Season 3 of Power Book IV: Force got off to a jaw-dropping start, as the first time viewers saw Mireya Garcia, she was throwing down with her brother Miguel. Mireya made clear just how far she was willing to go if Miguel stood in the way of her relationship with Tommy Egan—but their chilling argument didn’t stop Miguel’s vendetta against Tommy.

How do the Garcia siblings see each other in Season 3? And what could possibly be next? TVBrittanyF.com spoke to actors Carmela Zumbado (who plays Mireya) and Manuel Eduardo Ramirez (who portrays Miguel) to get their read on that disturbing premiere scene. Plus, Carmela talks about the difference between playing Mireya in Force and fan-favorite Anna Avalos on Chicago PD.

Brittany Frederick: Manuel, there’s no real grey area with Miguel. He’s very much a hard character, and a clear antagonist. How are you able to connect with him as an actor?

Manuel Eduardo Ramirez: I think pushed to the limit, we all have a Miguel inside of us. We all live different lives. Some of us are dads, some of us are just regular [people], some of us are Miguels. I just tried my hardest to get into the character and feel what Miguel was feeling, and take personal experiences and put them into that so I can give you authenticity when it came to Miguel.

Carmela Zumbado: I think [Mireya] sees a little bit of herself in him.

Your screen time together in the first episode was so intense. Do you have favorite scenes from Power Book IV: Force Season 3 as a whole? What can viewers look forward to?

Zumbado: Our first scene in Episode 1 was my favorite, because we knew it would be explosive, and I think it sets the tone for the whole season. Manny and I worked really hard on it, but we were also very in the moment. Our amazing director Lisa Demaine guided us through it, and that’s got to be my favorite scene of the whole season.

Ramirez: What Carmela gave me as Mireya helped me push Miguel to the brink. But if I had to say what is my favorite scene, you’re going to have to tune into Episode 7. I think my mentor and acting coach, Mr. Denzel Washington, would be proud.

Carmela, audiences saw you play another tough woman in a different version of Chicago when you recurred as Anna Avalos on Chicago PD. Did you see any similarities between Anna and Mireya?

Zumbado: Anna’s whole storyline is driven by the motive of avenging her brother’s death—who is also named Miguel. My audition for Mireya happened the same week that I finished up on Chicago PD, and Anna on Chicago PD does have a tattoo that says Miguel on her chest. That’s [my] brother in Chicago PD and in Force. I love the synchronicity there. And just Chicago as a similarity, it’s meant so much to me, so it’s been so fun to film there.

In both cases, you’re playing off a very intense character, whether it’s Hank Voight or Tommy Egan. What’s it like to go from Voight, to Tommy and Manuel?

Zumbado: Hank Voight is so intense, but Jason Beghe is actually a softie. I miss him so much. He’s the sweetest man, but so is Joseph Sikora. I’ve been really lucky with who I’ve got to act against, and now with Manny. Manny’s just such a phenomenal actor, that I’ve just been blessed across the board.

Manuel, what about you? Since Miguel kind of does his own thing, is there anyone in the Power Book IV: Force cast you would’ve loved to have more scenes with?

Ramirez: I would have loved to have played more with Shanti [portrayed by Adrienne Walker]. I feel like Shanti is the female Miguel.

Power Book IV: Force airs Fridays at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on Starz. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Starz.

Article content is (c)2020-2025 Brittany Frederick and may not be excerpted or reproduced without express written permission by the author. Follow me on Twitter at @BFTVTwtr and on Instagram at @BFTVGram. For story pitches, contact me at tvbrittanyf@yahoo.com.