Carolina Moreno, who plays the recurring character Lorena in the Apple TV+ series “Acapulco,” recently offered insights into her character’s development, the show’s impact, and the critical importance of authentic Latina representation in media.
Acapulco Returns for a Fourth and Final Season
If you haven’t yet discovered the charm of “Acapulco,” now’s the perfect opportunity to catch up! The 10-episode fourth and final season is set to make its global debut with two episodes on Wednesday, July 23, 2025. The series skillfully weaves together two timelines: one in modern day and the other in the vibrant 1980s. The show centers on a successful Mexican businessman 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.
In season four, present-day Máximo (Eugenio Derbez) is tirelessly working to restore Las Colinas to its former glory before a grand reopening. Back in 1986, when a competitor snatches the number one spot in Acapulco’s annual ranking of “Best Hotels,” young Máximo (Enrique Arrizon) will go to any length to reclaim the top spot and secure the future of Las Colinas.
Interview with Carolina Moreno
Throughout the series, we encounter Lorena (Carolina Moreno), the niece of Lupe (Regina Orozco), head of laundry operations at Las Colinas Resort. Lorena develops a romantic relationship with Memo (Fernando Carsa), Máximo’s best friend and coworker. Lorena and Memo are both kind and sweet people whose relationship is a refreshing departure from the stereotypical “macho Latino men and submissive women” dynamic often seen in media and some Latinx representation. While her aunt Lupe initially tried to interfere, she eventually accepted Memo, even giving Lorena an heirloom ring for a proposal.
Lorena, however, is so much more than just her relationship with Memo. She’s a multi-faceted character with her own aspirations and challenges, adding significant depth to the show. In “Acapulco,” even the supporting characters feel fully developed, each contributing to the rich tapestry of the series.
On Lorena’s Evolution and Relatability
Moreno highly values Lorena’s growth throughout “Acapulco’s” four seasons. Telling Lorena’s story through the lens of her background and her relationship with Fernando was a “gift”. Initially, Moreno was simply content to be part of the cast and learn from her colleagues. As Lorena’s storyline expanded, Moreno was excited to add more dimensions and layers to the character.
Temple of Geek: What was your favorite aspect of bringing Lorena to life over the past 4 seasons?
Carolina Moreno: The writers are an amazing group of people from all walks of life and experiences, and you can tell with the characters they’re really three-dimensional, and they do justice to each and all of us, which is, we’re a lot. It’s a big cast. For Lorena, seeing her grow every season a little bit more, and getting to tell her story through the lens of what she’s going through, where she comes from, and her relationship with Memo (Fernando Carsa) was the greatest gift I could have had, because when I 1st started I had no idea this was going to lead me to 4 years in telling her story this way in a very wholesome way. She’s very driven. She’s very ambitious, and you get to see her turn into a woman in the show. To be honest, when I first started, I was just happy to be there, absorbing everything and learning from my castmates, and as the show went on, they kept giving me more of a story. I was just ready to jump in and add those dimensions and those layers that everybody has, and I think it’s the writing. It’s the directing, and it’s also what the actor brings in. So it’s just been a blessing to see her grow into a woman.
She enjoyed how Lorena found inspiration in her best friend’s front desk position and aspired to rise through the ranks herself. Lorena’s role in nurturing relationships within the hotel and acting as a “sounding board” for her friends, much like Memo, was a pleasant surprise.
Temple of Geek: Was there anything about her development that surprised you?
Carolina Moreno: A lot! And every season it was different. Every season, I thought it was going to be the end, and then I’d get to come back and tell her story more. And then, once it was established that I was here to stay. What surprised me the most, I think, was her ambition. When I saw her being inspired by her best friend being at the front desk, and her wanting to just also sort of go up in ranks. I was really pleasantly surprised by that. And then her relationships with everyone in the hotel. How she kept nurturing them, like what Memo does in the show. He’s sort of this sounding board to his friends, and I was really, pleasantly surprised that that happened with Lorena, so I loved it.
Working with Fernando Carsa
Fans of the series adore the wholesome and sweet love story between Lorena and Memo. Moreno spoke highly of her co-star, Fernando, calling him a “soulmate in another life” due to their instant click and shared random commonalities. She emphasized the underlying friendship they’ve built over the years, which she believes contributes to their on-screen chemistry.
Moreno particularly admires Fernando’s discipline and strong work ethic. She noted he often knows all lines and details for every episode first, which pushed her to bring her “A-game” to their scenes. Moreno considers him one of the best comedic actors she’s ever seen, capable of adapting to last-minute changes on set.
Temple of Geek: What was it work like working with Fernando?
