Sasha Calle on Her Role in ‘The Flash’: ‘My Life Prepared Me To Be This Supergirl’
Becoming Supergirl was a transformative journey of self-acceptance and growth for Sasha Calle. The talented Latina actress plays the iconic role in “The Flash,” which hit theaters last Thursday, June 15.
A native of Massachusetts, Calle’s early life was marked by economic hardship. However, her talent for singing and dancing shone through even in the face of adversity.
“I used to look at my bank account, and everything had a concern, and now it’s just so different,” Calle said during an interview with mitú. “I am living beyond any of my dreams, of my mother’s dreams. Weird enough, I feel like everything in my life prepared me to play this Supergirl, who is so different from the ones we have seen before.”
A tale of two migrations
Calle’s most recent role and much of her life were shaped by her immigrant experience.
“My life prepared me to be this Supergirl,” she affirmed.
At age 10, her mother made the impulsive decision to move to Colombia after a prolonged financial struggle. This brought new challenges, including the language barrier, making new friends, and understanding a world very different from the one Calle was used to.
“It was incredibly difficult,” she says in her now-perfect Spanish with a strong Medellín accent.
However, her love for the performing arts became her anchor
For Sasha Calle, it was a memorable singing competition during her school days that would validate her talent. The actress wowed audiences dressed as Vanessa Hudgens from “High School Musical,” which fueled her determination to pursue a career in the performing arts.
But after two years in Colombia, Calle and her family returned to the United States, again facing financial hardship. They first settled in a basement in Boston. They later moved to Florida, where high school posed additional difficulties for the young actress, as her mother remained unemployed, affecting her academic performance.
Then, a compassionate principal became a father figure and provided guidance and support that Sasha Calle still remembers as invaluable. With his help, the actress turned her academic trajectory around. She graduated with honors, a testament to her resilience and determination.
Her life changed when she was cast to play chef Lola Rosales in the popular soap opera “The Young and the Restless,” for which she was nominated for a Daytime Emmy in 2020.
Sasha Calle was destined to be Supergirl
“While Superman is an immigrant who arrived as a baby and fully acculturated, Kara Zol-El (Supergirl’s name) came as a young woman, and her experience is more of a refugee,” Sasha Calle explained. “While in her previous incarnations, she is blonde and happy. This is not the case in ‘The Flash’ movie. This Supergirl is brunette, with short hair, and she is not happy at all.”
However, “she never stops fighting and is anchored in love. Love and hope. They are also the two North stars of my life,” the actress added.
For his part, Argentine director Andy Muschietti told mitú that he didn’t know any of that when he chose Calle out of more than 400 actresses who auditioned for the role.
“She took the role and made it better than anything I had foreseen. She is fantastic,” Muschietti said.
Sasha Calle recognizes the opportunities and knows she’s fortunate
While Sasha Calle is acclaimed for her portrayal of Supergirl, she looks back on her journey with gratitude and pride. Surrounded by talented people on set, she is inspired by her work and acknowledges the blessings that have come her way.
“I have been extremely lucky to have the mom, the brother, and the family I have and to have encountered extraordinary people that have helped me along the way. This has not been a solo journey,” she expressed.
Calle believes her younger self would be proud of the person she has become, and she continues to evolve as a pioneering Latina actress in the entertainment industry with each passing day.
