Roselyn Sánchez Reveals Horror Movie Role Had Her 'Miserable For 30 Days,' But Loved It

Roselyn Sánchez is having a major moment, and she's loving every second of it.

The "Fantasy Island" star recently chatted with The Blast about her new partnership with Lysol. In addition to her top cleaning hacks, Sánchez dished on her exciting career moves, including her directorial debut "Diario Mujer Café" and working alongside Rob Lowe and Crispin Glover in the upcoming thriller "The Third Parent."

Roselyn Sánchez also opened up about balancing life at home with her husband, actor Eric Winter, and their two kids.

Stepping behind the camera for the first time was a dream come true for Sánchez, who admitted she wished she had done it "sooner."

"For a long time, I had many colleagues saying, 'Ross, you have to direct,'" she shared. "I love producing, and I think I have a good eye. But I was intimidated because I didn't go to film school. I didn’t know the technical language. Then I realized, my job as a director is to tell my story. That's why you surround yourself with people who know more than you, so they can elevate you."

Sánchez started writing the film during COVID and chose to return to her roots in Puerto Rico to bring her story to life.

"We have incredible tax incentives, incredible talent, and the crew is fantastic," she said. "I'm very happy with how it turned out."

When it came time to dive into "The Third Parent," Sánchez faced a whole new kind of challenge.

"I have never done genre before, like psychological thriller, horror, because it’s not something I consume," she explained. "But when I read the script, it really hit me as a mom of two. It’s about a home invasion, and all you care about is survival and protecting your children. It was really hard, honestly. I was miserable for 30 days straight because of the material, but as an actor, that's the dream, doing something completely removed from yourself."

She also raved about working with Glover, who plays the villain, calling him “incredible” to watch on set.

Sánchez kept the momentum going with "Undercard," where she stars alongside Wanda Sykes and takes on a brand-new type of role.

"I play her lover," she said, laughing. "I've never done that before! It was so cool. Wanda plays a former female boxing champ trying to reclaim her life. It’s very dramatic, which is also new for Wanda, and the story is just beautiful."

Adding even more range to her resume, Sánchez also filmed "Spicy Will," a full-blown comedy with Chris Geere and Harvey Guillén.

"I have three movies coming out this year, psychological thriller, drama, and comedy, all totally different," she said. "It was a lot of fun."

But no matter how busy work gets, Sánchez is clear about her priorities. "Family first, always."

She admitted that when choosing projects now, her first questions are all about logistics. "How long will I be away? Where is it? Can I take the kids? Before, it was easy to just go. Now, it takes a village."

That "village" includes a nanny Sánchez calls "like a second mom," a supportive mother-in-law, and her husband, Eric Winter, who's been by her side for nearly two decades.

"It's a constant negotiation," she said. "We're both actors. He's lucky his show ('The Rookie') shoots two seconds from our house, but I'm the one always traveling. I'm manifesting a show in L.A.!"

Their teamwork doesn't stop at home either. The couple helps each other run lines and prep for auditions.

"When Eric was auditioning for 'The Rookie,' they didn’t even want to see him because he was 'too good looking' for the role of Tim Bradford," Sánchez recalled. "We worked really hard, and he nailed it. Now, they’ve molded the character to fit him. It’s been amazing to watch."

Looking back at their careers, Sánchez reflected, "It took 15 years of saying, 'It’s coming, it’s coming.' And it finally did."

Her Puerto Rican heritage also continues to shape her career, and her pride is unmistakable.

"It’s my identity," she said. "Every role I've ever played, I'm Puerto Rican, or they don't say where I'm from. My accent is beautiful, but it’s also been a battle. When I started, it was brutal. Things are changing now, but back then, having an accent was limiting. Now, I embrace it."

With three films on the horizon, a directorial debut under her belt, and family firmly by her side, Roselyn Sánchez is proving she can truly do it all, and on her own terms.