GN

In The Social Reckoning, Officer Diaz enters the story at a moment when something captured on camera begins to take on a life of its own. What interested you most about exploring the difference between what actually happens in a moment and the story people construct around it once it reaches the public?

I think what interested me most is how quickly a real moment can become something completely different once it’s taken out of context and put in front of millions of people. Everyone can watch the same thing and walk away with a different interpretation based on their own experiences or what they’ve already heard. I think that’s really interesting, but also a little scary, because sometimes the version of a story that spreads the fastest becomes the version people believe.

GN

Officer Diaz exists at the intersection of policing, race, technology, and public perception. How did you approach making her feel like a fully realized person rather than allowing the larger conversation surrounding her to define the character?

I tried to remember that she’s a person before she’s a symbol of anything. She has her own experiences, emotions, beliefs and motivations, and I wanted to understand those things rather than just approaching her through the larger conversation happening around her. I think that’s important with any character, but especially one who is part of a story that people may already have strong feelings about.

GN

We now live in a world where a single moment can be clipped, shared, commented on, and interpreted by millions of people almost instantly. What do you think that kind of virality has done to the way we understand one another?

I think it’s made us more connected in some ways and more disconnected in others. We have access to so much information and so many different perspectives, but we also have less context and less patience sometimes. We can make a judgment about someone in seconds without knowing anything about what happened before or after that particular moment. I think we could all benefit from slowing down and remembering that there’s usually a whole person and a whole story behind what we see online.

GN

Social media can preserve almost every version of who someone has been. Do you think we still give people enough space to change, grow, and evolve without constantly being judged against their past?

I don’t think we always do, and I think that’s one of the harder parts of growing up in public. People change. I’ve changed so much from who I was when I first started acting, and I’m sure I’ll continue changing. I think people deserve the opportunity to grow without having every version of themselves constantly brought back into the conversation. You can acknowledge your past without being defined by it forever.

GN

On My Block introduced you to audiences around the world, while The Social Reckoning represents a very different chapter in your career. What has changed most in the way you approach acting and in the confidence you have in your own instincts as an artist?

I trust myself a lot more now. When I was starting out, I was still figuring out my voice and learning how to be comfortable in a room and on a set. Now I’m much more comfortable listening to my instincts and knowing when something feels right for me creatively. I’m also much more intentional about the projects I take on. I want to keep growing rather than just doing something because it feels familiar.

GN

Is there something you can do creatively or emotionally as an actor today that you don’t think you were ready to do when you first started your career?

I think I’m much more comfortable being vulnerable now. When you’re younger, there can be a tendency to worry about how you look or whether you’re doing something “right.” Now I’m much more interested in being truthful, even if it’s uncomfortable or messy. I think that’s where some of the most interesting work comes from.

GN

Having millions of people following you online creates an interesting relationship between being visible and still maintaining a private life. How have you learned to decide what parts of Sierra belong to the public and what parts you want to keep entirely for yourself?

I’ve learned that not everything needs to be shared to be real. There are parts of my life that I’m happy to share because I love connecting with people and giving them a little glimpse into who I am, but there are also relationships, experiences and moments that are just for me. I think having that boundary actually allows me to be more comfortable with what I do share because it comes from a genuine place.

GN

Has your definition of authenticity changed as you’ve gotten older? Do you think being authentic requires sharing more of yourself, or can protecting your privacy be just as authentic?

I definitely think protecting your privacy can be authentic. When I was younger, I think I associated authenticity with being completely open about everything, but I don’t think that’s necessarily true. You can be honest and genuine while still having boundaries. For me, authenticity is more about making sure the person I am privately and the person I present publicly aren’t completely different people.

GN

When you finally get home and the cameras, work, and social media are behind you, what does your nightly routine look like?

It really depends on the day, but I love getting into comfortable clothes, taking a shower, doing my skincare and just having some quiet time. Sometimes I’ll watch something, sometimes I’ll listen to music, or I’ll read a book or a script. Sometimes I honestly just want to get in bed and do absolutely nothing. I think the best part is having that moment where I don’t have to be “on” anymore.

GN

What helps you quiet your mind and come down from the energy of the day before going to sleep?

Usually just getting away from my phone and giving myself a little time without any stimulation. I like having a calm environment, and sometimes music helps. I also try not to take whatever happened during the day into bed with me.

GN

Are you someone who can put your phone away at night, or is disconnecting from the outside world still something you have to consciously work at?

I definitely have to consciously work at it. My phone is such a big part of my work and my everyday life that it can be hard to completely disconnect. But I’ve gotten better about recognizing when I’ve been scrolling for no reason and just putting it down. Sometimes you don’t realize how much noise you’ve taken in until you actually step away from it.

GN

What is the very last thing you usually do before you fall asleep?

Probably check my alarm and then convince myself I’m going to fall asleep immediately. [Laughs] Sometimes I’ll say a little prayer or just take a moment to think about what I’m grateful for that day. Then hopefully it’s lights out.

GN

Are you someone who remembers your dreams? Is there a dream or even a recurring dream that has stayed with you?

Sometimes I remember my dreams really vividly, and other times I wake up and it’s completely gone. I definitely have dreams where I wake up thinking, “What was that?” [Laughs] I don’t know if I have one specific recurring dream that I could explain, but I’ve always found it interesting how your brain can create these completely random worlds while you’re asleep.

GN

What does a genuinely good night look like for Sierra Capri?

A genuinely good night is being somewhere comfortable with people I love, having good food, laughing a lot and not feeling like I have anywhere else I need to be. It doesn’t have to be anything elaborate. Sometimes the best nights are the really simple ones where you lose track of time because you’re having such a good time.

GN

And finally, our signature question: when you say “goodnight,” what does that word mean to you?

To me, “goodnight” feels like a little pause. It’s saying, “The day is over, you did what you could, and now you can rest.” I thank God and take a moment to show gratitude for life and for everything I’ve been blessed with. I think there’s something really comforting about that. It’s not just saying goodbye to someone for the night, it’s giving yourself permission to let the day go.

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