Thu, 06 April 2023 at 7:44 pm

Meet T-Bird Potato's Actor Alexis Sides from 'Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies' - Exclusive!

Wondering who plays Potato on Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies? Meet Alexis Sides!

The actor takes on the role of the T-Bird at Rydell High, whose real name is Pedro. He’s a Mexican immigrant and high school student navigating the struggles of English as his second language, exploring his relationship with Nancy (Tricia Fukuhara), and sharing his love of cars with his fellow T-Birds.

Keep reading to learn more about the character and the actor…

Potato is also the son of a man struggling with PTSD after coming home from war and helping to take care of his younger siblings.

If you don’t know, Rise of the Pink Ladies takes place in 1954, four years prior to the events of the first Grease movie, where before rock ‘n’ roll ruled, before the T-Birds were the coolest in the school, there were four fed-up outcasts who dare to have fun on their own terms, sparking a moral panic that will change Rydell High forever.

VIDEO: Check out the Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies trailer!

Ahead of the series premiere, we caught up with Alexis and got to know 10 Fun Facts about him. Check out what he shared with us below!

1. Cooking and baking
I’m totally passionate about it! But when it comes to whipping up meals, I’m all about recreating those traditional Mexican dishes to perfection. I immerse myself in the rich history and flavor, trying to capture the essence of the dish as best as I can. And when I’m able to serve up a plate that reminds me of my grandma’s cooking, or my mom’s specialty, it brings a smile to my face. Sharing the results with my crew? It’s the ultimate satisfaction.
2. SMILEY FACES EVERYWHERE.
I’ve gotta admit, I’m seriously into smiley faces, and I’m always looking for ways to incorporate them into my fashion style. From rocking smiley-adorned accessories to wearing clothes with bold smiley face designs, my outfits are all about spreading that happiness. They pop up all over my life – from doodles in my notebooks to a cute touch on my homemade desserts. There’s just something about those happy little grins that brightens up my day. My love for smiley faces is a constant reminder to embrace the small joys in life and, most importantly, to share that happiness with the people around me.
3. I have mole constellations on my body.
So, here’s a wild fact about me – I’ve got over 100 moles on my body! This one-of-a-kind feature has definitely made me stand out and led to some pretty intriguing chats. I’ve toyed with the idea of connecting some of them with a tattoo design, like creating a cool constellation or pattern. It’s like I’ve got my own personal galaxy right on my skin – how awesome is that?
4. From goalkeeper to spotlight keeper.
You know, before diving into the acting world, I had a completely different dream. Growing up, I was all about becoming a pro soccer player, and I was dead set on being a goalkeeper. It’s practically a stereotype for a Mexican kid to dream of soccer stardom, but hey, I guess the soccer life picked me! I felt like every kick was a nod to my national pride. Though I ended up in the acting biz, I still hold onto that passion and drive from my soccer days – and I’m grateful for all the lessons that challenging sport taught me.
5. I can make my eyes shrink.
So, I’ve got this super quirky talent where I can shrink my lower eyelid, making my eyes look totally weird. It’s always been a hit among my friends, sparking loads of laughs and some hilarious debates. Up until a few months ago, I had only met a couple of other people who could do it, too – my mom included! But lately, I’ve been bumping into more people who share this unique skill, and it’s been a total blast knowing I’m not alone in the eye-shrinking club. We swap stories, share laughs, and bond over our funky ability – it’s just too cool!
6. I used to sell water activities on the beach.
So, I had this crazy gig when I was living in Cabo San Lucas at 16 – I was a water activities salesman on the beach! Basically, I spent eight hours a day hustling tourists into buying parasailing and jet skiing trips. I mean, it was hot AF, but it was worth it for the commissions. The daily rate was a total joke at just $100 pesos, but I’d earn an extra $200 to $500 pesos a day with my sales skills. Looking back, it was a wild time – selling beach activities to strangers all day, every day. But hey, it paid the bills!
7. NO GUAC FOR ME.
I gotta keep it 100 with you – guac and/or avocado is just not my thing. I mean, I’m Mexican and all, but I’m just not about that guacamole life. And you know what? I wouldn’t be surprised if the secret guac association is out there revoking Mexican identity cards for this kind of blasphemy. But you know what I do love? Some chicharrones con salsa, baby. It’s all about personal taste, me entiendes?
8. I’m a fashion explorer.
I’m low-key obsessed with styling and fashion, like it’s always on my mind. I’m all about putting together unique outfits and rocking them with confidence. Whether it’s mixing patterns or experimenting with bold colors, I’m not afraid to take risks with my style. I love checking out fashion blogs and magazines for inspiration, and I’m always on the lookout for the latest trends. And let’s be real, there’s nothing quite like the feeling of putting together the perfect outfit and knowing you look fly as hell. When it comes to fashion, I take a lot of inspiration from artists like Bad Bunny and Harry Styles. They’re not afraid to push the boundaries and take risks with their style, which is something I admire and try to emulate in my own wardrobe. I love how they mix and match different styles and incorporate bold colors and patterns into their looks. It’s all about expressing yourself through your clothing, and these guys definitely know how to do it right.
9. I auditioned FOR YEARS before booking my first professional gig.
Okay, listen up guys – it took me around 75 auditions and over three long years to finally book my first professional acting gig. And let me tell you, I had a lot of call backs, but nothing ever seemed to stick. But you know what? Those call backs were the only thing that kept me going. They were like a glimmer of hope that I was doing something right. All that hard work and rejection led me to the Grease world, baby! Can you believe it? It felt like fate was finally on my side. Looking back, I’m grateful for every single audition that didn’t go my way, because it led me to this incredible opportunity. Being part of such an iconic franchise was a dream come true, and I’ll never forget the journey it took to get there.
10. I started acting in elementary.
Would you believe me if I told you that my acting career started in second grade? It’s true! My elementary school used to put on these crazy plays every summer as a way of thanking the parents. The first play I ever did was Peter Pan, and let me tell you, it was wild. They had like a million kids running around on stage – seriously, there were like 60 lost kids instead of just six lost boys. But hey, I loved it. I did school plays every year until 7th grade, when I took a break to focus on my soccer dreams. Fast forward a few years, and my old pal Henrry Lopez calls me up. This guy’s the one who got me into acting in the first place, back when I was just a little tyke. And what does he want? He needs me to fill in for one of his actors who dropped out of a gig – and the part? You guessed it – it was freakin’ Peter Pan. Talk about coming full circle, right?