So now I'm like a kid who's like going to therapy and being forced into therapy. I don't want to talk about my feelings. I'm really struggling with my identity. And then I found glitz of happiness in acting. And my mom sort of started guiding me towards it in a way to keep me busy,

just to like have extracurricular things to mentally occupy me. And so that's how like it started for me. And then I was lucky and so grateful that it happened really quickly. I like land my job in the first like year and a half of me starting to to enjoy into acting. And so it was an overnight thing.

I was thrown into this remake of a TV show that was so famous at the time around the world. It was like a Cinderella type of story called Floricienta, and it was a remake of it in Mexico. And I was just not ready. I was like any normal girl growing into my body. I was chubby. I was like, you know, like any normal girl, like growing into my body. I was like chubby. I was like a normal 13, like 14 year old, right?

And so I had no idea what was going on and it was so jarring. And I remember the first few things coming out about me, you know, I'm just like innocent and that's sort of what makes me really sad and watching her speaking about it. I can see that like some of the makes me really sad and watching her speaking about it. I can see that some of the innocence has been robbed from her.

And I remember I did a wide, it was a, they were waiting for the reveal of this character and I came on stage and I sang a song, whatever. And so the next morning, you know, as any child, I'm 14, I'm watching the version of Today Show in Mexico and they're gonna talk about it. And I'm sitting there and just like, I've watching the version of Today Show in Mexico, and they're gonna talk about it. And I'm sitting there and just like, I've watched the show my entire life,

and I'm just 14 and I'm watching, and I'm like, oh my God, it's just happening. This is crazy, I'm doing what I wanna do. And the presenters came on, and they're like 40 and 50 year olds, and they're like, ugh, she's so ugly. She's so... Oh my God.

Yeah, yeah. She's so fat. Oh my God. She's... They could have gotten anyone. Like, why would they get her? And I remember, even right now, I'm just like saying it. It was just like so jarring. And I was just like sitting there like embarrassed. Like embarrassed with myself. Like even it makes me tear up.

Yeah. I was just so confused. I'm like 14 years old. Like it's just such a hit to the electricity of your brain. And I remember just going to my room and just like pretending like I hadn't seen it. And then it just all started. And it just, it was the beginning of it all. And it was just like never ending.

So now you become this child where you're chasing approval. And now you're like completely lost of identity. And you're also completely lost of identity and you're also completely lost because you're mourning and you're grieving so you're sad and then I'm touring and having to smile and be a role model and pretend like I'm okay when everyone's bombarding you and being like what you're supposed to do what you're not supposed to do. But I feel really very very grateful that I had amazing mother that that was there for me

the entire way through, and she was like a mother. She was in a stage mom, she was a mother, and made me feel safe in being myself. But I definitely got lost. I was very unkind to myself, my body, my thoughts, my soul, because I just never felt good enough. And it's something that stays with you forever because it sort of, it brands you, it marks you for life.

And so it becomes a catch up, right? Yeah, yeah, those formative years, I mean, so much happens and I think when trauma happens in those years, it does form scar tissue that that's impossible to get rid of and it's just a matter of how do you then live with that and know that you have that and let that be a part of your story

and let that be a part of what makes you stronger. And feel safe in being vulnerable too. Feel safe that it's okay to have that scar tissue. It's okay to feel sometimes you weren't the best and it all ties back to you asking me about being a singer because I did quit because I couldn't take it anymore. I couldn't take the pressure anymore. And I loved it.

And it made me really sad throughout the years because I genuinely think that if I would have kept it going, I could have gotten really good at it. And I just gave up. And I'm not a quitter. I'm not. I'm a fighter. And so for me to accept that I quit and one of the most important things

that I could have done with my career really hurts me, but I try to be kind of myself and be like, whatever, it's part of it. It's also something that you'll always have that gift and you'll always have that ability, and I feel like it's just an extension of so many things you can do. I mean, I remember when Catherine Zeta-Jones

was given the opportunity to do Chicago, and she had done musical theater in the West End, but no one knew that she was. That she could do it. Same with Ariana Grande. She's a musical theater kid, and everyone's blown away by her comedy chops, and that she can act.

