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Yasmin Deliz, host of Telemundo’s Mun2 network, makes her acting debut in Benny Boom’s debut film, Next Day Air. She plays Chita, whose boyfriend Jesus (pronounced like the messiah) gets involved in a drug trade. The only lady in the tough guy cast, Yasmin commands all the attention, although she probably would anyway.
Crave Online: Is it true your character was originally a man in the script?
Yasmin Deliz: Yeah, Chita was originally Chito. I think they felt it was a little too much testosterone for one movie. They switched it to Chita and thank God I sold it.
Crave Online: When you were asked to act, what went through your head?
Yasmin Deliz: Well, honestly, I was a little taken aback. I do the hosting thing. I work for Telemundo’s music network, Mundos, and I was like, “Sure, Benny. I’ll come and audition for you.” He did say, “Yasmin, how’s your acting?” I go, well, you know, this is going to be my first, so I’ll go and audition and you tell me. You be the judge. So I guess I did a good job. They called me back for a callback and I read with Cisco [Reyes] the very first time and it was so crazy to read with him. It was very easy to connect with him just because we’re both from the east coast and so we kind of have that east coast feel. Chita and Jesus came very organically if you will. I would say that was the hit. It was a very blessed phone call that I received from Benny. Really, he put me up on acting and I plan to work more.
Crave Online: How did you put together Chita’s wardrobe?
Yasmin Deliz: Well, you know, I’m from Queens, NY. My father’s Dominican and Chita’s Dominican and she’s from Philly. I didn’t have to dig too far inside of me to be like okay, where’s my motivation? I already have my motivation. Just life. I’m a drama queen. I’m Latina. It’s easy so yes, I came in with the wardrobe. I evoked Chita and I saw her in her high wasted jeans, really spunky in her high heels. Even though her man is a little bit shorter than her, she doesn’t care. She’s fabulous. So I just was like some jeans. She had to look fabulous. When I read the script, Chita is a fabulous woman with her magazines and her fashion, so it just fit.
Crave Online: Do you feel more comfortable with the comedy or the action?
Yasmin Deliz: I discovered this about myself this time around. I’m so comfortable with the comedy. I love the comedy because I think of myself as a funny person. My girlfriends might think differently but it’s cool to be in a comedy because I love to sit down and have a great laugh and so being in a movie that gets a laugh out of me, it’s exciting for me. I enjoyed the fact that I had to be funny because I didn’t have a lot of action in the film. The most action I got was slapping Mos Def. It was more comedic for me. I enjoyed the comedic part of it. I think the funniest side to Chita is she’s very fiery, very dynamic and she’s loud. She gets in his way but because she loves him and she doesn’t realize that girl, you are in the way and you are not helping right now, but she’s what she is and the way she is. She does it with good intentions.
