Kiara Romero shares behind-the-scenes story of her descendants audition
Kiara Romero, star of Descendants: Wicked Wonderland, says she had to make bold choices that helped her land her role.
The 25-year-old actress grew up in New York and started dancing at a young age, eventually attending a well-known ballet school during high school.
She later took on smaller dance roles in film before landing a role in Netflix’s The Prom, which she says sparked her interest in acting.
When auditioning for Descendants, Romero originally read for a different character but felt it wasn’t the right fit. She later auditioned for the role of Hazel Hook and instantly felt a strong connection to the character.
“There was something inside, like I instantly knew. I was like, ‘I could be her,’” she told People.
Although the role was originally written with a different accent in mind, Romero added her own personal style and background into her audition, something she says Disney encouraged.
She also took a risk during her final audition by choosing an unexpected song instead of the upbeat pop song she was asked to prepare, feeling that it better captured the character’s emotional depth. That choice ultimately helped her land the role.
“I just did my own take,” she says. “Gary Marsh likes to say it’s a very New York take on Hazel. I also added Spanish words; ultimately, they didn’t make it in the movie, but during the audition process, every single time, I added my own spin on it. Disney’s just so good at encouraging you to take risks, and I felt really comfortable bringing Hazel to life.”
Romero shared that sharing the movie’s premiere with her family was one of the most meaningful moments of the experience, especially seeing her parents’ pride in her work.
She’s now preparing to join a multi-show tour featuring casts from several Disney franchises. Romero said she’s been leaning on her castmates for support and guidance during rehearsals.
She also expressed hope that her role will inspire young girls, especially those who share her Puerto Rican heritage, to feel represented and believe they can achieve big dreams too.
Descendants: Wicked Wonderland is currently available to stream on Disney+.
