For X Mayo, the world of Wonder Man—and even Marvel in general—never felt too big to step into. Mayo, who got her start as a staff writer for The Daily Show and has acted in shows like Strangers, The Good Doctor, Swarm, American Auto, and Loot, looked like she belonged in a big Marvel production. And like she knew it, too.
In the show, Mayo plays Janelle Jackson, a talent agent who has her clients’ backs, and that includes Simon Williams (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II). And if that means support, she’ll give that. But if that means tough love, she’s ready too. And with the series now on Disney+, Mayo talked to Remezcla to discuss the Marvel of it all, Latinidad, and her career.
We started where we had to, with Latinidad. And particularly, what it means to be Afro-Latina in Hollywood these days. And Mayo thinks things have gotten better, but we still have a way to go. “I think people’s perception and idea of what Latinidad means has changed. And I think even within our own communities, I think it starts at home,” she told us.
“Like, how are we judging those Latinos who maybe don’t speak perfect Spanish? So, I think what’s changing is the perception and the minds of a lot of people. I’ve met a lot of Latinos who are unlearning a lot. And a lot of non-Black and brown people in Hollywood that are like: oh, yeah, I didn’t know this thing existed. It’s been slow, but sure. There can be more, but I’m grateful for what has happened so far.”
And a lot of that comes with reclaiming spaces like the one Mayo is stepping into, now as a self-proclaimed “Marvel girlie.”
“It feels great to be employed, I gotta tell you. It feels great to have a job. And we’re praying for season two,” she laughed. “It feels surreal now that it’s come out, I think, because it’s been three years in the making, it was just kind of like, is it coming? Oh, my God.”
But she’s also being real. “I love Marvel, but Marvel needs to up it, you know, with its black and brown representation. Let’s be for real. I will say that. And they were like, okay, heard you. They were like, yeah, X. Let’s get it going.”
For Mayo, this moment of success comes with a lot of feeling. “This era in my life is surrender,” she told us. “You know, even to the good, because success can be scary… but I’m just surrendering. And this era of my life is a constant tug between trauma and triumph.”
“I had a lot of death last year. I had a lot of loss, a lot of grief. And even when I was planning my stepfather’s funeral, the day of the obituary, I booked something. And the day of the actual funeral, I booked another thing. So, I was just like, you know what, God, I feel like that’s always going to be happening.”
Part of that is about carrying all she is, including her community, with her at all times. “My favorite part of being Mexican is the culture, the community. Our women don’t play; they work really hard. I wish they would work a little less, but I think they would maybe go crazy if they weren’t working. They don’t know how to make excuses. They make solutions.” She’s taken that to heart and learned from it.
For Mayo, there’s something beautiful in being all you are, out loud. And you can see it every time she’s on screen.
Wonder Man Season 1 is now available to stream on Disney+. And you can next see X Mayo in Scrubs.
This Remezcla interview with X Mayo about Wonder Man was conducted by Trending Editor Lyra Hale and written up by Lissete Lanuza Sáenz.
