Daniella Pineda: Action, Advocacy, and Authenticity

By Kyra Greene

Daniella Pineda is no stranger to action-packed roles, but The Accountant 2 presents a unique opportunity for her to bring a character to life from the ground up. Opposite Ben Affleck and Jon Bernthal, Pineda’s character, Anais, plays a crucial role in unraveling a deepening mystery, setting the stage for an intense and high-stakes thriller. In an exclusive conversation with Greay Magazine, Pineda opens up about her experience working with Hollywood heavyweights, the physical demands of the role, and the personal journey that has shaped her advocacy for climate action and representation in the industry.

1. The Accountant 2 sees you opposite Ben Affleck and Jon Bernthal—what can you tell us about your character and how she fits into the story?

Anais was the last person to have met with Ray King, and in finding out more about how he died, the team is forced to look into who she is, which ends up becoming a massive rabbit hole.

2. What was it like working with Ben and Jon? Did they offer any advice or insights that stuck with you? 

Ben and Jon were great. I’m not sure about advice but Ben did say something that stuck with me. I still haven’t seen the film yet, which is unusual for me but I was nervous. Ben said to watch the movie with an audience because that’s even more special than it use to be. The theater experience is so precious now and I understand what he means. 

3. This film is premiering at SXSW—how does it feel to debut The Accountant 2 at such a high-energy, creative festival? 

I think culturally, SXSW is one of the most accessible festivals out there. Austin is a magical place, and I’ve had the privilege of working their many times. It’s a city of artists who really love movies, who work on movies, and so I’m just really looking forward to being there again. 

 4. Action films can be physically demanding. Did you do any of your own stunts, and how did you prepare for those sequences?

This part is insanely physical. It seems like that is very much the kind of work I have been booking in the last few years, which has been so action heavy. I do stunts where I can but Bronte Coluccio my stunt gal was A BEAST. I mean, she’s a freak of nature. I hope this film really highlights her because she made me look like a bad ass out of hell. She’s so awesome.  She worked with me for hours. Long day rehearsals!  

5. You’ve worked on massive franchises like Jurassic World and Cowboy Bebop. How does working on The Accountant 2 compare to those experiences?

They compare in that they have a built in audience which is always fun, and doing big movies is so awesome for the mere fact that you know they will be seen and enjoyed. So many actors do work that never gets looked at for one reason or another. But this was honestly very different for me. Jurassic and Bebop were big learning experiences but this was the first big project I’ve done where I felt I really got to make a character from scratch. I asked for blond hair and I got it! I mean that never happens. I really got a say in how this character looked, how she sounded. Gavin gave me a ton of freedom. 

6. From sci-fi blockbusters to psychological thrillers, your roles have spanned so many genres. Is there one that feels most natural to you, or do you thrive in the challenge of switching it up?  

I think my favorite genre to perform is comedy. My dream dream dream would be to lead a comedy series like VEEP, and work with smart savvy writers like Simon Blackwell. Don’t get me wrong, I love action, I love drama. Hopefully I get to direct the horror film I wrote which is major piece to who I am as a creative that I have not had to chance to show the world. But a smart comedy series with british writers, with a character like Selina Meyers who is smart, mean, funny, that would be a treat in my life.

 7. Hollywood is constantly evolving, especially when it comes to representation. As a Mexican American actress, how have you seen the industry shift, and what changes do you still want to see? 

To be honest I think a bigger shift needs to happen. Gael Garcia Bernal said something that really stuck with me which is to misbehave, Mexican Americans. I thought that was so interesting. That 2nd and third generation latinos need to break free and express ourselves freely. I could not agree more, and he’s talking about me. I feel like the film and content we create needs to push the boundaries, because much of what I see is marketable and safe. International movies often want Latino’s from their country of origin and Mexican Americans really get overlooked. I think it’s on the big talent agencies to push their Latino talent, and streaming development execs need to start taking us more seriously. How insane is it the population we have here and what little screen time we have? If you are a streaming exec and all you care about is money, then YOU STILL don’t have an excuse because who drives revenue in these markets? Brown folks. I think people like Selina Gomez are so important, because look at her star power? Mexican American. Jessica Alba cut a ribbon at NASDAQ. We are a community that needs the utmost consideration in what we do. 

I will tell you what I want to see, Latinos in the boardroom of these streamers and film studios. If we’re not being talked about in the board room, we’re definitely not being talked about in the casting room. 

 8. Losing your home in the Eaton Fire was devastating. How has that changed your perspective on climate activism and the urgency of the crisis?  

It has totally changed my life. We had a drought the season before, and had we had rain like we were suppose to, I might still have a home. So the climate issue made it’s way to my door. It’s very real, and human beings need to stop kidding themselves that we can continue to live business as usual. 