Carolina Moreno: Oh, I love Fernando. We were soulmates in another life, that is, for sure. We’ve talked about this extensively. We just have so many little things in common that are so random. And when we first met, it was just this instant click, like our souls were meant to meet. So I think it shows in the chemistry that we have. There’s this underlying friendship that we’ve built throughout the years. He’s just such a generous actor, and, above all, he’s very disciplined, extremely. And maybe it’s not something you see a lot, or would imagine of someone that’s so comedic. But he’s extremely disciplined with the craft he loves to study. He’s one of the first actors who knows everything that’s going on with every episode they come in, and he has already read the episodes, knows his lines, and you see him working through it so well. I admire his work ethic in the show. So it’s something that I’ll carry with me forever, because I felt like I had to bring my “A-Game” every time we were in a scene together. Because he was just so prepared, even if I didn’t know what was going on. He’s like, you’re doing this and this and that. And then this is happening. And I was like, Wow, thank you.
Memorable Scenes and Lorena’s Legacy
Among her favorite scenes, Moreno cherishes Lorena’s first kiss with Fernando. She recalled a humorous incident during filming where Fernando fell and ripped his pants, creating a memorable and funny moment. Moreno also mentioned a significant scene in the current season she holds dear, though she kept details confidential to avoid spoilers.
Temple of Geek: Did you have a favorite scene that you really enjoyed filming?
Carolina Moreno: Oh, my God! Yes, I have. I would say two that I will forever cherish in my heart. One of them was the first kiss with me and Fernando, because something really funny happened outside of it. It was this scene where my aunt was sort of checking us out, and we were about to kiss, and then he saw her, and he, like sprinted, and he fell down, ripped his pants, and it was this whole moment in the show where everyone was just like worried about his safety. Like, is he okay? And he was, and you could just see me in the camera laughing. So that’s one of them. And then the second one is happening this season.
Moreno anticipates greatly missing Lorena’s “youthful spirit,” her positive outlook on life, and her kind heart. She shared that embodying Lorena made her personal life feel lighter, acting as a source of “light” that counteracted any inner darkness. She expressed deep gratitude for Lorena’s journey and the beautifully written conclusion to her storyline, which she felt aligned with her hopes for the character. Moreno believes fans will find great happiness in how Lorena’s growth, her love for Memo, and her relationships with those around her conclude.
Temple of Geek: What do you think you’ll miss the most about playing Lorena?
Carolina Moreno: So much. I’m gonna miss her youthful spirit, the way she’s just very positive with everything that happens in her life. She looks at the good in everything, her heart, and the way she’s built these relationships. I think every time I got under her skin, my personal life felt lighter. I felt her soul would weaken the darkness in me. Every time we would get to go back and shoot Acapulco. I would feel very happy all the time. And I know this doesn’t happen a lot, because when you’re filming a drama or something else, you carry a lot of the heaviness that comes with those characters, but with her, it’s the complete opposite; she just gave me a lot of light. So I’m gonna miss her a lot.
Temple of Geek: As the series wraps up, how do you feel about Lorena’s journey, and where her story concludes in the final season?
Carolina Moreno: Oh, I feel so happy and grateful! I think the way that they concluded her storyline is so beautifully written, and it fills my heart with joy. It’s exactly what I tried to manifest for her. So when they gave me the final episode, and I saw that, I was bawling my eyes out because she does end the season with a lot of happiness. But I’m trying not to spoil anything.
Bilingual Performance and Latino Representation
Moreno discussed how the show’s bilingual nature allowed her to explore different facets of Lorena’s personality. She explained that language serves as a “door to a culture,” adding layers to a character. Growing up on the border, Moreno naturally speaks both languages. However, she found switching between languages as Lorena challenging due to the characters’ different social contexts. She noted that speaking Spanish as Lorena felt more relaxed and natural, while speaking English required more conscious effort.
Temple of Geek: How has your bilingual performance in the show allowed you to explore different facets of Lorena, because language has a lot to do with personality?
Carolina Moreno: Oh, my God! So much! I think language is the sort of door to a culture, and if you really dive into it, you get so many layers within the character. So for me, it was about exploring first where she was from, which she’s from my hometown, which was not that difficult to tap into. Then you add this layer of being bilingual. I grew up on the border. So I grew up speaking both languages constantly. So my brain is sort of already wired that way, where it’s like completely divided. But it was very difficult to sort of tap in and out with Lorena specifically, because she comes from a different context, socially, economically, everything. So I tried in the beginning to sort of establish where, for her, both of those languages fit into her world because they’re a little bit different than mine. And then, as the seasons went on, I feel like everyone in the show could go, “Are we speaking Spanish now? Perfect. Let’s go.” And they would change it up on the daily. Sometimes we would get there, and they would be like, Oh, I think all of this monologue is going to be in Spanish now. Okay, wow! This is a different kind of monologue now, because the language changes everything. And I could feel myself when I was Lorena in Spanish, being more relaxed and more myself, versus in English. It was fun. It was a great challenge.
Temple of Geek: You’ve worked in theater and film as well. Do you have a preference for TV, film, theater? And do you hope to return to either medium?
Carolina Moreno: I hope to do everything. What I love about TV is that you get to grow with a character, hopefully, if you get one or more seasons, even if you get one, you do get to grow. But if it’s only one shot, the pressure sort of helps me sometimes. And I love that type of pressure. I started in the theater. So it’s always going to be my first love. I hope to go back. And then with film right now, it’s something that I would love to do more, just because it’s the thing that I have the least experience in. And I want to dive deeper into that. But I love any type of form of storytelling, so I eventually dabble in all of them.
