Active Family Project, along with soccer mom, actress and spokesperson, Ana Ortiz officially kicked-off the Play Soccer for a Change campaign, helping to encourage families to live an active lifestyle through soccer. Play Soccer for a Change celebrates Youth Soccer Month this September.
Why was it important to you to support the Active Family Project?
Ana Ortiz: Being a mom of two, it seemed the perfect fit for me. I like to lead by example for my kids and now more than ever we need kids to be getting out. I mean, with all the social media and all the TV channels, and everything there’s a lot competing. And it’s hard to get kids out of the house. So for me this seemed like a perfect fit, and today we’re kicking off Play Soccer for a Change. Which is another very important thing. I grew up in the inner city, we didn’t have games or soccer fields or any of that. So if people go to the Active Family Project website and like and comment and they donate a dollar to underserved communities, you get training and soccer equipment. And the Facebook page also has resources and tools and tips for moms and dads and families about what you can do and how to stay active. So to me, it seemed like something so important and the more information that was out there, the better.
Can you tell me a little bit about what it’s like to have to balance work and acting with your family?
AO: I’m really lucky. I have an incredible life and a great husband and an amazing family that helps support me. So we really share all the work. We’re definitely all hands on, and I lean on my parents a lot and my husband’s family a lot. It truly does, for lack of a better cliche, take a village. But, you know for me I just want to stay together and have fun, and make sure [the kids] know that they’re an important part of the family. We all stay together, play together, bug out, travel, do it all.
Coming off of the Devious Maids’ season finale, do you think Marisol will ever find love again?
AO: That’s such a good question. I think falling in love with Nick Deering was the first time [Marisol] let herself fall in love in a long, long time. So, she kinda got burned. And I don’t know if Nick is coming back, or what’s gonna happen. Everything’s a mystery. But I’d love to see her fall in love. I think there’s really room for Marisol to let her hair down a little bit more. Get loose and get a little more wicked. Maybe she got burned and maybe it’s her turn to burn somebody else.
Do you have anything in common with Marisol?
AO: We’re both moms! You know, Marisol is an interesting character for me to play because she’s so reserved. And she’s much more stoic than I think I am. So I think there’s a lot I can learn from her, which has been interesting. In terms of things we have in common, I have some really wonderful girlfriends that I trust and lean on for everything and anything, so that’s something we have in common, plus being a mom.
So you’re on a new show, “How To Get Away With Murder,” tell me what was it like working on it? And what can fans expect from it?
AO: Well, I just did a guest star on one episode, but just being there for one episode I can tell you it is going to be so good. And the acting is incredible, it’s Viola Davis and this troupe of really incredible young actors that are sort of new to the scene. It’s got everything, you know, it’s Shonda Rhimes. It’s got sex, it’s got hot actors, it’s got Viola Davis so it’s got really good acting, and it’s got a really good storyline and really juicy dialogue. All I can say is I can’t wait to watch it and I’m such a huge fan. And I’m really excited to see what it’s like.
What was it like working with Viola and Shonda on this?
AO: A dream! Viola Davis is so generous and so kind and she’s so professional. And you know, she was just a hoot! She’s got a daughter my daughter’s age and we had a lot of fun talking about our kids together. She’s a mom! I mean, she’s so normal. But then she gets on the soundstage and she’s just this fierce lioness! It was really inspiring. I aspire to be as good as that.
For every like, comment or share on the Active Family Project Facebook page, from August 19 through September 30, AFP will donate money to US Youth Soccer. Funds raised will go toward soccer equipment and training in under-served communities, giving more families the opportunity to be active together through soccer.
