Meet Zyra Gorecki, the Actor Stealing Every Scene in NBC's 'La Brea' (2024)

After losing her leg in a logging accident at just 13 years old, Zyra Gorecki didn’t see many people who looked like her on screen or in fashion magazines. So, she decided, she would be the one to change that. “I thought, I want to do something that actually shows people that you can do it—whatever it is—regardless of what you look like,” the Michigan native tells me over Zoom. For Gorecki, who stands six feet tall, the obvious choice was modeling. “I went out and got an agent, and she was like, ‘You have a very big personality. Let’s send you on some acting stuff.’”

Just a few years later, at 19 years old, Gorecki is seeing her dreams become a reality as she takes on a leading role in NBC’s new sci-fi drama La Brea. In the network series, which premiered on September 28, Gorecki plays cool teen Izzy Harris, whose life is turned upside down when her mom and brother fall through a giant sinkhole in the middle of Los Angeles into an apocalyptic world. After escaping the accident unharmed, Izzy has to team up with her somewhat estranged father to try to save them.

“I adore that they wanted an actual amputee for the amputee character. Huge,” she says. “I can understand the mentality that comes from having a lot of things happen to you at a very young age.” For Gorecki, who was dealing with the traumatic loss of her leg at the same time as her mother was recovering from breast cancer, moving forward involved a “sick sense of humor” and the kind of f*ck-it attitude it takes to whip off your leg the middle of an interview to show off the craftsmanship.

Without further ado, meet Zyra Gorecki in Glamour’s latest installment of New Here.

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.

What did you learn the most through filming La Brea?

As an actor, don’t immediately go to the emotion that you want to go to—fight that emotion. I think that’s really important for mental health too. Because as a person who’s dealt with anxiety and depression for a lot of my life, you have to choose, “Nope, we’re gonna fight this.” That’s been a really fun lesson. Well, I don’t know that fun is right…. It’s been a very interesting lesson to learn.

What methods do you use when you experience anxiety?

I put my music on. I don’t talk to anybody. Yoga. Alternate nostril breathing. I learned that one. Look it up. You breathe in one side and then you switch to the other side. Breathe out.

Also, I have this thing because my mom is my person. So when I’m feeling really anxious in public spaces, I just hold her elbow. [My onscreen dad Eoin Macken] was super chill. When I was feeling really anxious on set, I’d go and sit next to him and we wouldn’t have to say anything.

Did you pick up any products or makeup tips from your on-set makeup artist?

Yes, the Tarte cream blushes! Beautiful and they blend your makeup to your skin super, super nice.

What else is in your makeup bag?

Concealer for sure. Maybelline Instant Age Rewind. I grew up buying stuff from the drugstore. I’m still working on getting really nice stuff.

What do you hope to use your platform to support or bring awareness to?

Amputee Blade Runners. When you get your first leg—I’m going to take my leg off and show it to you. Hold on. [Displaying her prosthetic.] This is a really, really good foot. This came from Amputee Blade Runners.

Normally an artificial foot does not bend at all. It is terrible. You cannot run on it, it hurts. Then there are blades. You’ve probably seen a blade before in the Olympics and stuff, but insurance will not cover it because it’s considered recreational. So Amputee Blade Runners is a nonprofit organization that gives people their lives back. They make the best legs ever, and it’s totally free to the person that receives them. And you could actually do things again.

How did you find them?

In my little town of 1,000 people, we have seven amputees. One of them, a friend of mine, got his blades from Amputee Blade Runners. When I got my leg cut off and realized, Oh, this is like walking in clogs, I contacted them.

The rule is you have to be a year out, because your leg is healing. I wasn’t quite to that point when we had this massive fundraiser for them and raised around $5,000 from our little town. We sent it to them, and they said, “You can come down, and we’ll give you a leg.” I have never gotten another leg anywhere else. Ever. They make the best legs, and they are the kindest, most amazing people.

La Brea airs Tuesdays on NBC at 9 p.m. Eastern. Emily Tannenbaum is an entertainment editor, critic, and screenwriter living in Los Angeles. Follow her on Twitter.