I'm like, yeah, that's what she does. She started like that, guys. Then she did this other thing and she's this incredible singer and when she's known for her incredible range and her unbelievable pipes and her songwriting. But at the root of it, her first passion is being on stage. She's a theater nerd.

And that's what she started doing. And so, it's just an extension of, I think, so many other things that you can do. I think it's great that you have that ability and you have that stage presence and you have that experience of being a songwriter and a singer like you're gonna have a very full career because of that. And I always kind of like to share this because I want like always to use it as motivation for people to feel like you can still do it, you know what I mean? Like, by the way, this is so good.

It has like a bit of like Indian flavor to it. Oh really? Yes. Like a little curry or something? Yeah, it's like curry-ish in it. It's fucking good. It has flowers in it too. It's pretty.

I'm interested in also hearing about your transition from being super famous in Mexico to success here in the States. What was your first thing here that happened in the States that you feel like people sort of heard that they recognized you for? So, I had this situation happen to me that where like a boyfriend cheated on me with a sex tape.

Yeah. And so I was so traumatized and it was so aggressive and I was so jarred by it. I was like in the deepest depression of my life. I was sobbing every other day. And so I couldn't be in Mexico anymore. It was getting really harsh for me at that time. I was like 23 and it goes back to sort of what I was talking about earlier.

They were just not okay with me growing up. The press was just really not okay with it. There was always a way to take a turn for negativity. I was just really angry. I was just feeling really, like, just fed up with it. And I just got to a place where I was like, I'm done. I just can't, I can't like face this anymore. And I sort of came to LA to kind of hide.

And yeah, I just was like going out and drinking and partying and drinking and partying and drinking and partying. And I just wanted to like shut down completely. And my mom was like, because my mom managed me forever. She was like, I think you should try it while you're there to audition. I was like, mom, that's not how it works.

You have to have a team. You were really just here to disappear. Disappear. Now for a quick break, but don't go away. When we come back, Aza tells me about unknowingly auditioning for one of Hollywood's biggest movies, working alongside longtime friend Aaron Paul, and adapting to Guy Ritchie's unconventional off-the-cuff directing style.

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And we're back with more Dinners on Me. What were you doing for work? I just finished my last soap opera, that show that I was telling you about where I was playing this girl. And I just didn't know who I wanted to be. I was like 23, 24. I felt a lot of pressure to get married

because in Mexico it was like all my friends by the time, they were already kind of married and having kids. And I wasn't thinking of transitioning to the US. The last thing was, oh, I want to go to Hollywood. That was not even a train of thought. I was coming often to LA because I would record albums here. So it felt like my second home for a while. So anyway, I'm just chilling.

And eventually I started doing auditions and I sucked at it. I like, remember one casting director being so mean to me. I'd never even audition in English. Like I'd never done anything in a foreign language. And so, I'm sitting there and I have the sides in my hand, because we don't audition like that in Mexico.

It's completely different. So I'm like with and I have the sides in my hand, because we don't audition like that in Mexico. It's completely different. So I'm like with the sides in the room and she's like, what are you doing? I'm like, I'm reading the scene. Because I think if you watch movies, where I'd see like in the movies, like in the scene of the movie. They're holding the pages.

They're holding the pages, I didn't know. Yeah, that's what Emma Stone did in La La Land. Exactly, I'd seen this over and over again. No one walks you through this process. It's a weird thing too. It's a weird thing, like I wish more people were like, that's why I love to watch like inside the actor's studio and hear like actors talk about it

because it made me feel like, okay, I'm not so dumb. So anyway, I was like reading the side and she's like, you, and she said something really mean. She said something like, well, you're obviously gonna work, because you're pretty. It was so, it was so. Wow, it's so dismissive.

It was like, well, you're obviously. I love a veiled insult. With like a compliment. She's like, well, you're obviously gonna work because you're pretty, but you should probably figure this out. It was just not kind. And I remember being like, it's never gonna happen

and sort of left really deflated. And so I ended up getting another audition and I went for it and I like, this time I really was like, okay, I'm gonna read these scenes, study them like thoroughly. And I'm reading this scene and I'm studying it, I'm studying it and it's like Untitled Whatever. And I'm like, okay, I'm going to this Untitled Whatever audition. I'm like, it's like Untitled Whatever and I'm like, okay,

I'm going to this Untitled Whatever audition. I'm like, come into this Untitled Whatever audition. I don't know what I'm talking about. I do it. So I did this like a couple of times and I'm reading for this Untitled thing. And then on like the third or fourth audition, I don't really remember, they're like, you have to sign an NDA. And I'm like, what is this?

