Compiled by Christine Bolaños
Argentinian native, Stephanie Beatriz, best known for playing Rosa on NBC’s
comedy hit show “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” Carla on “In The Heights,” and,
Jessica in the film “Short Term 12,” has catapulted to fame for
voicing Mirabel, the heroine in Disney Animation’s smash hit “Encanto.”
The animated Disney film tells the story of the “Madrigals”, an extraordinary
Colombian family with magical powers, who live in a mountainous village called
Encanto. Every member of the family is blessed with magical powers as a child
with the exception of Mirabel. When her family’s magical powers are in danger of
disappearing, it is up to Mirabel to save her family’s legacy and the town of Encanto.
“Encanto” which was co-written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, earned the Golden
Globe for Best Animated Feature Film earlier this year and three Academy Award
nominations including best animated feature, best original score, and best song for
“Dos Oruguitas.”
Beatriz explains that for Mirabel it “really stinks” to be the only family member
without magical powers.
“It can be very difficult to feel special in a family where you look around and
everyone has a special gift,” she says. “That sort of is Mirabel’s big dream.”
During the course of the film, Mirabel discovers that her value comes not from
having a unique power, but from the ability to keep her family together. Beatriz says
that the magical gifts bestowed on the rest of the family serve as metaphors for
how people function within their families in real life.
“For example, Luisa, who was Mirabel’s oldest sister, is really tough and strong.
She’s not unlike a lot of older siblings who are the ones handling everything,”
she shares.
Then there is Pepa, Mirabel’s cousin, who can determine the weather with a
change of mood. She can go from having her community experience a sunny day
to surviving a hurricane in one fell swoop.
Meet the Madrigals – Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Encanto”
introduces the Madrigals, a compelling and complicated extended
family who live in a wondrous and charmed place in the mountains
of Colombia.
“We all have somebody in our family that their emotions can suddenly
overtake the room and really affect the vibe, often at a holiday function. You can
feel that one,” Beatriz explains. “Sometimes those gifts are a blessing and
sometimes they’re a curse.”
Mirabel often experiences turmoil and
uncertainty of who she is and what she can
contribute precisely because she lacks one
of these gifts.
Home Sweet Home - The Madrigal’s casita in “Encanto” is more
than a house—it’s alive—embodying the same magic that has
blessed the Madrigal children for two generations. Filmmakers liken
the house to a loyal pet—it is part of the family. The love for one
another is mutual.
16 www.latinastyle.com LATINAStyle V ol. 28, No. 1, 2022
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