Maria Canals-Barrera Discusses Her Return as Theresa Russo in ‘Wizards Beyond Waverly Place’
On October 29, 2024, audiences finally got the chance to catch up with the Russo Family when Wizards Beyond Waverly Place premiered on Disney Channel.
For those who haven’t been keeping up, Beyond Waverly Place follows an adult, Justin Russo (David Henrie), who has chosen to leave his magical abilities behind to live a normal, mortal life. Now married with two children, Justin’s life seems settled.
Wizards Beyond Waverly Place. Photo: Disney
When Alex Russo brings Billie to his home seeking help, Justin must dust off his magical skills and mentor the young wizard-in-training. Now, he must balance his everyday responsibilities with his duty to protect the future of the Wizard World.
The Russo Family Returns
While David Henrie is the only Wizards of Waverly Place star to reprise his role in Beyond Waverly Place as a regular, the rest of the Russo family has made guest appearances.
Photo: Disney
Selena Gomez kicked things off by reprising he role as Alex Russo in the show’s first episode, while David DeLuise returned as Jerrry Russo for Episode 7. Finally, in Episode 20, it was Maria Canals-Barrera’s turn.
In a recent interview with D23, Canals-Barrera revealed what it was like to return to Waverly Place.
Photo: Disney
“It felt like we didn’t skip a beat,” she said. It felt like a wonderful opportunity to get to bring [Theresa Russo] back.”
“A Lot of Talent and Heart”
While many worried that Beyond Waverly Place would be unable to recapture the magic of the original series, Canals-Barrera saw the show as a fitting continuation.
“A lot of talent and heart went into the show. There’s the same commitment to honoring the original show but creating something new that’s very satisfying.”
Photo: Disney
Family has always been at the heart of the Wizards of Waverly Place franchise. That has continued in the new series. “Unconditional love is so evident,” Canals-Barrera said.
As both a television mom and a real-life mom, the actress was able to draw inspiration from her real life.
“Being a good mother is the hardest thing in the world, and it is my goal to be the best mom I can be,” she explained.
Photo: IMDB
“With Teresa, having the limitation of being a mortal and having to deal with her kids having these magical powers was a great challenge.”
The Importance of Representation
As a Cuban American, Canals-Barrera appreciates that Theresa Russo is “an American mom on an American show” who still celebrates her Latin heritage.
“I remember my daughter saying, ‘Mom, friends at school really love that you’re like their mom.’ That kind of representation really did matter to a lot of young people, even if it’s unspoken,” she said.
Photo: Disney
Finally, Canals-Barrera has a simple message for fans of Wizards fans.
“Hop on board! As an OG fan, it’s so satisfying,” she says. “You’re going to love it.”
