In this interview, Vico Escorcia, who plays Paloma on the series Acapulco, discusses her character’s journey and her experience working on the show. Acapulco is a unique comedy that skillfully navigates two timelines: one in the present day and the other in the vibrant 1980s Mexico. The narrative centers on a successful Mexican businessman, Maximo Gallardo (Eugenio Derbez), who, in the present, recounts to his nephew the formative years he spent in 1980s Acapulco when he landed his dream job at the hottest resort in town.

Although Paloma doesn’t appear until midway through the series, her role is important as it shows the ways Maximo needs to make amends to the people in his life. It also shows that repairing relationships is not impossible, but takes courage, personal growth, and emotional maturity.

Q&A with Vico Escorcia for Season 4 of Acapulco

Paloma’s relationship with Maximo parallels his relationship with Julia (Camila Perez), as both are women he has wronged and needs to make amends with. For the relationship to heal, both Paloma and Julia must work to accept Maximo as he is now, see past their previous hurts, and embrace this new, more mature version of him.

Q: What was it like working with Eugenio Derbez to bring this father-daughter story to life and to make it unique from the other relationships he has on the series?

Vico Escorcia: Our relationship is a very complex but interesting one because you get to see a different side of Maximo. He truly wants to rebuild a relationship with his daughter in the present. That’s so special because it changed the stakes of the present-day timeline. It was no longer just reminiscing on the past, but also actively trying to get something now. Working with Eugenio is a dream come true. He is the most accessible, kind guy. We rehearsed so much before we filmed. Getting to see the inner workings of his process was a huge privilege, and I learned a lot from him.

Q: What stood out to you about your character’s development over the seasons?

Vico Escorcia: It’s funny because I’ve been an actor for over 15 years, and I’ve played many, many characters. This is the first time that my family has said, “Are you acting? Because that’s you”. My boyfriend agrees, too. It’s the character that’s the closest to me as a person. So, I didn’t really have to build a character. I just kind of showed up and played around with these dynamics. My relationship with Maximo was very similar to my relationship with some of my family members.

Vico Escoria talks working with co-star Cristo Fernández

Q: What was it like working with co-star Cristo Fernández on television in Acapulco as opposed to working with him on a film (2024 Film “Una Pequeña Confusion”)?

Vico Escorcia: Acapulco is a little faster-paced. The 80s timeline was always filmed first over a few months. The last two to three weeks of filming, we would do all of the present-day timeline back to back, sometimes two episodes in one day. The rhythm was a lot quicker, and we didn’t get as much time to sit and interact with our characters. Cristo’s schedule is packed, and he was only able to come for the day he was filming.

In the movie (Una Pequeña Confusion), I got to be in the same place with him for almost two to three months and really get to know him and understand his comedy and who he is as a person. It was fun to have that movie sandwiched in between the two seasons because it also helped our dynamic from the first season to the last one. I knew him and how to push his buttons and make fun comedy with him.

Q: What was the most significant lesson you learned about yourself as an artist or an individual while on Acapulco?

Vico Escorcia: I’ll twist it a little. I don’t know that it’s necessarily about myself, but it does translate into my life. I met some of my closest friends in the cast. The 80s cast that I didn’t get to share screen time with are some of my closest friends right now. I’m going to Disneyland with Fernando Carsa and Carolina Moreno next week. I’ve gone to New York with Cami (Camila Perez)and Caro (Carolina Moreno), and Ray (Regina Reynoso), and we hung out all the time when they were in Mexico City. Getting those friendships and being able to have them in my adult life in the real world is the biggest gift.

The Charm of Acapulco

If you have not fallen in love with this gem of a show, this is your chance. The series celebrated its series finale last week. Which means you can catch up on the entire series now. Acapulco beautifully tackles universal coming-of-age themes and the journey of finding one’s place in the world. It explores the choices we make and the lengths we’re willing to go to achieve our dreams. The series also masterfully handles romantic relationships, building “will-they-won’t-they” tensions without resorting to tired, toxic tropes or unfairly villainizing a love interest. The show’s humor is genuinely great, steering clear of common pitfalls that rely on bullying, making fun of others, or jokes about weight and size.

Additionally, the show addresses LGBTQ+ issues with honesty and heart, shedding light on the struggles individuals faced when coming out in the 1980s, all while delivering heartwarming moments. Even the supporting characters are impressively fleshed out, each with their own distinct needs, desires, and lives.

Despite a large ensemble cast, the series never feels overwhelmed by too many storylines, a testament to its strong writing. It offers some of the best, if not the absolute best, Latinx representation on screen. Acapulco is streaming now exclusively on Apple TV+.