Moreno passionately advocates for telling stories that represent the diversity of the Latino community with dignity. She views “Acapulco” as a prime example, as it tells a story without relying on stereotypes or humiliating characters. Her guideline for future projects involves avoiding anything that uses the Latino narrative solely for a negative reaction or to radicalize. She seeks stories that make sense regardless of background, focusing on the individual rather than solely on their identity as an immigrant. As an immigrant herself, Moreno trusts her instinct to discern authentic portrayals.
Temple of Geek: What projects are you most eager to pursue when it comes to that mission to representing the Latino community with dignity?
Carolina Moreno: Well, I think Acapulco is a great example of that. They’re telling a story without it feeling like it’s at the cost of a community of a group of people. And I think that’s the guideline for me moving forward. If something feels like it’s using the Latino narrative simply to cause some sort of reaction, or use it simply for a negative sort of reaction, I wouldn’t do those types of projects. I think we’re all people with different types of stories, walks of life, and if the story makes sense regardless of where you’re from, I’ll do it without it being the center focus. I think that I’ll be looking closely at the stories that we’re telling and telling it as closely as possible to be authentic to the Latino community. It is hard, but I always remind myself I am part of that immigrant community, so I can tell when it’s doing us a disservice and when it is not, so I just need to trust my instinct. I’m not an outsider looking in. So that’s what I keep reminding myself. Just trust your instinct.
Moreno acknowledges the significant responsibility of being part of a new wave of Latinx talent demanding dignified representation. She emphasizes the importance of who tells these stories, preferring to see balance in writing and directing to ensure authenticity. Echoing Eugenio Derbez’s advice, Moreno believes the community itself should take the lead in telling its own stories.
Temple of Geek: Do you feel like it’s a big responsibility because it sounds like this next wave of Latinx talent is at a tipping point, and you see it in the way that they demand dignity and respect and representation?
Carolina Moreno: It is a big challenge, because I think one of the important aspects of telling stories of our community is also seeing who’s telling them? So if we see that the majority of the people telling them are outsiders, then I will have a little bit of a conflict, because there are some things that you don’t know or understand if you come from outside of a community. So I do look for balance in that, and balance in writing and directing and everything. One thing that Eugenio Debrez would always tell us is, “You also need to take the lead and tell your own story.” So it’s something that I’ve been sort of pondering upon. It feels like we are the ones who should be telling our stories. I think that’s something that, going forward, we should all take into consideration.
Temple of Geek: What advice would you have to aspiring Latinx actors and creators who are trying to break into the industry and tell their own stories, and be part of this world?
Carolina Moreno: I would tell them to write their own stories. It is a very hard industry to sort of crack into, and the first types of roles you ever get offered, or you’re auditioning for, feel a little bit like it goes against everything that you stand up for in the Latin community. So if you feel that it’s not worth it for you to do, then write your own stories, produce your own short films. Sort of get people to come and work with you through your work. And keep fighting, you know. Keep fighting for your dreams, because that’s what we’re here to do in this world to to keep pushing, and it is hard. But there are a lot of people who have done it before us, and we have a good example. So I’m not. I’m not worried about our future generations.
Fun Facts and Message to Fans
Asked what would most confuse Lorena if she visited the present day, Moreno suggested fashion, noting Lorena’s conservative style. She also believes Lorena would be surprised and inspired by technology and the progress women, especially Latina immigrant women, have made.
Temple of Geek: If Lorena were to visit the present day, what do you think she’d be most confused by?
Carolina Moreno: Oh, my God! I think she would be very shocked about the fashion, because she’s very conservative in the way she dresses, so she would be very shocked to see all types of people dressing the way that they want. I think she would also be very curious to do so. I think anything to do with technology, and how women have come so far. I think that would inspire her and make her very proud of the fact that, especially Latina immigrant women, have come so far.
Finally, Moreno expressed immense gratitude to the fans of “Acapulco”. She feels fortunate that a Latino show has lasted four years on a global platform, attributing its success to the audience’s continued support. While the series concludes, Moreno hopes for future possibilities, perhaps even a ’90s’ spin-off.
Temple of Geek: Do you have, as we’re wrapping up the last season, any words to the fans of Acapulco, who have followed you throughout the 4 seasons?
Carolina Moreno: Oh, I could get emotional with that. But I’m very grateful for everyone who has watched the show and has been with us these past 4 years. We feel very lucky that a Latino show could last 4 years on a network this big and a global platform. It’s all a testament to our audience and the people that continue to support us. So I just want to say, thank you! Hopefully, this is not the end of this, and in some way, maybe, we’ll go back to the nineties. Maybe we’ll do a spin-off. We don’t know, but in the meantime, I’m just grateful and full of love for every single person who has watched this show.
The 10-episode fourth and final season continues to give us the best Latinx representation. It is set to make its global debut with two episodes on Wednesday, July 23, exclusively on AppleTV+.
