Look by PrettyLittleThing
Shoe by Stylists Own

Anissa Borrego, known for her role in cheerleading sitcom Stumble, is shaking her pom-poms and flipping her way to stardom. NBC’s Stumble is a mockumentary that unpacks the highly competitive world of junior college cheerleading—And Borrego sits down with PhotoBook to share everything from preparing for the role to her big ambitions.

“I always stretched and did back handsprings at home, just in case, an opportunity would come up where I’d be able to use them. And the day came!” jokes Borrego. She’s taken on the role of Krystal, a popular cheerleader who—spoil alert—falls and breaks her ankle, disqualifying the team from advancing with the "Show Off" performance.

She is also known for her appearances in This is Us on NBC, the Netflix film Incoming, and the HBO Max feature A Hollywood Christmas. Most recently, Borrego voices a starring role in the Pixar animated feature Elio.

Anissa, how did you first get into acting, and what moments or decisions helped lead you to the larger roles you’re stepping into now?

I have always been a performer...I started cheer and gymnastics at a young age. One of the great things about cheer, it conditions you to set a goal and work towards it. As a kid I would make skits and write songs...there was always a performer and artist in me. The movie Superstar which is my all time favorite movie made me want to act. I loved Mary Katherine Gallagher, I wanted to do that. Fun fact: I used to do the Superstar pose after every performance. In middle and high school I did a few plays. I started taking acting classes in high school and decided that’s what I wanted to do. My goals have shifted over time as I’ve grown. I’ve been dedicating my life towards this and I’m grateful to have a team that believed in me and took me seriously like I did.

Stumble dives into the high-stakes world of junior college cheerleading. What initially drew you to the role of Krystal, and how did you want audiences to see her beyond the “cheerlebrity” label?

Jenn Lyon, made a joke about having employment (haha) & that’s definitely true but also, once I heard cheerleading, I wanted it SO BAD. Comedy? YES! It was the perfect time for comedy…I felt so excited and inspired and just wanted to bring my very best to Krystal. I want audiences to see that she is a hard worker and “cheerlebrity” is not just a title, her work has gotten her there. She is a business woman and a kick-butt cheerleader. She also works to be a good role model and give back.

Krystal is confident, magnetic, and deeply embedded in cheer culture. How did your background in gymnastics and cheerleading shape the way you approached the role?

I always build the character’s story and life and memories, but so much of it was more of a feeling and an instinct. I thought about how you come to life when you're in cheer, there’s a confidence, a sass, an attitude, a musicality, a playfulness. I really played and had fun. There’s the confidence of being a cheerlebrity and how you’re used to being treated. But also, the pressure, from her “momager” and “dadager” who are conscious of her every move and what she could have and should’ve done better: “so and so did this, you should have done that too”. There is an expectation of perfection. Krystal and I are always doing our best and pushing to do even better because we want be the best cheerleader we can be and it’s FUN!

Set by Outcast Clothing
Shoe by Stylist’s Own

Krystal’s injury during the “Show Off” performance becomes a turning point for both her and the team. How did you prepare physically and emotionally for filming that moment?

We had a few cheer practices with THE Monica Aldama and Dahlston Delgado, so I HAD to show up my very best. But it was so much fun and we practiced at home as well. As far as emotionally, I do a lot of journaling within the given circumstances. This gives me freedom to my instincts on the day.

You’re working alongside comedic heavyweights like Jenn Lyon, Taran Killam, and Kristin Chenoweth. What was it like finding your rhythm within such a strong comedic ensemble?

It’s so fun and inspiring! I love working with them, watching them work and seeing how they work. I was seeing great examples of technical and playful spontaneity. I just like to meet them where they are at.

As Krystal continues to evolve, what are you most excited for audiences to discover about her?

Her heart.

**Left:**
Coat by SAMUEL GÄRTNER
Shirt by PR SOLO
Shorts by NADINE MERABI
**Right:**
Look by PrettyLittleThing
Shoe by Stylists Own

Variety has already declared Stumble “iconic.” How does it feel to be part of a project receiving such strong early acclaim?

It feels wonderful. I am so proud to be a part of this show. I would be watching whether or not I was involved...if I wasn’t I would want to be so badly. It’s funny, it has heart, it’s being made by people who love what they do and are having a great time in every department. It’s showcasing the amazing sport of cheerleading. I think it’s iconic too. I’m so grateful they feel the same.

What did having renowned cheerleading coach Monica Aldama involved mean for you as an actor, especially in portraying the pressures and expectations of elite cheer culture?

It made me want to show up with the utmost respect and with only my very best as a cheerleader and an actor. I really, really did not want to disappoint her. Cheer coaches are something special and can be life changing, there is love and respect held in my heart or them...and also a healthy dose of fear.

You recently voiced a starring role in Pixar’s Elio. How does voice acting challenge you differently than live-action performance?

I still like to prepare the same way...but, you have to stay in one place, which can be challenging! You have to stay in one place while imagining and expressing fear because you are under attack by the warmongering, power obsessed Lord Grigon of Hylurg!

Your past work spans projects like This Is Us, Incoming, and A Hollywood Christmas. How does Stumble mark a new chapter in your career?

Stumble is the relief that an actor works towards and hopes for. It’s a dream come true. I get to do what I love and revisit an old love—cheer. I get to spend a prolonged amount of time with this team that I am inspired by and hold so dear. It’s hope. It’s inspiration and a new base.

As you look to the future, what does success in this next chapter of your career look like to you?

Working with people who inspire me. Doing work that is fun, playful and connects deeply to my soul. I want to do work that explores all of my capacity as an actor and an artist.

CREW CREDITS:
Talent: Anissa Borrego
PhotoBook Editor-In-Chief: Alison Hernon
PhotoBook Creative Director + Photographer + Producer: Mike Ruiz
Fashion Stylist: Alexis Fyall
Hair: Eduardo Méndez at A-Frame Agency
Makeup: Ruby Vo
Photography Assistant: Ozzie Gutierrez
Tearsheets by Daniel López, Art Director, PhotoBook Magazine
Interview by Brya Sheridan, Assistant to Editor-in-Chief, PhotoBook Magazine

Anissa Borrego on Bringing Krystal to Life in NBC’s Cheer Mockumentary 'StumblE’