Shannon Gisela on Peacock’s M.I.A., Miami and Her Breakout Leading Role
- 4 days ago
- 8 min read
Shannon Gisela leads M.I.A. as Etta Tiger Jonze, a bold young woman whose life changes after tragedy pulls her into a dangerous crime world. The role marks Gisela’s first time carrying a series, a moment she says left her overwhelmed when she received the news while working her HR job at a country club.
The actress brought her background in improv and comedy into a much darker story. For Gisela, those experiences helped her stay present, take risks and adapt to the demands of the role. Preparing for Etta also meant stunt training, swim tests and learning to drive a boat shortly after arriving in Miami.
In this exclusive interview with Miami Living, Gisela reflects on her breakout role, working with Danay Garcia and finding a deeper connection to Miami through M.I.A. A South Florida native, she says the city became a character in the series, shaped by its coastline, colors, local crew and strong sense of community.
M.I.A. is available now on Peacock. All nine episodes premiered on May 7, 2026. The pilot episode is also scheduled to air on NBC on May 14, 2026, at 10 p.m. ET/PT.
Miami Living (ML): M.I.A. marks your first leading role in a series. What was your initial reaction when you found out you would be playing Etta Tiger Jonze, and how did you prepare for carrying a show like this?
Shannon Gisela: I think I froze when I found out. I was at my day job, working HR at a country club, hiding in my friend's office so I could take the call in a quiet area, and I legitimately did not know what to do with my hands. It was so surreal, and I remember just feeling so much emotion that I didn't know how to emote at all. I went back to my desk, looked at the emails in my inbox, at all the little decorations I had put up in my office, and just cried knowing that life was about to look very differently.
Preparing for Etta felt like a full-body experience. There was the preparation I did as an actor which can be quite a solitary process a lot of the time, and then there was the physical preparation for the role, which was very much a collaborative effort. I landed in Miami on a Sunday and that next day I was learning how to drive a boat, doing swim tests, scheduling stunt training - all of it. Thank God I've been sporty and somewhat coordinated my whole life, otherwise I'm not sure I would've lasted!
ML: Etta Tiger Jonze seems like a complex character in a high-stakes crime world. What drew you to her, and what layers of her personality were most important for you to explore on screen?
Shannon Gisela: Etta is so rich even just on the page, which is such a testament to the writing. I was initially drawn to her conviction and fearlessness, but also she fell in love with her wit. When we meet her, she’s this wise-cracking, bold young woman and I found that so special about her in the writing considering what her journey then becomes.
Shannon Gisela: One of the elements of Etta I felt was important to bring to life was her sense of wonder in the beginning of the series. After tragedy strikes, it was her heart and spunk as she finds ways to cope with what happens to her. Etta’s choices are then motivated by her pain so exploring ways to allow her spirit to shine through was something I worked really closely with Karen Campbell (our incredible show runner) on. We called it Etta’s “raccoon energy” and developed a shorthand where anytime a scene called for an extra dose of Etta’s scrappy spirit, those were the only words Karen needed to say to me.
ML: You are working with EPs Bill Dubuque and Karen Campbell. What did you learn from collaborating with them on a project of this scale?
Shannon Gisela: I learned so much from the two of them. It was wonderful to witness how much Bill trusted Karen with this project because a lot of making something like this, I’ve learned, requires that indispensable trust. With Karen, I learned so much from her leadership - we collaborated very closely on Etta together and it really was an experience born out of love and gratitude that we were getting to tell this story together. She also is such a wonderful example of good leadership. She showed me that you can be a boss without it coming at the expense of being kind.
ML: You star alongside Danay Garcia, who has a strong background in intense, character-driven dramas. What was that dynamic like on set, and how did she influence your performance?
Shannon Gisela: Danay is such an anomaly to me because between action and cut, she is this force that is so intense and precise - but between cut and action, she is so gentle, kind, and nurturing. It was inspiring to watch her commitment to her craft, her commitment to each moment, and how generous she is as an artist. And then on a personal note, we very quickly developed a deep relationship and she really looked after me as a fellow actor in ways akin to a mother. I always feel safe and cared for around Danay in the most special of ways. I cannot wait for the world to see her performance!
ML: Your background includes improv and comedy. How did those skills translate into a dramatic, crime-driven series like M.I.A.?
