Maria Elisa Camargo stars in the new film Off The Grid, alongside Josh Duhamel and Greg Kinnear.
We chatted to Maria about the movie, her character “Josey” and so much more.
OFF THE GRID released in theaters and on demand and on digital on June 27, 2025
What made you decide to pursue acting – was it a hobby at first, or did you always see yourself doing it professionally?
Maria Elisa Camargo: It was a hobby at first, for sure. Growing up in Ecuador, in Guayacquil, our school calendar was very complex for parents. Vacations weren’t divided. It was a big chunk of the year studying and then [an almost] 4-month vacation.
The parents had to entertain their kids. My parents were like, “Hey, we’re not just gonna let you sit and wait. Or just be lazy about life. We’re going to play, of course, but you need to learn something.”
A language, a skill, you name it. These are the options – from musical instruments, something with your hands. The sky was the limit in terms of whatever I wanted to take. Acting was part of that list of options.
I was intrigued, even though I don’t have any family member that does it. I’ve been intrigued by watching TV, playing with that and I was like, “Let’s give it a try.” And it ended up becoming a four-month cycle every year.
So, it’s almost like I did a parallel school for acting throughout the next, I don’t know, 4 or 5 years.
If you put it together, it was more of a year studying acting. So yeah, that’s how it started.
How would you describe your latest project, Off The Grid, to anyone who may be unfamiliar with it?
Maria Elisa Camargo: I would describe it as a super smart, different, surprising action-thriller that includes more human connection than the usual format allows.
It’s almost a force that drives the narrative. And takes it to a different place than what you would expect. It also connects you to a community sense and the character’s own vulnerability.
So, even though there’s a lot of what we love about action, a lot of special effects, bombs and chases, intrigue. There’s also that human side of it that makes it even more open to complete families to go watch it.
You leave kind of with a sigh and a good message for your heart, ironically. So that’s the cool part about it.
What can you tell us about your character, Josey – how does she factor into the story?
Maria Elisa Camargo: What I can say is she is definitely in control, in her community. She runs this show, she has this motherly love for everyone that surrounds her in this little town.
So, of course, she’s the most intrigued when this new character arrives in town. She wants to know what his role is in her community. She has an extreme sensitivity for human beings, as she’s been kind of handling everyone in town.
[Josey] can tell that this is a good guy, that this is a good heart. She wants to know more, is deeply intrigued and also very seduced. Not in a sexual way, but in a romantic way – or in a human way.
She’s seduced by how he treats the kid in town that she feels almost like a mother to.
Your castmates in this film include Josh Duhamel, Greg Kinnear and Peter Stormare. Was there anyone you were particularly excited/nervous to work with and was the experience like you expected?
Maria Elisa Camargo: I was super nervous to work with pretty much all of them. I knew I didn’t have scenes with Peter, which was so sad. But just the fact I’m sharing credits with him blows my mind.
But then, obviously, I had scenes with Josh and Greg and I was super nervous. I thought I was going to get some sort of ego superstar, a massive block. A “I’m just here to do my job” vibe.
To discover that Johnny’s work was so pure and detailed in the sense that he also wanted to find good human beings. He always wants to be surrounded by good human beings – and made sure for that to happen on this team as well.
It becomes his team. He’s protective of his team, so he wants to make sure that everyone’s on the same page.
When I arrived there, I felt like I was just as valued, not just by the director but the actors, the superstars, I shared the set with.
[It] made me feel like… almost like I had the same experience as them. Like, I didn’t feel treated any differently by anyone in the crew.
Let alone them who were so generous with my choices, allowed me to be so free, let me fly, appreciated my authenticity and received me with open arms.
Johnny Martin directed Off The Grid. How would you describe your time working with him?
Maria Elisa Camargo: Spectacular, magic, surreal, affirming. It was transforming. It’s a time when I realised that I was ready. It’s the time where I finally see someone… that really sees me for what I am as an actor.
Someone that’s been seeing faces and working with talent like John Travolta, Nicolas Cage and Al Pacino. He sees through my work and he realises there’s something special in my eyes and what I bring.
There’s nothing that can compare to that feeling, because it’s years of being see-through, of being transparent. For all the producers and everyone. I mean, of course I have a career back home, but I’ve been trying to get to this market for such a long time that I almost gave up.
I felt “this is never gonna happen” and imagine that moment happening, finally. And not just seeing you, but praising you so much. Making sure to let you know how much he appreciates my work, how much he enjoys every day I’m on set.
As an artist, how much I bring to his movie. Somebody that’s working with an Oscar nominee and a super, massive Hollywood star. He’ll always take his time to remind me [of] the value I have in this movie.
So, it was not just a dream come true but a completely surreal experience. I never expected it to be that good and magical.
Follow writer Conor O’Brien on X.
A lifelong TV and Film buff, Conor founded Courageous Nerd in 2019. He has conducted hundreds of interviews for the site, as well as written comprehensive feature articles on a variety of topics. You can find him on X: @conorrcn.
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