Mayans M.C. star Carla Baratta discusses Adelita’s secrets, motivations

The explosive new hit Mayans M.C. has introduced star Carla Baratta to throngs of fans, and her character Adelita’s mysterious ways teases upcoming details.

When Mayans M.C. finished the recent “Búho/Muwan” episode, Adelita was busy preparing for an escape plan, but also accepting new children to protect. About to receive financial relief via the sale of stolen cartel drug, she effortlessly commands not only her followers, but also members of the Mayans M.C.

The future of the series revolves around whether or not Adelita can honor the goal of Los Olvidados, but at the same time remain relatively covert. The squeaky wheel gets the oil, but in this case the oil is the Galindo Cartel.

Hidden Remote: Hi Carla! How are you?

Carla Baratta: Hi Greg, I’m good. How are you?

HR: Great. How excited were you to be involved with Mayans M.C.? Obviously Sons of Anarchy was huge, and Mayans M.C. looks to be even bigger than that!

Carla: So, so excited. When I first got it, I think I didn’t know what I was getting into. After I started to view the show, and watching all things that happened in the past, I think now I’m starting to get it. But, it was definitely a roller coaster, but in a good way.

HR: Sure. So you didn’t realize how huge the fanbase for this might be?

Carla: Exactly. Yeah, yeah, yeah. When I first had the audition I thought it was going to be like, one last season for Sons, that for me didn’t make sense. But I was like, “OK! I’ll do it!” They told me after that it was spin-off and all the details. I didn’t know what I was getting into…[laughs]…to be honest.

HR: I imagine you’re pretty happy about that change of events, right?

Carla: Yeah, I’m so, so happy. Grateful. I think that sometimes you have big dreams, but not even in my wildest dreams could I have imagined this. It’s beyond any expectations, any dreams. It is so amazing and life-changing in so many ways.

HR: That’s great! I’m glad to hear it. I love the show and want to know more about Adelita. What’s her full name? Do you happen to know that?

Carla: (Coyly) Yeees. We have to wait [laughs].

HR: [laughs] Alright, alright. I understand. Is she named Adelita because of the connection to the soldaderas of the Mexican Revolution, because of the famous corridos, or both?

Carla: Yeah. That’s one of the things that Elgin [James] and Kurt [Sutter] talked about. They named her after the adelitas and soldaderas in Mexico. So, I started to research about them, and I read some books and some biographies. I was completely amazed with the things that I found out. And I got really inspired by their stories, and it’s just amazing. I didn’t know a lot about them.

So, I think we should, in this time especially, we should know this. About this culture, about these strong women that have been there for a long time. Sometimes we don’t know. I think it’s amazing that they’re doing this tribute for the adelitas.

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HR: Right. It’s a great, great story, and a connection. I imagine a lot of fans aren’t even aware the adelitas story and whether or not your character was based on it. It’s a neat history lesson if you’re willing to investigate the name.

Carla: Yeah, yeah, exactly. I think it’s something subtle they wanted to do, especially for the Mexican culture, because I think a lot of Mexican people know about this. So I think it was kind of a tribute and it’s so beautiful, because it’s really subtle. What I love most about Adelita, her name, is she can be anyone and nobody at the same time. Ya know? In the first episode when she said, “You may call me Adelita,” but you could call her any name. I think that’s beautiful.

HR: I agree. So, speaking of names, do the other characters happen to have meaning behind their names? I imagine Bishop (Michael Irby) because he’s powerful, but not quite powerful enough to be the king. And Coco (Richard Cabral) just might be the monster from nursery rhymes.

Carla: Yeah, I don’t know. That’s a really good question. I guess Kurt and Elgin talked to each of the characters and give them the stories, or background of their names. But I really don’t know. It’s a really interesting question, and it’s a really interesting thing to watch and do the research about. Because I’m sure for Kurt…everything is so calculated. He thinks about every detail. So there’s for sure a reason for all the names on the show.

HR: I was kind of hoping Coco actually was based on the nighttime monster so we could hear the nursery rhyme. Duérmete niño, duérmete ya…are you familiar with that one?

Carla: No.

HR: It goes…

“Duérmete niño, duérmete ya…
Que viene el Coco y te comerá.
Sleep child, sleep now…
Here comes the Coco and he will eat you.”

Carla: Oh! Yeah, yeah, yeah! Of course! I didn’t know the name in English.

HR: I guess we’ll find out if Coco comes true. Some have interpreted Adelita as a reference to the sensitivity of some men, as well as the bravery and strength of some men. Given that Miguel Galindo (Danny Pino) is the only person to cry on the show thus far, do you think that’s a good interpretation for Mayans M.C.?

Carla: Um, yeah, you know, in our culture – the Latino culture – men sometimes look rough, but when you happen to be surrounded by Latino men you realize they’re really sensitive. They feel everything. And they have a lot of connections, especially with their moms and the women in the family. I think it’s beautiful to see that other side of Galindo. Every time you see a drug dealer on TV it’s “Oh he’s so bad,” you know? We never get to know where he’s coming from. Why he does the things he does. I think that’s the beauty of this show. You can actually see why they’re doing that, and that everybody has a heart. And some people just do the things that they know. They don’t know better.

HR: Since he may be sensitive, and Adelita is really strong, if both were alone in a locked room, what happens?

Carla: Wow. I think that would be so interesting. There would be a fight for power, but in a really subtle way, because both of them are really calculated and really smart. That would be an interesting conversation to watch.

HR: So you don’t think they’d just attack each other?

Carla: I think it depends on the situation. I think both characters are very strategic and commited to their causes. Sometimes in that kind of war you have to talk to their enemies. I would love to see that. Maybe in season two?

HR: Maybe season three? Maybe season four!?

Carla: Yeah, exactly.

