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Barcelona-born actress Christina Ochoa stars in Blood Drive as Grace, alongside Alan Ritchson (The Hunger Games: Catching Fire), who plays Arthur. The two team up for a wild, Mad Max-style death race across the desert in a post-apocalyptic world where the drivers run on adrenaline and the engines run on human blood. In an exclusive interview with Miami Living, Christina shares how she prepared for her new role with fight and stunt training, and got to do 360s behind the wheel — something she never thought she'd be doing, she shares excitedly. No stranger to pushing beyond comfort zones, Christina maybe best known for her recurring role on TNT's original series, Animal Kingdom, in which a 17-year-old boy goes to live with his distant family after the sudden death of his mother, quickly learning his formerly-estranged relatives may be hiding their rough edges, along with dark secrets. Alongside legendary actress Ellen Barkin ( The Big Easy) and actor Scott Speedman (The Underworld series), Christina plays the drug- dealing girlfriend, Renn. She affectionately notes how much the Animal Kingdom cast and crew have become family to her. Her role on Animal Kingdom has helped her grow much more than just as an actress, it's pushed her to learn on and off set. As a relative stranger to inebriation, Christina had to learn a few tricks actors use to portray rampant drug use. The Oceanside-based series also ignited her interest in surfing and led her to seek out lessons, unprompted by the network. But Christina's love of water is nothing new. Having lived on Isla Morada in the Florida Keys as a child, she is very familiar with environmental advocacy. She recalls walking the boardwalk and people-watching, and reminisces about her days around water, hanging out at the beach in the shallows or tide pools –this was a significant contributor to her pursuit of an advanced marine biology degree at James Cook University in Australia. While acting is her passion, "the one thing that makes [her] really feel alive" is using her new position as a platform to keep her ecological concerns in the public eye. A quick glance at her Instagram (@ OchoaChristina) proves that Christina's hosting of events like the MESA Stem Conference and Intel are not simply lip service. Enviable images of tropical paradises, scenic hikes, and exotic animals encourage followers to preserve and enjoy the beauty found in our natural surroundings. This fall, Christina stars in The CW's new series Valor as female lead, Nora. A show about a failed mission involving one of the first female pilots in the unit, these lines briefly foreshadow what to expect with this military drama: "I joined the army to be one of the good guys, that is not how this feels," says Nora. "Covert ops, blurred lines —that's what you joined," says Gallo, played by Matt Barr. Unable to hold back her excitement, or effervescent personality, when detailing the characters she represents, Christina sums them up as women empowered in their own way. Strong, yet damaged to a certain degree, they are complex and unapologetic about who they are —this is what makes them so appealing to her. When asked to find commonalities between her and her characters, she says they are all fighters; tough individuals who know when to show their vulnerability. Regardless of what their mission is, she, like the women she represents, is clearly goal-driven. Christina has a lot on her plate right now with juggling three TV series; various events and organizations she is a part of; and her podcast (a personal project currently on hiatus). What keeps her grounded and sane are the amazing people who surround her. Once a perfectionist, Christina feels her greatest improvement as a new actress came when she learned to let go and be proud of all she does. "I try to do the best I can with what I know and what I have. If I can do that, it's a success." ML Don't miss Christina in Blood Drive premiering June 14th at 10 pm EST on the Syfy Network, TNT's Animal Kingdom on at 9 pm EST, and Valor on The CW, coming this fall. Keep up with her on Twitter: @Christina_Ochoa and Instagram: OchoaChristina.