I'm like, I've never heard of an NDA either. And so I'm like, okay, I'm doing this NDA, okay, great. And you're gonna meet with the director. So I come in and they're like. You have no idea what this is. I have no idea, I have no idea what I'm auditioning for because I don't even know that you're supposed, you can ask, because I don't have an,

at this point I have no agency. I don't have an agent, a manager, an assistant, I don't, nothing, a publicist, no idea. Just a mom at home. Just a mom and an IMDb pro page. Yeah, and an email. And an email, that's it, that's all I have. And so I come in and I'm like, hi, nice to meet you.

He's like, hi, nice to meet you, my name is J.J. Abrams. I'm auditioning for Star Wars, I have no idea. I've been auditioning for Star Wars this entire time. Wait, what were the sides like? It was for the sky or like the rise awakening. I don't remember. So it felt like it was some sort of sci-fi thing. It was just, it was words that I,

cause by the way, I feel very, very guilty. I'd never watched Star Wars before. For Star Wars. But you knew what J.J. Abrams was? Yes, when they said J.J. Abrams, I'm like, but I kinda didn't though. I didn't, I didn't. I knew that it was like a Hollywood name. It's quite for the best that you you knew who J.J. Abrams was? Yes, when they said J.J. Abrams, I'm like, but I kind of didn't though. I didn't, I didn't. I knew that it was a Hollywood name.

It's quite for the best that you didn't, yeah. It's Gracie Abrams, Dad. Exactly, it's Gracie Abrams. I love you, I'm sorry, Dad. And so then I couldn't believe it and obviously didn't get it, whatever. And I went back to Mexico and I was like, wow, that was a great experience.

I am back to soap operas. Like, I can tell my friends that I auditioned for Star Wars and never got it, and moved on with my life. And so I'm in a... I've told this story before, but I'm in a bridal shoot. And I'm, like, in a bride's gown. And I get a phone call, and they pick up,

and they're like, hi, is this Asa Gonzalez? I'm like, yes, hi. She's like, my name's Mary Vernue. I was wondering if you could audition... I have this audition for you. She's like, I'm is this Asa Gonzalez? I'm like, yes, hi. She's like, my name's Mary Vernue. I was wondering if you could audition, I have this audition for you. She's like, I'm a casting director in LA. I'm like, oh, sure, sure. Yeah, is that gonna, and she's like, it's really timely.

Like, could you audition like right now? And I'm in the middle of a shoot and I'm like. You're wearing a bridal gown. Yeah, yeah. And I'm like, yeah, yeah, I could totally do it. She's like, are you sure? I'm like, yeah, yeah, yeah, I can do it. It's like, we need it tomorrow.

And I had this bridal shoot the entire day. So my mom had this boyfriend at the time who's like my musician, but so she's like calling him and she's like, bring a camera. We're gonna have a lunch break, run in. So he's like running in with a camera. Oh my God. I've never done this.

He's running into it with a camera. Like my makeup artist gives me her t-shirt. I'm like in this t-shirt and she's like, just read. I'm like, I'm not gonna have time to memorize. She's like, just done this. He's running into it with a camera. Like my makeup artist gives me her t-shirt. I'm like in this t-shirt and she's like, just read. I'm like, I'm not gonna have time to memorize. She's like, just read the sides. I was like, thank God. And I said, and I'm like with the sides on the wall, just like reading and I have a gown.

I wish I could find the photo. I have a bridal gown on the bottom, like in the top I just have a t-shirt. Party on the bottom, business on the top. And I'm like reading it, whatever. And then the next day, they're like, you come to fly in to meet with the director. The director's Robert Rodriguez.

You're going to meet him. And I was like, OK, so I come in. I meet with Robert. I do an audition. I do another one. And I book my first show here, which was from Destel Don. Right. And I moved to Austin.

