When you first see the cover ofWhoops… “My first book,” sighs Villasenor as she smiles at a copy in her hand.
“I like telling people, ‘It’s a book for an adults inner child’.
I’m like, ‘Don’t worry.
Melissa Villaseñor smiling against blue background.Corina Marie for EW
Lots of pictures.'”
If you see my standup, it’s all goof.
It’s all goof town.
Melissa Villaseñor on yellow background.Corina Marie for EW
But for my art, heartbreaks and comparing and just any emotions like that.
I put that through my art and I feel like it’s been really healthy for me."
So that’s what I do with my art.
Melissa Villaseñor sitting on a chair.Corina Marie for EW
“I could get pretty serious and dark.”
Each of the four chapters ofWhoops…
But when I would get in those impressions, all that faded away."
Melissa Villaseñor power look on yellow background.Corina Marie for EW
“Being onSNLhas shaped me in many ways”, she reflects.
Not just as a comedian, but that the experience taught her how to collaborate with others.
But last season was really special because I shared a character that was based on my Uncle Caesar."
They’re in this segment.’
I’m just embracing everything more.
I think when I got this show and they’re like, ‘Oh, the first Latina.’
I was like, ‘Hey, no, don’t pressure me!’
I’m second generation, I’m so Americanized.
And I’m like, ‘Oh God, I hope I’m good enough.
I hope I did a good job and I tried my best.'"
“I also did that funny sketch withSelena Gomez, the ‘Das sah’ girls.
That was just a chick I heard at Target on New Year’s Eve.
And I was like, ‘Oh no.’
And then this chick next to me goes, ‘Oh, Betty White died?
And I was like, ‘Man, you don’t sound sad.’
I felt empowered then because I was sharing L.A. this is sharing my family and all of it.”
“I think Melissa celebrates her heritage of today by embracing more colorful things.
“I’m working on my Spanish too”
“I’m excited to learn more about my family.
I even asked my mom more about her childhood because [older Latinos] don’t share a lot.
I want to hear them.’
Because, I don’t know.
I’m Awesomereleases Oct. 25 on Chronicle Books.
