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Julissa Bermudez is on the fast track to something big as a multimedia sensation. You can just sense it. But, wisely -- maybe even luckily, too -- it's not been instantaneous. She's been paying her dues, learning her crafts, and absorbing the words, actions, and experiences of everyone she's met, including Beyonce, Will Smith, Jennifer Lopez, and Tom Cruise.
So, who is Julissa Bermudez? She's best known as a TV host, with Telemundo/MUN2's The Roof, BET's 106 & Park Live and The Center, as well as MTV's Total Request Live (TV), New Year's Eve 2009 and America's Best Dance Crew to her credit. Most recently, she hosted another MTV program, the wildly popular Jersey Shore (TV)'s After Hours. And right now, she's chasing a dream to act, with the films Harlem Hostel (2010) and Make It Happen (2010) on the way. TVStar recently caught up with Bermudez for an exclusive interview about her life, career, and ambitions.
You started out doing theater in school, which led to commercials, which led you to sign on with a manager. You then did some modeling, which opened up the hosting opportunities. What did you get out of those experiences, hosting for BET, MTV, etc?
Hosting for me was definitely a detour. I always thought theater would be my main focus, but when I ended up booking The Roof on MUN2/Telemundo international I immediately fell in love with hosting. So many young girls would stop me in the street and tell me they felt proud to see someone they can relate to on TV. And from that moment on I knew it's something I wanted to continue getting better at.
You had a front-row seat of sorts for the whole Jersey Shore (TV) phenomenon. Did you ever imagine that whole thing and those people taking off quite the way they did?
To be quite honest with you, I definitely thought it would be a hit show. It's so addictive, you just can't help wanting to see what's going to happen next.
Why did you think that show clicked the way it did?
I feel Jersey Shore (TV) is truly a "reality show" -- what you see is what you get. These people aren't playing a "role." You can tell they are genuinely being themselves. And people are drawn to that. A lot of "reality shows," you sometimes question whether it's real or not.
You're moving into acting now in a major way. How naturally are you finding that comes to you?
Since acting is what I studied all throughout junior high and high school and then again in college. I knew it's something I've always had a passion for. But since people are used to seeing me as a "TV personality" I'm taking things step by step in roles I feel are challenging and will hopefully have people see me in a different light.
What's the premise of Harlem Hostel and what do you play? How was the experience shooting that?
Harlem Hostel is a comedy about four guys who are friends that come to the realization living at home or with your uncle who walks around in his underwear isn't the best way to get girls. So they come up with the bright idea of renting a place and moving in together. The best deal they find is uptown in Harlem and they end up turning their place into a hostel so they can make some extra cash. Next thing they know all these foreigners start taking over! It's really funny and something I'm so proud of it because of the "up and coming" Latino cast. I play the role of Julie, one of the character's love interests.
And how about Make It Happen: plot, character, and experience?
In Make It Happen I played the role of Carmen, a queen bee who doesn't like this new girl Lauryn, played by Mary Elizabeth (Winstead), because she's the top dancer at Ruby's night club and is trying to not have anyone -- especially the new girl (Lauryn) -- take her spot. Playing her was so much fun, especially since people are used to seeing me being bubbly TV personality Julissa. This time they (will see) a different side of me. I was dancing, I was giving attitude and was all-around the bad girl.
What else are you working on at the moment? Singing, other acting projects? Charity work?
Currently, I'm touring with Steve Madden, the shoe designer. So you might catch me in a city near you. It's so much fun to be able to tour with a DJ and a designer who I grew up wearing. Plus, it gives me an outlet to meet my fans in different cities and sometimes places I wouldn't imagine visiting otherwise. My most recent charity work can be viewed at GlobalGrind.
In a perfect world, how would you like your career to progress from here?
In a perfect world, I would just like to continue to be able to inspire young girls, especially Latinas out there, by doing what I love to do -- acting, hosting, and maybe even (being) an entrepreneur.
You of course want to succeed in your own right and on your own path, but whose career -- and the way he or she has handled fame, loss of privacy, etc. -- is one you wouldn't mind emulating? And why?
Someone who I think is always classy and has had a great career balancing acting and hosting as well as being a mother is Kelly Ripa. To be able to have a successful sitcom and morning show and be an overall "brand" people respect is definitely inspiring.