And I start doing the show. And I'm like, my first ever in English. I'm playing the role that Salma Hayek played forever. And then right after that, the head of Neutrogena at the time was Latina. And so she had wanted to sign me for clean and clear years before. So when she found out- I said no to that by the way, and that's why it was available.

Thank you. I really appreciate it. You've changed my career. You changed my life. And so then she was like, oh, I heard you, you're transitioning to America. So I'd love to make you the face of Neutrogena in America. So I'm like, great. So then I go into my first,

this will happen like that. Like it just, it's so crazy. When it's meant to be, it's meant to be. I really believe it. You have like this bonkers year coming up. I mean, there's so many incredible films that you're gonna be in. And first of all, I'm really interested

in talking obviously about Ash with our mutual friend, Aaron Paul. I watched the trailer and I was like, how do I categorize this? Is it space horror? Is it sci-fi thriller? Is it all those things? I mean, it looks insane.

Insane. It's such a fun movie. I was so lucky to be able to work with Aaron on that because it was a really demanding movie. Is that where you met him? No, we've been friends forever. We've been friends for a very long time. And so from being friends, we'd been wanting to do something together. And so when this came about, they were looking for an actor, and there was this other actor

that had, like, the two original actors I dropped out of the project. And I was like, they mentioned Aaron, the director mentioned Aaron in the Zoom. And I called Aaron and I said, can you imagine how fun would it be if we were together in I was like, they mentioned Erin, the director mentioned Erin in the Zoom, and I called Erin and I said, can you imagine how fun would it be if we were together in this movie in New Zealand with your kids and your wife, and we'd be like, just hang out every day,

like, this is a dream. And he was like, he said, listen, Aza, this is long overdue for you. You deserve a leading role, and I couldn't be more happy to be there for you and be able to provide that for you. You deserve a leading role. And I couldn't be more happy to be there for you and be able to provide that for you. And I was just like, that stayed with me in such a way that I will never forget because he like, that's a gift. When you're an actor, you're giving it to other people. And so he did, he came in and it was a really hard job

and you need a friend in that job. You a companion that is gonna be there through it with you in a way that you feel safe And he was just awesome. I I love Aaron. I couldn't be happier and I'm obsessed with the movie. It's it's crazy It's a crazy movie. Yeah, I mean the trailer looks insane. I can't we're just yeah Yeah, I'm glad that the substance did so well this year Uh-huh, because it just goes to show that people are open to like fun, off the wall, horror, crazy, new. It feels like a new wave of cinemas coming in again. You know, we get those hits once in a while and I'm excited.

I feel like this movie falls into that category. Yeah, absolutely. Just like movies are trying to change the genre and make people- Swings. Yeah, big swings. Big swings. This is a big swing. It's a big swing. I love that.

I love that. Talk to me a little bit about working with Guy Ritchie so much, because he's one of my favorite directors. I've never worked with him. Every friend of mine who has worked with him has absolutely loved him. I know he has a very collaborative set. A lot of improv is encouraged, which for me,

when I hear the word improv, I'm like, terrifying. Terrifying. Terrifying. Yes, scary. But what do you mean? Didn't you do so much for Modern Family? I did, I mean yeah. What do you mean?

I would think you would be like the king of it. And that show you guys were like, comedy is like the hardest thing to do. Comedy is hard, but like the other cast members, specifically Eric Stonestreet who played my husband. Yeah. He's a really good improviser. You guys are so good.

Thank you. So funny. He's a great good improviser. You guys are so good. Thank you. So funny. He's a great improviser, so I would just like follow him. It helps. But if it was me having to lead that, I'd be like, let's see where this goes. I'm sure you would be able to do it now. I have more confidence with every success, that's for sure.

But you have two movies with Guy coming out this year. So I have In the Gray, and I have Fountain of Youth. Yeah. Which is coming out really soon. I love Guy, you know, I, again, I'm a tough girl. Like, I like straight to the head, tell me what's wrong, let's nip it in the bud, and move forward. And that's how he works.

