‘Doctor Strange’ Actress Discusses Character’s Sexuality

It was actually three years ago that Xochitl Gomez first auditioned for a code-named and unknown 18-year-old character in a Marvel movie, and it wasn’t until six months later that she heard back from Marvel. A week later, Xochitl had a screen test in London on the set of the New York Sanctum (“totally not intimidating”, she joked recently) from Doctor Strange — and America Chavez came into being for Doctor Strange 2!

Now that the movie has premiered, Xochitl spoke to D23 about her character’s story. America Chavez is a queer Latina character from the Marvel comics, and so D23 also asked Gomez about the significance of National Pride Month (June) when it came to the Baby-Sitter’s Club actress’s Marvel character.

“I grew up rarely seeing girls on screen that looked like me or shared my culture,” Gomez said. “I feel like in the past Latinas and LGBTQ people were often portrayed with negative stereotypes and thankfully we’ve come a long way from what I saw when I was a little kid.”

“I’m really proud of America Chavez,” the 16-year-old continued enthusiastically, speaking about her multiverse-traversing character. “I’m just excited to see the growth with her in every aspect, whatever that may be. In the comics, she is a leader and a problem-solver and she just happens to be a lesbian, but it doesn’t have to be the main focus,” Gomez clarified.

America Chavez sports a pride flag on her jean jacket in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, as well, which many fans will find significant (even if it does bring up questions about the Multiverse). America Chavez also has two mothers in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which was another plot point that resonated with many Marvel fans who saw the Doctor Strange sequel in theaters.