"Smash" actress Krysta Rodriguez feels "cathartic" on playing a cancer patient on the show "Chasing Life" as she continues her battle against the disease on the real front. The 30-year-old actress recently opened up in an interview, where she branded her latest role in ABC Family drama as "restorative to my soul."
"Just the fact that I was asked to play this role means so much to me," the actress told People, before adding that the show gave her something to look forward to amid her illness. She further described how she used to juggle the shooting schedule with her four-month long chemo sessions.
The actress further declared that playing the role of Vanessa, the fellow patient of April, played by Italia Ricci, has helped her both in personal and professional life.
Vanessa is known for her blunt manner of speaking, which seems to put-off April at first. Despite not being friends, Vanessa apparently has a mind control over the lead character.
Refusing to divulge more details on her character, the actress claimed that it has more to offer in the coming episodes, including some even "outlandish" scenes. Rodriguez, however, hinted that even though Vanessa will not be invited to April's wedding, she will eventually land there by tagging along with a mutual friend, TV Line reported.
Rodriguez was diagnosed with breast cancer in September 2014 but kept the news under wraps for a few months. Eventually, Rodriguez began speaking on the matter in her blog ChemoCouture as she began chemotherapy treatment and started documenting her experiences.
"Chasing Life" seems to be reminiscent from Rodriguez's real life as the show is focused around a quick-witted aspiring journalist, who is diagnosed with leukemia.