He's very like, yeah, this isn't working, you know? And you have to really be ready for it. Not in a way that it feels like, oh, you're a bully. Let's just be truthful, let's move on, let's figure it out. Let's be truthful, and let's figure this out. Exactly, in a collaborative way. And so it can be really challenging if you have more of a traditional way of like,

you like to learn your scenes like seven weeks before, which that's me, and I used to be like that. And I'm still like that. I think you just adjust to different directors and you start learning different talents. Like now I can learn scenes in 10 minutes. And if I have to, I'll figure it out. And that came from working with Guy Ritchie.

So if you're going to work with him, you better know that you have to be ready that he'll be like, no, change the entire scene. See, I thrive with that. 10 minutes before. See, there you go, you'll be great. I'd love to doing multi-camera sitcoms, which I did for a while.

Okay. Because they would change scenes. If you do it in front of a live audience, if the line didn't get a laugh, they would come in and rewrite the whole scene. No way. And they wouldn't even show you pages. They'd just sort of tell you what they want you to say.

You repeat it back to them a few times. And then is this probably. God does that. He does that as well? God does that. Okay, yeah. And then you do it in front of the audience. And like if you start to go off,

they stop you and you have to start again because they don't want the audience to be spoiled. They don't want the audience to hear the wrong blow of the joke or whatever. Wow. So it's a lot of pressure, but it's really exhilarating. And I attribute it to like, jumping out of the plane. Yes, yes, you're nailing it.

That's the feeling that it feels like to work with Guy Ritchie. He really gets a high from working with actors that are willing to play and open, so he'll repeat you. And I really feel very proud of being a type of actress that directors wanna work with again. I think it says a lot about actors. And yeah, I would, I mean, in the gray,

when we got in the gray, I didn't even read the script and I said yes. Like I just will do anything for Guy. Because I know that he's always gonna try to elevate what you're doing and make you look better and smarter. And I know that what you're getting is gonna be something fun. And I love Guy Ritchie movies.

They're so fun. Me too, me too. They're so fun. Fountain of Youth is so fun. I can't wait to see it. Fountain of Youth is just your good old throwback. Is this the one with Natalie Portman? Yes.

It's your good old throwback. I'm so jealous. She's the best. It's a dream. I love her so much. It's a dream. I love her. And Krasinski, they couldn't be nicer. Yeah. And Donald Gleeson.

The whole cast was just absolutely fun and entertaining. And we got to travel the world together. So we started in Thailand. We then went to Vienna. Then we went to Egypt. Oh my God. Then we were in London. So we're like a traveling band altogether around the world in different costumes.

It was so cool. We're trying restaurants, going places. It was the warmest group of people and really sweet. Natalie is just such an incredible mom as well, which I was so inspired by that being around her. I wanted to be an actress, I've said this millions of times and I feel embarrassed to say it to her, but I wanted to be an actress because of her.

So being able to work with her was shocking, but I think that what blew me away more was the fact that she was an incredible mom. She's like an incredible mother. She was there with her kids, she was an incredible mom. She's like an incredible mother. She was there with her kids. She was like going back and forth the entire time to Paris to not miss anything for her kids. She was like producing this entire birthday for her son

and his bar mitzvah. And it was just like, wow, you are. That's really inspiring. And something I love meeting people like that because I'm juggling two kids in this industry. And, you know. And like Michelle Williams is the same way. She's an incredible mother. And she told me once, she goes, you know, it's important for my kids to see me happy

doing the things that I love doing, even if it does take me away from them sometimes, because I want them to know that they should always be putting themselves in a position where they're doing things that make them happy. And it's really important for me to lead by example. And so hearing her phrase it in that way really struck with me because I, sometimes I just think of it's like, oh, I'm being selfish.

I'm going off to do a job for myself, but really is setting an example of like leading with happiness. Yeah. Yeah. And by the way, everyone on that set was doing that. John was there with Emily. Emily would come to set and their kids and they're incredible parents. Another person who I didn't know who could be the most hilarious human being is Emily.

I guess it makes sense if you're married to John Krasinski. You have to be so, so, so fun. They seem like a really cool couple. They're the coolest couple I've ever met. I genuinely would, Guy and I would say, wow, what a couple. Like they are a dream together. And it was just so cool to watch

because she is a working mother too, you know? I was just really inspired and there was a great environment to be around and I just really enjoyed that movie. Do you want to be a mother or is that something that you dream up? I'm dying to be a mom. I think you'd be an incredible mother. I just have a lot in the process to make it there.