HR: It’s difficult to ignore Adelita’s neck tattoo, even if hasn’t been fully revealed. They look like they might be dog tags. Can you tell us all about it?

Carla: I’m sure there’s a story behind it. I don’t think we’re going to tell that story this first season. The story of the tattoo, and what really happens to her. We’re going to see where she came from, but we have to wait and see how and why did she get that tattoo.

HR: They look like they might be military dog tags.

Carla: I can’t say anything about that.

HR: We know Adelita’s parents died at the hands of the cartel. That kind of mirrors the history of how Batman started. Conveniently enough, the next episode is titled “Bat/Zotz.” Are we going to see a flashback to Adelita’s parents?

Carla: I don’t know. I would love to see that. I guess we have to wait and see, but for sure people are going to know what happened. I don’t know if it’s next episode. I don’t know when. But I think it makes sense for people to see and understand why she’s doing all the things she’s doing. Part of that is her past. In one way or another, you’ll find out in some point of the season.

HR: So she’s not going to be the Mexican Batwoman? Like a superhero.

Carla: [laughs] There’s a lot of Latina superheros in real life. Not just Latinas, but women in general. All moms, every mom is a superhero. I’m not a mom, but my sister just had a second kid and I can just see how hard it is to be a mom.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bj-nHWZDv_D/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

So I think women in real life are superheros. But it would be good in real life to have a Mexican superhero.

HR: I agree. You could be the first.

Carla: Yeah! Let’s do it!

HR: I think you’re ready.

Carla: Yeah. I’m ready.

HR: I mentioned something about the titles. Can you talk about the connection with animals and sweets? Can you tell us?

Carla: I think I can’t. That’s like a creator matter. I’m so scared to talk about the things I can’t mention. I can just tell you that it’s so cool to have that as a metaphor.

HR: Fair enough. Back to Adelita and Los Olvidados. What are the advantages and disadvantages to Adelita’s army of children soldiers?

Carla: I think the advantages are that she – I don’t know if it’s an advantage – I’m sure she didn’t mean to have a kid army in the first place. I think the situation, the environment, the way that she grew up, her parents died, I think all of that just came along the way. I guess it’s now just who they are.

I think she’s really motherly and wants to protect these kids. But at the same time, she’s teaching them to be strong, and to be ready if something happens to them. We don’t know how long she’s going to be there for all these kids; so, she just wants them to be prepared for life, and the environment they are all in. Because they don’t live in a super happy, peaceful, childhood environment. I think more than a kids army, rebellion, in her way she’s trying to teach them how to live and protect themselves.

HR: That’s great. They’re in this unfortunate environment, but I suspect some will become warriors really soon.

Carla: Maybe.

HR: You’re pretty tight lipped. You’re not telling any secrets. I’ll just keep asking questions until you mess up.

Carla: [laughs] Please don’t.

HR: How exactly did Adelita and Angel Reyes (Clayton Cardenas) get in contact?

Carla: [sing’song’y] We have to wait! All the questions that you have, I’m sure everyone have them. Even I have them. At the end, all the questions are revealed. So, I think you’re going to be so happy at the end, because a lot of your questions are going to be answered in that moment.

HR: I look forward to it. So what do you think Adelita feels about the connection to the Mayans M.C. foursome?

Carla: I think she sees that as a partnership. Especially with Angel, Coco, Gilly (Vincent Vargas), and now EZ (JD Pardo). I think they have a really strong trust now, that they’re creating and working together. They’re helping each other in this moment. It’s like a collaboration.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BbF06uvH4vf/?hl=en&taken-by=carlabaratta

HR: When Adelita passed Emily Thomas (Sarah Bolger) in Merchant Square, did she recognize her and ignore her, or did was she oblivious to the chance encounter?

Carla: I think she was unaware. She was focused on her own things, her next step. The night before they just saw the vendor and kid killed. So I think she has a lot of things to think about right now. I think she wasn’t aware that person was Emily. I’m sure she knows who she is, but she was covering and Adelita was just passing by. In her head, Emily would never be there; so, she was just unaware of that.

HR: I have one last question, and it’s related to Emily. Since Adelita’s caring for these children, and she has a real sweet spot in her heart to be a good person, do you think it’s difficult for her to have kidnapped Emily’s son?

Carla: Um, I think so. Maybe we don’t see that soft spot of Adelita, but the way that she talks to the kids, and the things that happened in her life, I think she can relate to these little kids. You know? And in the third episode when EZ tells her, “I thought this was about creating less orphans,” I think she knows. She knows what she’s doing is not the right thing, but at the same time she’s fighting for a greater cause. Sometimes you do bad things to get good and beautiful results. I’m sure she’s having a hard time, too.

HR: I think so too.

Carla: It’s not easy.

HR: The only thing easy about Mayans M.C. is the name EZ.

Carla: Exactly [laughs]

HR: I just want to say that Mayans M.C. is amazing, and I can’t wait for the next episode. Is there anything you’d like to say to the fans out there who are devouring each episode like ZotZ candy?

Carla: Oh, thank you so much! Especially from my perspective. It’s my first job in the U.S., and I feel so good and so supported by all the fans and the people who have waited a long time for this show. And also the new fans that are [joining] us. I’m just so, so grateful, because without them we wouldn’t have this show. So, I feel like from the bottom of my heart I feel grateful. I feel honored, and I’m open to any event to ask me questions. I’ve been a fan, too, of actors and shows. I know what it is to be there, caring for actors and shows. So I’m open to all of them, and they have a big space in my heart.

HR: Thank you Carla. I’m a big fan, appreciate the opportunity, and hope you sing the Coco nursery rhyme in a future episode.

Carla: Yeah, that would be cool!

Mayans M.C. airs Tuesdays at 10/9c on FX. All hail Adelita!