The late Naya Rivera garnered popularity after portraying Santana Lopez’s character in Glee. Rivera started her career as a child artist. The actress shared the horrible experience working as a child actor on the sets of The Royal Family.
Rivera revealed in her autobiography called Sorry, Not Sorry: Dreams, Mistakes, and Growing Up that she entered the business when she was a little girl. Even before the actress could walk her mother Yolanda Rivera booked an agent for her.
Yolanda wanted to cast Rivera in commercials and soon her wish came true. Rivera was selected for a Kmart commercial when she was seven months old baby. However, Rivera disclosed that the entertainment business was never fun for her.
She worked for money as a tot model, which she confessed wasn't fun at all. She further wrote in her autobiography that it was "work". She had to perform on camera with a hula-hoop, fake laugh, blowing bubbles, and holding hands with other tot models.
Rivera mentioned that the worst part was holding other kids' hands because they were often clammy and sweaty. In fact, some of them pick their noses right before holding her hands. Rivera appeared on television at the age of five in The Royal Family series.
The Step Up star portrayed Hillary Winston's character in 1991 while the sitcom ended within a year. The sitcom had stars such as A Thin Line Between Love and Hate late actress-singer Della Reese and Sanford and Son fame late Redd Foxx.
The 33-year-old actress wrote that Foxx was like her grandfather and she became close to him while filming the series. They became instant BFFs at that time. In fact, Foxx started to treat her as his real granddaughter.
While Rivera had a majority of good experiences filming The Royal Family, one incident became unforgettable for the actress. The actress explained it was nearly one month when the show went on-air and she was rehearsing lines with Foxx.
As the actor suddenly falls on the floor and Reese rushed towards him. Everyone was jolted as Reese started screaming. Rivera mentioned that Foxx was the first person she knew who passed away. She said his funeral is still in her memories.
Rivera's life seemed to come in full circle when years later she was hired for Glee. It was a coincidence that The Royal Family was also filmed on the same lot where Glee was filmed.