 9. Could you share your experience during the fire and how you managed to evacuate safely?

That day I was more concerned about a tree falling in my window than a fire. It all happened so fast and I continue to replay it over and over again in my mind. When my neighbor banged on my door, outside looked like a fire hurricane. I thought I had minutes. I mean we just had no time to think. That night we slept on an air mattress at a friends house, and watched the news, watched the fire zone app. I was so optimistic that my house would be fine. We can back to Altadena that wednesday morning which I call D Day. We went back WHEN my street was on fire. I will never forget that day. It was terrifying. 

10. Losing a home is deeply personal. What cherished memories or items do you miss the most? 

There is a picture of my aunt celeste holding me as a baby. It was on my fridge and I would give anything to have it. But I was most devastated to lose my two Betta fish, and my orange tree’s. Losing the living things is what kills me the most. My tree’s were healthy and happy tree’s. My fish were my little precious things, I cared for them everyday. 

 11. How have you been coping emotionally and practically since the loss of your home?

I think that first month was so tough. I couldn’t sleep for the first week after it happened without medication and I normally sleep like a champ. I worked my ass off to buy that home, and I thought I had found the perfect neighborhood in altadena. But I grew from this fire. It revealed things to me. How I was living my life before that wasn’t cutting it, what’s important and what’s not, who of my friends showed up for me. In a way, it was a strange blessing. I just wish people in my neighborhood didn’t have to lose their lives. 

12. In the face of such adversity, where have you found support and strength?

My friends and family, I’m very lucky in that way. But also my reps really showed up for me, my lawyers firm gave to me, I just had an outpour of support that I had just never experienced before. For me it’s weird to ask or recieve help but sometimes life humbles you and you must be grateful that help finds you. 

 13. You’ve been vocal about preserving Altadena’s Black community during the rebuilding process. What specific actions or initiatives are you supporting to ensure this? 

I help in any way I can. I had to put my own mask on before helping others but after I did, I did what I could to help my neighbors. I directed as many people as I could to give to go fund me’s of black families in need, via Black On the Block. I also spoke to a lot of press to try and bring attention to these communities. I’m from Oakland, California and what I loved about Altadena is that it felt like home, only a suburb. Much of the work I will continue to do will come after the city is able to remove a lot of the debris. 

 14. How can the public contribute to or support the preservation of Altadena’s cultural and historical identity post-fire? 

I would encourage the public to continue to monitor and help Altadena’s black and brown communities where they can, in particular to support those business’ affected. It’s also up to the county to make sure developers to do their work responsibly. 

 15. You’re on the board of the Cradle 2 Cradle Foundation—how did your passion for sustainability begin? 

My heart has always been in the environment. Growing up in California, I got to enjoy nature in the best way. I grew up with snow, with redwoods, with the beach, I mean we have it all. So I first developed a spiritual relationship.  I also have always questioned our relationship to consumerism, and now we need a whole other planet, another earth, to keep up with our demand. It’s just not going to work. I discovered the book Cradle to cradle and it was paradigm shifting for me, because it’s entirely rethinking our system toward solution oriented practices. We shouldn’t be designing products and objects only to discard them after use. This doesn’t happen in nature. Cradle to Cradle says you must design something safely in a way that considers earth’s finite resources, and create the object for re-use.  

16. The Accountant 2 releases just days after Earth Day. Given recent events, what message about climate change do you feel most compelled  to share right now? 

We can rethink this entire system we have put in place. I also think that it is a non-partisan issue. The subject of saving ourselves and the little critters we share the planet with should be a reason to put our differences aside and get to work, with each other.

 17. What steps do you think Hollywood should take to make productions more sustainable? Are there things you’ve seen on set that needimprovement?

I think the change needs to come out of the profit generated after the movie is made. It should be there should be a mandated clause that merchandising products related to the movie must adhere to cradle to cradle practices. Promotional events, toys, theme parks, anything related to a movie must be planned and considered.  

18. What immediate policy changes do you believe are necessary to prevent such devastating fires in the future?

 I want to see our administration develop an ambitious, transparent plan. So far I have seen nothing of the sort. Sadly all I have seen are roll backs on regulation, or denial all together. So policy is going to be tough. I think change can happen when young conservatives who care deeply about climate continue to challenge these behaviors and pressure their party to start taking this issue more seriously. The environment should not be politicized, nor should it be used as a mechanism for polluters to just please their shareholders. As a liberal, I think young conservatives are a key in this issue of climate.

19. How do you plan to use your platform to advocate for climate action more vigorously? 

Any way I can! I think promoting non partisanship is key, and I am striving to garner more public awareness about the cradle to cradle product innovation institute. Honey believe me I’m trying!! 

Photographer DaMarko GianCarlo

Make-up: Kindra Mann

Wardrobe Desiree Morales

Hair: Richard Collins

Produced By The Greay Firm & The Coi Group