‘How to Get Away with Murder’ Star Karla Souza on Viola Davis and Her Beauty Secrets
Karla Souza stars on How to Get Away with Murder. (Photo: Getty Images)
On ABC’s hit TV show How To Get Away With Murder, Karla Souza impersonates a strategic legal intern. “Laurel keeps a lot of things to herself,” Souza tells Yahoo Beauty. “She observes the situation and she assesses it. She sort of plays chess with every decision she makes. The actress says she differs quite a bit in real life. “She’s very clever that way, where as; if I find something out or I want to know something from someone, I just directly go and ask them, or I just say whatever it is I’m thinking. She’s able to keep it to herself and she gets whatever she wants.” The Mexican born actress and the woman she portrays on the small screen aren’t total opposites, though. “We’re similar in the way that she’s loyal in her relationships in her life,” says the 29-year-old former telenovela star.
Off-screen, Souza is co-producing and starring in a new movie hitting theaters in March, and until then she’s keeping busy with the show, and filming two other movies during her small screen hiatus. Her Ammunition Theater Company (which she opened with about a dozen other actors), helps My Friends Place; benefitting homeless youth in L.A. Karla and company help these individuals get back on their feet with creative workshops and plays. Their first play sold out and the next is slated for February. But if that wasn’t enough on her plate – she’s also the face of L’Oreal in Mexico. #NBD. We caught up with the star to get her beauty secrets and talk about her Emmy award-winning show.
Yahoo Beauty: What has Murder producer Shonda Rhimes taught you about confidence?
Karla Souza: To be confident in my weaknesses.
What are your weaknesses?
I feel like nowadays, the words “Powerful Women” have blown up a lot. I feel that vulnerability is powerful, and [so is] being sensitive, and feeling like you can’t do things on your own; you need somebody else’s help. Rather than shying away from that, it’s empowering to be able to share that and ask for help. Also, celebrating our differences, celebrating that I was born and I was different than everyone. Sometimes pop culture and society tells us that beauty is a certain thing. [Shonda] helps us celebrate that beauty is everything; it’s what we are and it’s feeling confident in that. It’s been a great thing to be able to explore.
Viola Davis recently won the Emmy for Best Actress in a Drama. How do you feel about her big win and what does this means for more diverse roles on TV?
It’s a lesson on being brave and being vulnerable on stage, and not apologizing for who you are. She mentioned that the only difference between a white girl and her is opportunity. I feel that’s not only true to our skin color, but for a lot of things. The fact that she said in order to win a part – in order to win an Emmy – there has to be a part written for you. I feel like that’s very true, specifically me being Latina. There are very few parts written for Latinas that aren’t either bombshells, or me. I really hope the diversity within the characters being portrayed for the Latin community changes. Also, for people with disabilities and characters that are flawed; characters that don’t portray that perfection but portray real human nature and what the world looks like today. Her thanking the people who are in charge of that is very important. For the new generation, seeing ourselves on TV makes us feel like we’re not alone. That’s the most important thing.
What Mexican beauty secrets have you learned from your background?
When I was younger — possibly 14 or 15 — we’d go to our weekend home, two hours south of Mexico City. [The way] to lighten our hair — to get natural highlights — was to put beer on our hair at the pool. We would put Corona on all of our hair and lay there for hours in the sun. That would actually work.
Who taught you this trick?
My older cousin. We had 45 cousins when I was younger. My sister is two years older and my two-year older cousin passed on this information.
You have 45 cousins?
We’re 45. You can imagine? Weekends together were crazy.
Your beauty routine has clearly altered since then. How would you say it’s improved in recent years?
Sunblock. That’s one that really changed. I would put on the tanning oils meant for your body on my face. Now I would never to that. I always put like 80 [SPF] sunblock on my face. Today, I put it on my face and my arms, because I have freckles. I learned very quickly that someone with freckles, like me, suddenly becomes like one freckle on the face. The freckles join, and it becomes very weird!
What other lifestyle adjustments have you made over the years?
What I eat and do for exercise are huge factors to how my skin looks. I used to smoke cigarettes when I lived in France from when I was 16 to when I was 18, 19. Coffee and all that stuff made a difference in my skin complexion, my teeth, just my sense of smell. Lots of things changed. I used to not take off my makeup after going to a party. I would sleep on it and take it off the next day. That’s something, now, even at 4 a.m., I’m going to take my makeup off — before I go to bed and before I go exercise.
How will you be celebrating your 30th birthday on December 11?
I film on the Friday that’s my birthday. The past few years, my birthday has been on a workday. I’m sure they’re going to plan cake and presents. Seeing as I only have one night, Saturday night, I might take my family — including my niece, my sister, her husband, and my mom — on a trip to Vegas. That would be the only way I would feel like I was doing something crazy and not just staying here and going out to a dinner. We’ll be in our pajamas all day, walk around Vegas, and probably have onesies on. My niece is seven, so it’s going to be a fun Vegas trip.
Related:
Viola Davis, Uzo Aduba, & Regina King: African American Women Win Big at the 2015 Emmys
The Problem With Natural Hair On TV
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