Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness actress Xochitl Gomez recalls the kind advice she received from fellow actors Patrick Stewart and Benedict Wong. Gomez plays teenage superhero America Chavez in the Doctor Strange sequel. She was a new addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but is expected to appear in future films based on the ending of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, which showed her training with Wong and Doctor Strange at the Kamar-Taj.
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Playing America Chavez was not Gomez’s first onscreen role, but it was her largest part to date. Before Doctor Strange 2, the now 16-year-old actress played Dawn Schafer in the TV series The Babysitter’s Club. She also made several smaller appearances in shows such as Raven’s Home and Gentefied. With Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, however, Gomez saw herself surrounded by a smattering of seasoned Marvel actors. These included Stewart, who has long played X-Men star Professor Charles Xavier, Benedict Cumberbatch, Wong, and WandaVision star Elizabeth Olsen.
Gomez reminiscences on the kindness of two of these seasoned stars, Wong and Stewart. In an interview with Collider, Gomez mentioned that both Wong and Stewart welcomed her with open arms, inviting her to come to their trailers and talk to them if she ever needed. Stewart added one condition: that Gomez made “sure to pay it forward and be very welcoming to newer people." Stewart pointed out that an actor never knows what newcomers might turn out to be huge stars moving forward. Gomez took the advice to heart, aiming to make it a point to live up to her word in the future. Check out the full quote from Gomez below:
“Patrick Stewart gave me great advice and it’s something that I will carry on with me because it was just something that I know I needed when I first came in. And actually, Benedict Wong did that; he welcomed me and he knocked on my trailer door and was just like, ‘I’m here for you and if you ever need someone to talk to or if you’re just lonely or you feel a little stressed, come to my trailer and we’ll have some tea.’ And then Patrick Stewart just also said the same thing. He was like, ‘Just make sure to pay it forward and be very welcoming to newer people.’ His main thing was that sometimes you never know; the person who’s in front of you might be the hugest star and you don’t even know it. And I’m like, yeah, it’s always important to just be kind to everyone and treat everyone with kindness and respect people, and it just really hit me that it was like, yeah, whoever is coming into this and joining it, I want to make sure I reach out and let them know, ‘You want to grab coffee? I’m available.’”
Stewart certainly knows what he is talking about in this realm of things. Now 82 years old, Stewart has had decades of experience working with actors both seasoned and new to the scene. When Stewart acted in X-Men back in 2000, Halle Berry starred alongside him. Though she had a lot of roles up until that point, she had not yet won her Oscar for her role in Monster’s Ball, and was not nearly the star people know now. Berry was joined in the cast by James Marsden playing Cyclops, who was unknown at the time but now is highly recognizable for his role in Westworld. Between Berry, Marsden, and countless other actors, Stewart has worked with his fair share of rising stars over his decades of experience. So, this advice to Gomez—to treat everyone with the kindness and respect they deserve on set is well-merited—especially coming from him.
Perhaps underlying Stewart’s comment is the notion that Gomez, too, may become one of these figures. It is early yet in her career, so it is hard to tell where it will take off in the MCU and beyond. With huge stars like Wong and Stewart on her side, however, Gomez may just have the industry support that she needs to continue to flourish in big Hollywood films. Her performance in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness certainly proves she is an energetic and charismatic force, and it could be just the beginning of an incredible career for Gomez. Perhaps Gomez, too, will one day open her heart to stars decades younger than she.