Triple Threat

Aimee Garcia isn’t your typical Hollywood actress. The brainy Chicago native can write a news article in immaculate AP style and translate it into French. She’s also efficient with a calculator, and a pro at balancing her checkbook. The smart and beautiful actress—who can be seen starring as helicopter pilot Marisa Benez on the NBC medical drama, Trauma—spoke to Kidult about her many talents, her thoughts on failing schools, and why it’s never too early to learn leadership skills.

Where did you grow up?

In Chicago. It was a dream! Chicago’s got music, sports, architecture, friendly people, and a cool vibe. I couldn’t have grown up in a better place.

What is your nationality?

I'm Mexirican. My dad is Puerto Rican from San Juan and my mom is Mexican from Pachuca, Mexico, which is right outside Mexico City.

You graduated from Northwestern University with three majors. Why did you decide to study Economics, Journalism and French?

I always knew I wanted to be a freelancer, which meant that I’d make a lot of money one month, and then no money for six months. So I studied Economics to learn how to stretch a dollar, where to invest my money, and how to let my money make money. I use Economics to this day. Journalism helped me learn to communicate effectively and how to write well. And French, man, why not? French is sexy. I already spoke Spanish, so French was easy to pick up!

Do you think teenagers should learn to manage their finances at an early age?

Definitely. You always hear these stories about millionaires going broke, and you say ‘gosh, how do millionaires go broke?’ Well, they spend a million and one! It’s not how much you make, it’s how much you spend. Even if you’re making millions but you're buying yachts and helicopters, you’re going to end up in debt. So it’s important to save and have some sort of financial reservoir for when you’re not working. I wish we had a high school class that was dedicated to teaching kids to save.

Is it important for teenagers to learn leadership skills?

Leadership skills are important and it’s never too early to start. As a teenager you have the best environment to try new things. It gets much harder to explore things in the real world because there’s more at stake.

As someone who’s well-educated, what are your thoughts on the current problems our country faces with failing schools and teachers taking the blame for poor student performance?

First, parents have to discipline their kids and not leave it up to teachers. Second, teachers have to realize that they have one of the most important jobs in the world, which is to create future generations. And third, students have to be accountable and realize that they’re being given a golden opportunity to learn and they have to be proactive about their education.

Tell us about your show, Trauma?

Trauma is about San Francisco paramedics and what they go through on a daily basis. I play Marisa Benez. She's a helicopter pilot. The show's about a group of heroes that have to deal with answering 911 calls everyday and how that takes a toll on their lives.

What’s coming up for your character in the final episodes of the season?

Not to give too much away, but I end up being quarantined and put in isolation because of something that happens on a 911 call and… Marisa might die in the next episode. [Laughs].

Rumor has it you sustained an injury during the taping of a recent episode. Is that true?

I did. I was on set, and there was a fight scene between two male characters and it was written that I just stand there. But the cameras started rolling and I couldn’t just stand there, so I pulled one grown man off the other, and the director loved it, so he said ‘keep doing it.’ 12 takes later, I hadn’t realized I had broken my finger on the first take, because I was so jazzed up on adrenaline. I broke my middle finger on one hand and sprained my pinky on the other. Now people think I’m flipping them off [Laughs] and I’m like ‘no, no, no, I fractured my finger!’