Actress, model, and philanthropist Alex Meneses has appeared in numerous television series, including CBS’s Everybody Loves Raymond, NBC’s Telenovela, The CW’s Jane the Virgin and most recently CBS’s Why Women Kill. Next, she stars in the upcoming movie The Wall of Mexico, a role-reversing fantasy tale about a wealthy Mexican-American family, who decides to build a wall to deter the intrusion of poor white people. We spoke to the actress on the phone about her illustrious career and how she is spending her time during this pandemic.

What does your life look like right now?

My nanny, who normally lives with us, is no longer here because she had to go home. I have a big house in Los Angeles, so I spend a lot of time cleaning, cooking and homeschooling my 8-year-old daughter Stella. I am doing everything now but I love it. I get to spend a lot of time with my daughter and make sure she eats well. I also picked up gardening with her. There is a silver lining to all of this.

You retired for a little while from acting after you appeared on NBC’s Telenovela. Why was that?

Both my parents were living with me at that time. They always stayed with me in the winter because Chicago is very cold but the last three years of their lives, they lived with me full-time. My daughter was three years old at the time and I had too much on my plate.

Italy has been hit particularly hard during this pandemic. You lived there for a few years. It must be on your mind these days.

I lived in Milan for two years and worked all over Italy for about 10 years. I have a lot of Italian friends and sometimes we go live on Instagram. It breaks my heart what’s going on there. Italians love to socialize and kiss each other. It must be so hard for them.

You recently appeared on Why Women Kill. Please talk about your experience.

Marc Cherry is a genius. He is a writer that produces material that is frightening, shocking and at the same time funny and cheeky. The stereotypical answer to why women kill is it’s because someone cheated on them. In our show, Marc gives very different reasons. It shows what happens to people when they are betrayed or desperate. People are not always killing because they are bad.

You seem to be drawn to shows that highlight the importance of diversity.

Ageism is so prevalent in Hollywood. It used to be that after 30, you were old and after 40 your career was over. Now it’s changed and women in their 50s are still glamorous and look like J.Lo on a stripper pole.

Your new film The Wall of Mexico that is coming out in August tells the story of a rich Mexican family that never ages. Can you tell us a bit more about the film?

The family lives in the middle of the desert in California in a gorgeous Hacienda. The reason why they never age is because they have a well that might have properties of a fountain of youth. When the locals are trying to steal the water in order to sell it, the family builds a wall around the Hacienda.

What attracted you to that project?

It’s very thought-provoking and a metaphor for the people who have and have not. And a lot of times the people who have want to keep the people who have not out. It resonates with the times we live in.

You look amazing. What are your beauty secrets?

I think it’s because I have never done drugs and I have never been a partier. I was always very work-oriented. I came from a poor family and I needed to make money. I was always on a strict schedule. A lot of water, a lot of exercise and at least 8 hours of sleep. When I had my daughter, it was hard to keep that up but now I am back on track. I go to sleep at 9 or 9:30 pm. My fountain of youth is my boring life (laughs).

Where would you say your work ethic came from?

My father worked harder than any person I’ve ever met in life. He worked in a restaurant and never complained. He was from Mexico and always thanked God that he had work and that he could provide for his family. He sent us all to Catholic school in Chicago. It was expensive but he wanted us to have a good education.

What was your first job?

I was 13 when I taught dance at my aunt’s dance studio after school. She gave me $2.50 an hour. After I turned 15, I always had a job somewhere. In the summer while other kids went to camp, I got a full- time job. During the winter break, I would get another job. That kind of work ethic is so deep in me, and I thank God for it.