- Hi, y'all.
I'm ready for this to be really embarrassing for me.
(upbeat synth music)
First celebrity crush.
It was actually Daphne Rubin-Vega from "Rent".
That was a cool, not awkward moment
when I met her for the first time ever in real life.
I was sweating, I was like,
"Ah, you're so amazing and beautiful.
"I used to have a picture of you on my wall.
"I'm so sorry this is weird."
But it was also awesome.
Of course I mentioned to Daphne that she was my crush,
and I did it in the most awkward way possible,
which is just right up my alley.
I was like, "Daphne, I love you," right in her face,
which was awesome and made for a really, really
not awkward rehearsal environment at all.
She likes me now, though.
The question is the first time I realized I was famous,
and I don't think of my self as famous.
When I think of famous people I think of Terry Crews
who can't walk down the street
without people being like "Terry," you know.
I am lucky that I can sort of put on a hat and hide away
if someone were to recognize me.
But the first time that someone kind of came up to me
and burst into tears was really special,
and it was a young queer kid
and they told me how much seeing me on TV,
being a member of the bi community as Rosa meant to them
and how it helped them
have a conversation with their family
and helped them come out.
And that was really, really special, I'll never forget that.
I haven't had a first wild and crazy fan experience,
so if you're listening to this you could be the first.
Most of the fans that I've run into have been really nice,
generous, awesome, cool people
that I'd probably want to be friends with.
My first reaction when I found out
that I was voicing a new Disney character,
shock and awe all combined into one
with a little sprinkle of dreams come true.
I lost my mind pretty much.
As they say in the magazines, I was over the moon.
But I really was.
I felt like everything that I had been working on
and working so hard for and dreaming about
had actually come true
and I couldn't really believe it was real.
I'm mostly excited for people to see "Encanto"
because I think the story is so incredible
and I think the music is so amazing.
I think the animation is beyond anything
I could have ever imagined.
But I'm also excited because then it'll mean
it's actually really real
'cause I kind of still can't believe that it is.
Anybody can be a heroin.
Doesn't matter what color your skin is.
Doesn't matter what race you are
or what ethnicity you are.
You deserve to be the hero of the story.
My first memory of filming "Brooklyn Nine-Nine",
I can't remember anything about filming the pilot
except there was
a conversation that took place very late at night
when we were shooting the pilot.
It was myself, Joe Lo Truglio, Melissa Fumero,
and Andy Sandberg
and we were all sitting around a table
at craft services outside,
waiting for them to set up a shot.
It was dark, we were all tired,
but we were psyched 'cause we were filming a pilot.
And Andy sort of said,
"Well, get used to these faces.
"We're gonna be seeing them for the next seven years."
And we all kind of laughed
because that's what we wanted to have happen,
but it was a big dream.
And then it actually came true.
My first impressions of
my "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" cast members.
Andy Sandberg, so smart.
Joe Lo Truglio, so funny.
Melissa Fumero, so kind and generous.
Terry crews, so much bigger in real life
than you would ever imagine.
Andre Braugher, wow, such a genius.
Oh my gosh, very nervous to be around you.
Chelsea Peretti, absolute comic genius.
One of the greats.
The first role that I really wanted and didn't get
was the leading lady in my middle school production
of "Idaho the Potaters, But They Just Won't Grow."
I did not book that role, unfortunately.
I did book the role of the villain.
I dressed in a top hat and a handlebar mustache,
and the next day after the entire school had seen the play,
in science class, Willie Rivera, shout out Willy Rivera,
came up to me and said,
"Your brother was so funny in the play yesterday."
I don't have a brother.
I didn't know what to say
because I had a huge crush on Willie Rivera.
Shout out Willie Rivera.
So I just sort of sat in my chair and was like,
"Thank you, I will tell him that you liked him."
And I kinda knew, I was like, oh wow.
If I fooled Willie Rivera
who's been sitting two seats behind me in science class
for this entire year
into thinking that I was somebody completely different,
maybe I can fool more people.
Maybe I should be an actor.
First scene I filmed for "In The Heights",
all of in the Heights was sort of, kind of this
mystical, colorful, magical blur.
And then it was like, okay, we did it.
It happened fast.
My first kiss was not cool.
It was awkward and sloppy,
nobody knew what they were doing with our tongues.
It was regrettable and yet necessary.
The first album that I ever purchased with my own money
was Toni Braxton's "Secrets",
because "Unbreak My Heart" is a jam.
You cannot tell me it's not,'
her work on that is incredible.
Toni Braxton, you're a icon and a legend.
♪ Unbreak my heart ♪
The first job I ever had is babysitting I think.
Well, I don't know why anyone trusted 14, 15 year old me
to watch a baby.
I would never.
I have a baby now and I would never trust a 14 year old.
(cackling) Imagine!
The first time I was really, deeply star struck,
I was backstage at Rockefeller Center.
Dolly Parton was doing a morning show.
She sang from her new album,
and then she walked by me in the hallway.
I saw her coming.
I understood what it meant to be star struck in that moment
because it truly was like,
my hands are sweating right now thinking about it.
Love her with every part of my soul.
And there she was two feet in front of me.
And I made eye contact with her and I was like,
"This is your shot, you have to tell her,
"you have to, there she goes, she's just walking away!
"Oh no, she's gone," and that was it.
I never got to say anything to her
and I bet I never will. (groans)
Thank you, Buzzfeed.
You can check out "Encanto" in theaters on November 24th.
(peaceful Latin music)