Shannon Gisela: First - I think everyone should try improv, whether an artist or not. I have learned such invaluable skills doing improv that have helped me not just professionally but also just in life. Improv is something that requires absolute presence, vulnerability, and an exercising of your imagination - that’s what makes it feel terrifying, dangerous, and thrilling. I think improv helped give me the confidence to take risks and make big swings - because if I can lay on the floor pretending to be a duck from New York in improv without feeling embarrassed, I am ironclad. It also helped me stay in the moment as a performer and as a person who was working at that capacity for the first time. I also have improv to thank for the days I had to abandon whatever plan I had in my head and go with the flow of whatever was unfolding in any given moment.
ML: The series was filmed in Miami. How did the city itself shape the tone of the show and your performance as Etta?
Shannon Gisela: Miami is a total character in its own right in M.I.A. The colors are so vibrant, the Florida foliage is iconic, the coastline, the (very real) sweat on all our foreheads - all of it adds to the reality of south Florida that is very difficult to replicate in my opinion. There are also homages to the city’s history and current landscape that make it feel like Miami is a living, breathing backdrop of the show. As far as it impacting my performance, I really felt like I was discovering the city alongside Etta because while I am from South Florida, I didn’t spend much time in all the incredible cultural pockets Miami has to offer. To be naive to the city’s true wonder was perfect as Etta and now I have a much deeper love for Miami and immense pride to be from there.
ML: For readers of Miami Living, what stood out to you most about filming in Miami, and did you have any favorite locations or moments while working there?
Shannon Gisela: The feeling of community in Miami is unparalleled. Many of our crew members were locals. There was this palpable pride amongst everyone working and a real sense of gratitude that we were filming locally. We very quickly became a family on set and that feeling carried through to wrap and beyond. There are too many memories to pick a favorite, but I will say there was one night that felt particularly full-circle. We were shooting on Fort Lauderdale Beach, which is the beach I grew up going to, and my mom found my exact location using Find My Friends. I was sitting in my chair and as crew members buzzed around getting the scene ready to shoot, a text came through from her that said “Look up.” I did, and there she was - sitting in the distance on the boardwalk, under a full moon, watching me live out this dream right in front of her.
ML: What’s something about you that would genuinely surprise people who only know you through your work on screen?
Shannon Gisela: Considering the tone of this show in particular, people might be surprised to know that I am the type of person to go way too hard on a dance floor (something just happens and it’s like I enter a different dimension of existence); I’m the unofficial president of Chris Stapleton’s fan club; and I can throw and catch a pretty mean spiral (Phins up, baby!).
ML: For aspiring actors trying to break into the industry today, what’s one piece of advice you wish someone had given you early on?
Shannon Gisela: It may be corny, but truly: do what you want to do. I’ll speak for myself, but authenticity goes much further than trying to be something I am not. Any time I do an audition trying to “get it right” I am left creatively unfulfilled and I inevitably end up feeling that the tape is missing something. The second I lean into the notion that the audition is my time to express myself, however, I find that the experience is richer and I also send it in with less of an attachment to what comes of it.
That and: take action wherever you can. As actors we tend to feel like so much is out of our control - because many things are - but no one can stop you from picking up a play and reading it with friends, or making a short, or studying films, or taking a class, or putting yourself out there in any way. I really believe things happen when they’re meant to and focusing on what’s in my control keeps me from focusing on what I feel I am meant to get out in return. That’s two pieces of advice many wise people gave me that I work to keep in mind as often as possible!
ML: Since M.I.A is set in Miami, what are some of your favorite spots in the city, and what do you personally like to do to unwind and recharge when you’re off set?
Shannon Gisela: Cafe La Trova. Cafe La Trova. Cafe La Trova. Hands down. The food, the music, the dancing, the energy - all of it is so inherently Miami and I left feeling reborn anytime I went there. We went several times as cast and crew and it became a beloved spot for all of us. We also did karaoke nights to celebrate the end of each shooting block and I have to say, the M.I.A. team does not play around when it comes to karaoke. And then part of this whole miracle of an experience was that it turned out my family was a thirty minute drive away, so anytime I needed a small reset I would just go have dinner with them on the weekends. Spending time with them was grounding in a way that helped me recharge and show up to set feeling ready to rock.
You can follow Shannon on: Instagram