Nikki Rodriguez Unpacks Jackie in Season 2

[This story contains spoilers from My Life With the Walter Boys season two.]

Much like her character, Jackie, in Netflix‘s My Life With the Walter Boys, Nikki Rodriguez is learning to loosen her reins and “be OK with progress instead of trying to perfect everything.”

While the 22-year-old actress admits she’s a bit introverted in real life, she’s leaned on performing as a way to express herself. Along the way, she fell in love with acting and eventually landed a recurring role on the final and fourth season of Netflix’s breakout comedy On My Block.

That experience prepared her for what came next: a lead role in the streamer’s hit series My Life With the Walter Boys, which just dropped its second season. The adaptation of Ali Novak’s book series follows Rodriguez’s character, Manhattan teenager Jackie, who is sent to live with the Walter family in Colorado after her family is killed in a tragic accident. As she learns to navigate grief and her new life, she finds herself in a love triangle with two of the Walter brothers, Cole (Noah LaLonde) and Alex (Ashby Gentry).

Rodriguez says her character evovles this season. “She breaks down in ways I don’t think she expects, and she has more strength in other ways she also didn’t expect,” she tells The Hollywood Reporter.

Below, Rodriguez opens up about season two of Walter Boys, her reaction to Cole and Jackie’s complicated dynamic this season, her hopes for her character in season three (the show has already been renewed), while also sharing her dream movie role and perfect day off from filming.

How excited were you to return for season two of My Life With the Walter Boys and reunite as a cast?

It was awesome. It was like going back home again, because we filmed in Calgary [Canada], which feels a little bit like home. I love my cast more than anything in the world. They’re the best people, so it was just the best experience. I couldn’t have asked for anything greater. 

This season, Jackie seems like she’s tired of everyone treating her like she’s made of glass after the loss of her parents and sister. What was it like playing a stronger version of Jackie this season?

I was really, really excited to be able to explore that side of Jackie. In season one, she’s in such denial about the huge tragedy of her life, and that manifested in her being really stoic and avoiding everything. As she gets older and starts to process a bit more, it manifests in different areas of her life. She breaks down in ways I don’t think she expects to, and she has more strength in other ways she also didn’t expect. It was really fun to explore that as an actor. I got to do some really cool stuff and I’m really proud of Jackie this season. 

How do you prepare to display trauma accurately onscreen as an actor?

I put myself in the character’s shoes. I journaled a lot, which was really helpful. I watched the movie Coco, which was very fitting for this season. That movie hit me in a way that I held onto this season, so I kind of just did the best I could as an actor and hopefully it comes across accurately. It was really important to me that I was sensitive about the subject and the topic.

Some fans were probably hoping to see Jackie and Cole finally get together this season, but that obviously wasn’t the case. What was your initial reaction when you read the script and learned they’re both still avoiding their feelings for each other?

I was just as shocked as probably everybody else. I was like, “Oh, OK!” Because I play Jackie, I have to then justify every decision she makes and figure out why she’s doing these things, and try to make it make sense for myself. So that was very fun to do and a little bit challenging. I’m like, “What, why, where?” I was very shocked when I read the scripts, but it was fun to do, so we’ll see. I’m really excited to hear what people think!

What would you say to fans who might be upset Jackie and Cole still not being together this season, and that she’s still involved with Alex?

Well we did get renewed for season three, so we’ll see where the story goes from here. But I have no idea. I wish I knew, but I don’t. 

This season, there’s also a storyline surrounding Day of the Dead. How important was it for you to include that and honor the Mexican holiday?

The biggest thing for me was honoring Day of the Dead, and I really think they did such a beautiful job writing that episode. When I read the episode, I felt like I really needed to do this justice. It was really, really important to me, so I did a lot of research and I talked to quite a few people. I was really excited to do that episode because it was the most meaningful to me and I think it’s great. I hope people respond to it in the same way.

After playing Jackie for two seasons now, what have you learned from her personally?

Jackie is very, very driven and quite a perfectionist almost to a fault, where she is so afraid of making mistakes that I think it manifests in her making a lot of mistakes actually. I am kind of similar to her in that way and so the more I play Jackie, I’m trying to become less of a perfectionist and just be OK with progress instead of trying to perfect everything. It’s ultimately more helpful. You learn and grow more in that way. Everyone’s going to make mistakes, right? You can’t avoid that, so I’m also learning that myself. 

Since you’ve already been renewed, what are your hopes for Jackie in season three? 

She wants to get into Princeton, so I hope that for her ultimately. I just want her to be a little easier on herself and enjoy being a kid, and I want to see her continue to heal and grow into herself — and have a little bit more fun. 

Before leading My Life With the Walter Boys, you had a recurring role on Netflix’s hit show, On My Block. What did you take away from that series that helped you prepare to lead Walter Boys?

I was really nervous to join that cast because I was aware of the show. I had seen it and I felt like I knew all these people. It was different because I knew people were going to watch that, whereas Walter Boys, you never know what’s gonna happen with a new show. So it was really, really helpful for me as an actor. It felt like a big opportunity; I put a lot of pressure on myself, but I also did a lot of work and was pretty confident. It was really nice to see that come together. Then when the show came out, I was pretty proud of it. Then going into Walter Boys, I had a little bit of experience and knowledge, and I’m really, really grateful for that opportunity. I loved that show and that role. 

Do you have a dream genre or role you would love to take on in the future?  

I really want to do a psychological thriller. I think those are so, so fun. Either that or an action film, because I’ve always wanted to do some sort of stunt training or fight choreography. That would be a dream. 

When you have a free day off from filming, what does your perfect day look like?

Since we film in Calgary, I really love to drive up to the mountains and go to Banff or Kananaskis or Canmore. The second you step foot into the trees, everything you’re worried about just disappears. It’s the most gorgeous, calming place, and my favorite. I love being in nature out there. 

What moment from your career so far are you most proud of?

Honestly, this moment right now. Having season two releasing and then going back to film season three is such a huge moment for me. I feel so incredibly grateful and I really just can’t believe it. I have to pinch myself every day. If little me knew this was my life right now, I think she’d be really excited.

Looking ahead, where do you hope to see yourself career-wise in five years?

I have yet to get to really explore doing films, so that would be really, really exciting. It’s a totally different experience. Who knows where my future is headed or what’s in store, but I truly believe that what is meant for me is meant for me and I think whatever that is, is going to be perfect for me. 

If you had to describe what makes Nikki Rodriguez, Nikki Rodriguez, what would you say? 

I’m very driven and very passionate about the things I love. I work really hard and I care about a lot of things. I was going to say I’m a little bit sensitive, but I’m probably a lot bit sensitive. (Laughs.) And I try my best to be a good person. 

My Life With the Walter Boys season two is now streaming on Netflix.