I understand. I have to find a suitor. By the way, you don't really nowadays, which is kind of great. No, you don't. You don't. You absolutely do not. But I really am dying to be a mom. I think you'd be an incredible mom.

I'm really, really dying to be a mom. I think you'd be an incredible mom. I'm really, really dying to be a mom. I'm dying to, and especially when I see, as I said, I see these amazing women. I just, I'm ready for that next chapter in my life. I don't know when it happens and will it happen if it'll be a blessing. But I really, yeah, I really wanna do it. Well, it sounds like you had such a great woman

to look up to in your mom. I mean. She's the best. She's with me right now, she's living with me. We're sort of dealing with her health at the moment and she's been such, even in these tough times, her spirit is so positive and so encouraging and she's a profound, deep woman

with so much knowledge and unspoken too. You know, I feel like I always have to like, excuse, express myself a little. And she's just like, quiet and confident. And I just look up to her so much. Everyone's like, oh, how hard your life has to be a lot. I said, it has to be hard for my mother because she's the one sort of gauging the whole thing.

She's sort of the architect of the project. She's sort of guiding me through it all, because I'm just like sort of guiding. And yes, of course I have an autonomy and a personality, but if you don't have that level of love and parents and kindness surrounding you, you don't get to do these things. You don't get to have these careers.

We see it often, you know? So I'm grateful. And I'm sure there's a lot of empathy there too. You know, you have a grief of losing your father. You know, she also lost her partner and had two kids to take care of. And that's- And her parents all in one year.

Oh, God bless her. Both her parents, my father, and had to take care of two grieving children. And she just navigated it. That's a woman with a lot of strength. While being a super highly successful business woman, running a career, being there for herself, like that's the school I went to.

So I really want to be able to bring that to my children in the future and sort of all these things that sound like tragedies, but they're all like winds to me. I always see that amazing things have come out from tragic situations. You have to be like, oh, there's a terrible downfall. What's the positive in this? What is coming out of this? Even right now, I'm living it very, very vividly with my mother.

And I'm just like, there's something really positive out of this. You gotta take it out and really focus all on that. Yeah, yeah. I'm so happy to meet you. You're just such a light. You too. Thank you so much.

Of course, it's so wonderful to meet you. I cannot wait to see Ash. It looks so great. Oh, I can't wait for you to watch it. And I also, next time we go out, we have to do a dance party too. Oh, I can't wait for you to watch it. And I also, next time we go out, we have to do a dance party too. Oh, for sure. Next time I see you on a dance,

I'm gonna run to you. Well, now that I know that you rolled with Sofia, I'm gonna make sure that she puts us in the same room together very soon. Yes, and maybe next time you can put me on a group chat with Adele as well. Oh, yeah. You're your husband, and Adele and me.

I think she's changed her number. You're like, where are you? Absolutely, yeah. Thank you she's changed her number. Be like, you're like, where are you? Absolutely, yeah. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you. This episode of Dinners on Me was recorded at Vadier in Los Angeles, California.

Next week on Dinners on Me, you know him as Manuel Alberto Javier Alejandro Ramirez Delgado, also known as my stepbrother Manny on Modern Family. It's Rico Rodriguez. We'll reminisce about our time together on the set of Modern Family, and Rico opens up about how the loss of his father shaped his approach to acting. And if you don't want to wait until next week to listen, you can download that episode right now by subscribing to Dinners on Me Plus. As a subscriber, not only do you get access

to new episodes one week early, you'll also be able to listen completely ad free. Just click Try Free at the top of the Dinners on Me show page on Apple Podcasts to search your free trial today. Dinners on Me is a production of Sony Music Entertainment and a kid named Beckett Productions. It's hosted by me, Jesse Tyler Ferguson. It's executive produced by me and Jonathan Hirsch. Our showrunner is Joanna Clay.

Our associate producer is Alyssa Mitcaf. Sam Baer engineered this episode. Hans-Dale Shee composed our theme music. Our head of production is Sammy Allison. Special thanks to Tamika Balanz Kalasny and Justin Makita. I'm Jesse Tyler Ferguson. Join me next week.