Cobra Kai season 4 is set to premiere on New Year’s Eve, and the creators are leaving no stone unturned in hyping up the series. While Cobra Kai’s lead stars, William Zabka and Ralph Macchio, do much of the heavy lifting in the promotional department, frequently giving interviews, there is one actor that we don’t get to hear much from — Vanessa Rubio. The Colombian-American actress plays Carmen Diaz, the loving mother of lead character, Miguel Diaz (Xolo Maridueña). Rubio has been playing Carmen since season 1 but in a recurring capacity. However, for the coming season of Cobra Kai, Carmen has been promoted to a series regular, and Rubio is quite excited about her character’s journey.
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Vanessa Rubio recently talked to The Hollywood Reporter about what’s in store for her character and how empowering it is to play a Latino character that isn’t stereotypical. “It is nice to be part of a family unit that feels like it could exist on its own, separate from Cobra Kai; a Latino family, not particularly entrenched stereotypical Latino story types. It is just a joy to bring that character to life.”
Carmen Diaz is a single mother working as an X-ray technologist who moved to America from Ecuador after learning about her husband’s illegal activities. She was married young and has a son, Miguel, who is constantly bullied at school. Carmen is initially opposed to Miguel learning Karate from their neighbor, Johnny Lawrence, but is soon convinced otherwise. Later on, she begins a romantic relationship with Johnny, and that’s bound to make things complicated in season 4.
Rubio also talked about her bond with on-screen son Xolo Mariduena. “He is amazing. And he and I understand our Latino representation and have fun building the Diaz dynamic through all these seasons. Representation is a big deal. When I read the statistics about how little Latinos are represented, like 3.5 percent on film and TV. And of that 3.5 figure, 5 percent are speaking roles. It can drive you nuts.” Rubio further highlights the responsibility of playing a Latino character and how important it is from a wider standpoint.
We will see where it goes. But I think their relationship shows that Carmen’s presence in the show is distinct. She is the candle flame we are all hoping Johnny will follow and better himself when he gets there. A second chance love story is relatable to a lot of people.
Finally, Rubio reveals what she thinks lies in Carmen’s future. “She started out as a strong-willed single mother, but now she is blooming into her essence, allowing Miguel to fly and make his own mistakes. I think they went through the worst of it in season three. And so we will see the recovery in season four and season five.”
I feel a responsibility for this character because I know she means so much more in the great scheme of people seeing themselves on screen. And I appreciate the character so much because she represents a very dignified, stable, unified force in this story. The producers and creators are very responsive to the ideas I have to offer because as a Latina, I do have to say these things even more. So I feel more empowered to do that, I don’t mind repeating myself.
Cobra Kai takes place 34 years after the events of 1984’s The Karate Kid and follows the rivalry of Johnny Lawrence and Daniel LaRusso after the former reopens the infamous Cobra Kai dojo. Cobra Kai has received critical acclaim for the entirety of its run, and season 4 is no different. Blending nostalgia and 80s camp with contemporary themes, Cobra Kai is one of the most addictive and fun shows in recent memory.
Be ready to binge Cobra Kai season 4 on December 31, 2021.
