Meet Zyra Gorecki, the Actor Stealing Every Scene in NBC’s ‘La Brea’

Glamour: Tell me about how you got the role of Izzy. 

Zyra Gorecki: Less than a year after I had my leg cut off, I started going to Camp No Limits for limb-difference kids, and I have been going there ever since. One of the guys there is an actor and somehow got this contact for La Brea. He sent out an email to all the people at Camp No Limits and was like, “Does anybody know anybody?” So I sent it to my agent. 

I audition, and they were like, “Be less angry. You don’t hate your family. Let’s try this again.” I auditioned again, and they’re like, “Alright, cool. You’re coming out to L.A.”

I love that when he asked if anyone knew anyone, your response was, “Yeah. Me.” Where do you get your confidence?

My mother and my grandma. They get stuff done. Oh, my God. My mom is an engineer. Like “a few classes from her doctorate” kind of engineer before she decided, “I’m going to be a stay-at-home mom because I care more about my kids than a job.” She would tell us when we were kids, “Make hay while the sun shines. Don’t put off tomorrow what you can do today.”

How did you celebrate landing the role?

We actually filmed part of the pilot and then COVID hit. I thought it was done. So we just continued on with life. We got a call when we were in Florida. They’re like, “Hey, it’s still happening. You’re going to Australia for six months.” We went to Cracker Barrel. 

What was your favorite thing to watch growing up?

When I was little, I adored The Beverly Hillbillies. My parents weren’t like, “Oh, yes, go to the TV.” We just had old tapes with them on. That’s what we had in the house, or my dad’s horror movies. But I didn’t really watch those.

Who’s an actor you always wanted to meet, and what would you say to them?

Robin Williams. I would say, “Thank you for showing people that you can still put on a smiling face and help others when you yourself are not okay.” He touched so many people’s hearts, and I don’t think he realized and that’s—why am I getting emotional? This is ridiculous.

He inspired me to…you don’t just have to sit there in the dumps and be depressed. And even if you are, you can still continue on. 

Have you met any actors that made you feel totally star-struck?

When I first started out and was terrified, my mom said, “Listen to me. You don’t ever have to be intimidated by anyone. Because we all poop the same.” 

Were there any scenes you filmed that made you nervous?

Stunts. For the pilot scene where I’m reaching down to hold my mom (Natalie Zea), I was up on a huge platform, and I had a little rope strapped to my butt. I was just hanging over the edge. It was totally safe, but I’m afraid of heights. I was like, “If I fall right now, my head’s gonna be cracked open—this does not seem like fun.” But it was a lot of fun.