Q&A
Michelle Bonilla
By: Samantha Riepe

Michelle Bonilla has been rattling off vital stats as a Latina paramedic on ER for seven seasons. This year, she'll hit Sundance Film Festival as a type-A personal assistant in Kill Your Darlings.

HISPANIC: You're originally from Hollywood. Any childhood influences spark your acting bug?

Michelle Bonilla: Growing up, I lived next door to Billy Curtis, the head munchkin on The Wizard of Oz. He was no taller than three and a half feet, coming down the street each day with scripts from rehearsals and meetings. My family would go over to his house on weekends and I would stare at the pair of ruby slippers he had from filming.

H: For Kill Your Darlings, you play the assistant to John Larroquette's character. What was it like to work with him?

MB: He's such a dry-humored guy, but sweet and approachable. I was so comfortable that I started to make suggestions during scenes. In retrospect, I’'m like, “"Oh my God, what was I doing?” But he was open to everything.

H: Did you expect to play characters that relied on your heritage, like the first Mexican-American teacher on Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, when you got into acting?

MB: I never set out thinking that because I was Hispanic I'd definitely be getting these certain roles. I got inspired by the history of the Mexican women that first settled here. I went from being resentful about getting certain [Hispanic] roles to being proud that I did.

H: You've been on ER now for a good portion of the show’'s 11 years. Do you think we'll see a series finale soon?

MB: I think there's at least two years left. ER has really managed to stay successful because of the ingenuity of the producers. When you surround yourself with that kind of talent, from the people behind the camera to the top stars, it’'s like clockwork every week.

H