Marcel Ruiz Talks ‘One Day at a Time’ Season 2 [Exclusive Interview]

Marcel Ruiz might be young in his acting career, but we know he’s going to go far with the spirit and joy he holds for acting.

I recently had the opportunity to speak with Ruiz about his role on the amazing Netflix show One Day at a Time, some of his favorite scenes, and much more.

One Day at a Time just recently aired its second season on Netflix, and the experience has given Ruiz more opportunity to grow. “The first season I took everything so seriously, but this season has been more relaxed and we’ve had a lot of fun,” Ruiz noted.

In fact, working with each of his on-screen family members has been something Ruiz really enjoys. “It’s really hard not to crack up with everyone, especially Rita [Moreno], honestly.”

“There was one episode, “Work Hard, Play Hard”, and on the shooting day I laughed so much, more than twenty times, and I couldn’t stop. She just had me going,” Ruiz continued.

“Plus it’s super cool to work with Isabella [Gomez]. It’s cool to have a ‘sibling’. She’s super talented, we have a ton of chemistry, and I knew we’d get along perfectly,” gushed Ruiz. “We even hang out outside of work, and it’s really fun to have an older sister.”

We recently shared a list of our favorite moments from One Day at a Time Season 2, so I asked Ruiz to share his. “I have a lot, but I feel my favorite was from the episode when Penelope and Alex went to the theatre,” he said.

“It was super fun because Justina [Machado] is super funny and a great actress. Plus, filming in a movie theatre is something I’ve always wanted to do,” Ruiz recalled.

Fun seems to be a great way to describe the cast and crew as behind the scenes videos and snapshots posted to social media show us a sneak peek into set life.

“Every time the cameras aren’t rolling, I’m dancing or talking to someone when they are learning lines,” Ruiz admitted. “In between takes when the audience is there, there’s always music, so I’m always dancing and making jokes to make everyone laugh.”

Scripted shows that shoot in front of a live audience are now a rare commodity. Ruiz shared that once he got past the nerves, the energy from the live audience really made the actors shine.

“At first, I would get super nervous on shooting day,” Ruiz confessed. “Honestly, it’s the best because it gives the episode a lot of energy and you hear the laughs. It makes the episodes bigger and better and I really like it.”

One of the biggest episodes of One Day at a Time Season 2 was the finale, when the fate of Lydia, Alex’s abuelita, was a part of the poignant storytelling arc done by the cast.

“I was really surprised at how they did the episode. I liked how everyone had monologues and thought it was a cool idea,” Ruiz said. “I was excited and stressed because I had to memorize this monologue. When we read it in the table read, we were all super emotional. We all worked hard on that episode and I think it paid off.”

Alex’s monologue showcased some of Ruiz’s comedic timing, but it was the very first episode of Season 2, where we got to see a new side to the character. Though, it wasn’t originally planned to be the premiere episode.

“Actually, we filmed that one second and then they decided to make it the first one,” Ruiz explained. “Filming it was really challenging, and it was fun to work on a part of Alex that we haven’t gotten to see before.”

Speaking of Alex, Ruiz talked about how he sometimes forgets that he’s playing the character.

“I can relate to Alex a lot,” Ruiz admitted. “He’s basically a younger version of myself, and we have a lot in common. We both like sports, and we joke with our families, but we still have everyone’s back.”

Support is something the entire cast and crew have all vocalized for one another, whether on set or in life.

“I’ve learned a lot from the entire cast because they are always being supportive and giving me great tips when I’m having trouble with a scene,” Ruiz explained.  

“I’ve definitely learned a lot on this show because it covers a ton of topics that other shows don’t cover. This show makes you laugh and cry. We talk about these real topics, and it’s important. It has definitely helped me grow in both comedy and drama.”

No matter which direction Marcel Ruiz decides to pursue, we know this amazing actor will go far.

“I was born in Puerto Rico and came here when I was 9,” Ruiz said. “My parents are filmmakers, so I was raised on sets. When we got here my parents got me an agent and we took this hobby into something more. It’s opening a lot of doors for me, which I’m super excited about.”

Be sure to catch Marcel Ruiz on One Day at a Time, streaming now on Netflix.

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