She recently left her well-received NBC comedy Superstore after filming a short farewell arc at the start of the sixth and final season.
And now America Ferrera has opened up to what it was like to primarily work from home during the pandemic while raising two young children with husband Ryan Piers Williams, 39.
The 36-year-old actress told People that caring for her two-year-old son Sebastian and her seven-month-old daughter Lucia can be ‘overwhelming’ with all of her other responsibilities.
Working from Home: America Ferrera spoke to People on Tuesday about how “overwhelming” it was to raise young children while working from home; seen with husband Ryan Piers Williams in February
“Oh my god, it’s a world difference,” she said of the changes caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
‘Everything has been so aggravated by the pandemic and by quarantine, and really not being able to have the extensive network of family and friends that you would normally have when you bring a new baby home to hold the baby and you to give a break or to help out, ”she said.
When she was able to work on set, America took little Sebastain with her.
‘My son went with me everywhere. I went back to work when he was only 10 weeks old and I was going to give him a camera grip. I’d say, “Hold him. I have to go here,” she said.
Parenting at Work: When she could work on set, America would bring little Sebastian with her. ‘I went back to work when he was only 10 weeks old and I would like to give him a camera grip’
Separation anxiety: her seven-month-old daughter Lucia ‘just bursts into tears’ when she sees ‘a new face’ after being exclusively raised in quarantine
It’s been more difficult for America’s young daughter, Lucia, who is struggling to adjust to strangers and family members after closing for her early months.
‘When there is an opportunity for a new face, she just bursts into tears. She doesn’t know what to do with new faces, so hopefully she’s young enough that this is all going to get better before it can really stick with her, ” hoped the Emmy winner.
Despite all the challenges the pandemic has caused for her family, America was still grateful for the time she spent with her husband and children that she might not have had otherwise.
‘I never could have imagined that in this circumstance we would grow the family, but it was also great because it forced us to really just spend time as a family of four and really get our rhythm to just our little family to be, ”she said.
“As challenging as the year has been, I think there will be many fond memories of this time when I really have to slow down and take the time to be together and sink into family life.”
Do good: “I think there will be many fond memories of this time when I really need to slow down and take the time to be together and sink into family life,” she said; seen in February
But when it comes time for her to get some work done, it can be difficult for America to find a quiet place away from the kids because they want to be with her as much as possible.
She joked that even if the kids just ‘smell’ her, it’s just ‘mama mama mama’ even when Ryan is available to take care of them.
She and Ryan during their time at the University of Southern California, and they married in 2011 after getting engaged the year before.
Although she’s adopted a routine in quarantine, that doesn’t mean the Ugly Betty star wants to expand her family anytime soon.
‘This is not the year for big decisions. We’re going to get on the other side of this and then figure out big life questions, ”she said.
Goodbye: Earlier in December, NBC announced that America’s previous series Superstore would end after the currently airing sixth season
Earlier in December, NBC announced that America’s former series Superstore would end after its currently airing sixth season.
America announced in February that she would be leaving the series, but the coronavirus pandemic prevented the series from filming the fifth season finale that would have given her character a proper goodbye.
Instead, when shooting resumed during the sixth season pandemic, she returned as a guest at the start of the season for a less rushed exit.
The sixth and now final season aired in October and November, and will return in mid-January for the final 11 episodes.
More to come? It’s not clear if her announcement that she was leaving in February hastened the well-reviewed show’s demise, though she left the option of returning at the end
America told People she was “ totally heartbroken ” about the news of the Superstores cancellation, although it was not clear whether her early departure had sealed her fate.
There’s at least a chance fans will see her one last time before it’s over, although she couldn’t say much about the possibility.
“We’re not ruling out anything, but I’m not allowed to say it,” she said.