Julieth Restrepo on The Residence, Griselda, and Crafting Her Own Path in Hollywood

The Colombian actress opens up about her role in Shondaland’s new mystery series, the impact of Griselda, and how she’s taking control of her career—both in front of and behind the camera.

Julieth Restrepo is no stranger to playing compelling, multi-dimensional characters, and her latest role in Shondaland’s highly anticipated series The Residence is no exception. Best known for her performances in Griselda and Loving Pablo, the Colombian actress has captivated audiences with her ability to bring depth and authenticity to every role she takes on. In The Residence, Restrepo steps into the world of the White House as Elsyie Chayle, a character whose responsibilities are as intriguing as the mystery that unfolds within the series. With a mix of humor, suspense, and unexpected twists, The Residence promises to be a fresh take on the political drama genre, and Restrepo couldn’t be more excited for audiences to experience it.

Beyond acting, Restrepo is also making waves as a producer with her own company, Blue Rabbit Films, using her platform to create stories that matter. In this interview, she opens up about her journey in Hollywood, the impact of Griselda on her career, and what draws her to complex narratives. She also shares a glimpse into her personal life, revealing the unexpected lessons she’s learned along the way and what’s next on her horizon.

Miami Living: What drew you to the role of Elsyie Chayle in Shondaland’s upcoming series The Residence?

Julieth Restrepo: Elsyie brings so much humanity to the story and her role in the White House comes with a lot of responsibility. As soon as I received the material for the audition I knew I wanted to play the complexity and subtlety that comes with her.

Miami Living: Without giving away spoilers, what can audiences expect from this high-stakes mystery series?

Julieth Restrepo: I’m sure they are going to be really entertained and are going to see the White House in a way they’ve never seen before. Expect a lot of laughs, twists, tension and a smart story that is going to make you feel like you are the detective and you are about to solve the mystery… and you might. Especially with Uzo Aduba as Cordelia Cupp. She is awesome.

Miami Living: How did you prepare for the role of Elsyie? What would you say is the most interesting aspect of her character?

Julieth Restrepo: Paul William Davies wrote Elsyie in a way that you like her immediately but there’s also an aspect of mystery about her past and her life that makes her journey on the series very interesting. She’s a hardworking woman and loves what she does so it was very easy to connect with that. And as a mom, myself, I completely relate to the relationship she has with her daughter and how much she wants to be an example for her.

Miami Living: Your role as Marta Ochoa in Griselda was widely recognized. How has the success of the series impacted your career?

Julieth Restrepo: It’s made a huge impact, especially here in the States. I moved to LA to open new doors and Griselda has done that for me. It put me in the spotlight and introduced me to this market. It gave me a lot of exposure and allowed people to see what I can bring to the table as an actress and the variety of roles I can play.

Miami Living: Both Griselda and Loving Pablo, explore stories set in the world of crime and power, even The Residence touches on this theme a bit too. What draws you to these types of narratives?

Julieth Restrepo: Being part of those projects goes beyond the theme and more about the complexity underneath those worlds. I’m always in the pursuit of great scripts, special projects and passionate people to work with, so I auditioned for them because I want to keep learning about the way we as human beings connect and relate to each other. I got very lucky to be part of stories that gave me some understanding about our history. And it has felt like a good balance doing these projects while I was working on completely different narratives like Deadland, Switch Up or Dear Gentlemen.

Miami Living: In addition to acting, you also run your own production company, Blue Rabbit Films. What inspired you to start producing?

Julieth Restrepo: I always had this curiosity for producing because I wanted to have some control over my career. I’ve been taking notes on the things I would like to change in our business so it was very exciting to think about the possibility of not waiting around but instead creating my own opportunities. I love that producing and acting, at least for me, complement each other.

Miami Living: With The Residence recently premiering, what’s next for you? Any upcoming projects you’re excited about?

Julieth Restrepo: I’ll be traveling with Rodrigo Branquias, a short film I produced last year and now it’s going to different festivals around the world.

I’m currently developing a TV series where I play one of the leads and I’m pitching a feature film that I also co-wrote. So, I have a busy and exciting year ahead.

Miami Living: What’s something fans might be surprised to learn about you?

Julieth Restrepo: I learned how to ride a bike when I was 27 years old. So, I confirmed it’s never too late to learn something new and we are capable of anything we set our minds to.

Miami Living: Miami has been the backdrop for many iconic films and TV series, including Griselda. What do you think makes the city such a compelling setting for storytelling?

Julieth Restrepo: The inclusion and diversity that comes with Miami is wonderful. The community and the beauty of the city make it so attractive that once you visit Miami you feel connected to it and you can see that in every show or film that takes place in the city. It’s vibrant and its contrasts capture you immediately.

Miami Living: Your role in Griselda was tied to Miami’s history. Did learning about the city’s past change your perspective on its culture and influence?

Julieth Restrepo: The city has evolved so much and the resilience from its people really stands out. After learning a little bit about what the city has gone through it’s really inspiring seeing how Miami has recovered and continued growing. It’s more clear for me now how much it has contributed to this country and to the Latino community in the world.

You can watch The Residence now on Netflix. Follow along with Julieth’s journey on Instagram @julieticarestrep0.

By Morgan Harms. Photos courtesy of Netflix.