Artist Spotlight: Mariel Molino on Her Career, Influences, and the Changing Landscape of TV Streaming

Mariel Molino is a rising star in the entertainment industry. With experience across both Mexican and American film and television industries, she has taken on various roles, such as Carmen Sandoval in “Promised Land” and Kika in “Muy Padres,” and genres — and now has moved on to her first thriller. In a recent round-table interview, Molino discussed her career, influences, and how the landscape of television streaming is changing.

Molino began her career in Mexico and quickly developed a passion for working in Spanish-language shows and with other Mexican actors.

“I really love getting to work in Mexico because I love speaking in Spanish and working with other fellow Mexican actors and getting to spend time with my family. And I think that Mexico really gave me a lot of opportunities and it's where I was able to really get started in the industry and where I learned a lot of lessons,” Molino said when asked about working in Mexico.

She credits Mexico with providing her with many opportunities and teaching her valuable lessons about the industry, but working in Hollywood had always been her dream — something she has now realized. “The Watchful Eye” is Molino’s first time working in the thriller genre. She started her career in comedy and then moved into drama, which she found helpful in approaching the thriller genre.

She explained how her background in comedy was actually an asset in transitioning to a thriller show.

“And I think that that was kind of a really good spring to go into a thriller because even though I have a lot of background in comedy, you can really use comedy to lighten up a lot of situations, especially the darkest of genres, because you always need just a little bit of light to break up the mood,” Molino said.

Molino discussed how difficult intense, emotional scenes can be, especially when acting alone. One of the biggest challenges she faced in this role was having many scenes where she was alone, reacting to things that weren't actually there. This required a lot of imagination and visualization, as well as learning to use the camera as a co-star. In the show, there is a scene where Elena, Molino’s character, gets trapped in the attic because the secret door, which is hidden in a staircase, falls shut behind her, and her phone is dead due to a blackout. The acting in the scene is very powerful, as it shows Elena feeling fear and panic for the first time instead of her usual stoic nature.

“I really wanted to show a moment that really showed her vulnerability in her failed frailty, and that she was at her wit's end with this whole ordeal. And so that was really challenging because I wanted to be honest, but also not go too crazy,” Molino said.

“The Watchful Eye” provided many new opportunities for Molino including working with co-stars such as Kelly Bishop, best known for her role as Emily Gilmore on “Gilmore Girls.” Bishop served as a big inspiration for Molino as the two worked closely together on the show.

“I think I learned that [Bishop]'s all about the work. She's all the text and knowing the script so well, she's also a theater actor, and so it really is about what's on the page and about following direction, but also coming to set with ideas. And one thing about Kelly Bishop is that she's really, really specific in her work, she’s a comedic genius. Her comedic timing is impeccable. There wasn't one beat that was off, and it was like that take after take after take. So I don't know, I just learned so much from her. And she just has such a great voice too. She commands the room and it was really such a lovely experience to get to work with her,” Molino said.

Molino also discussed the changing landscape of television streaming. She finds it interesting that some shows are now releasing weekly episodes instead of dropping an entire season at once. She believes this can help with fan engagement and bring back the old feeling of anticipating a show. However, she also acknowledges that everyone's viewing habits are different, and there's no right or wrong way to watch a show.

“I’ve had people tell me, you know, I am waiting until all 10 episodes are out because I need to binge it, and, listen, I think to each their own. Your journey is your journey, but I actually, and I am not just saying this because it is my show, I love this format because of exactly what you are talking about, the fan engagement.” said Molino.

Molino's impressive breakthrough role is a testament to the years of hard work and dedication she has put into her craft. Her unwavering commitment to honing her skills has undoubtedly paid off, and this accomplishment serves as a shining example of what can be achieved through perseverance and determination.

“I mean, after this I'm going to acting class because I like to stay in class and challenge myself and never forget to kind of work that muscle out, you know, even if I'm in a show,” Molino said.

Mariel Molino's career in the entertainment industry is a testament to her hard work, dedication, and talent. Her experience working in both the Mexican and American film and television industries has given her a unique perspective on the television industry as a whole. Even as she continues to take on new roles and genres, she remains humble and always seeks to improve as an actor. The changing landscape of television streaming presents new opportunities for engagement, and Molino is excited to see where the industry goes from here. As she continues to evolve as an actor, Molino's future in the entertainment industry looks incredibly bright.