Disney's Encanto serves as the acting debut for reggaeton singer Adassa, while 'We Don't Talk About Bruno' has become her biggest hit song by far.
But she almost didn't get to appear in the film after being cast, as she had contracted COVID and was "nearly dying" due to the effects of it. Not only did she have to fight the virus, but recover within a short space of time.
Speaking to Variety, the Dolores Madrigal actress said: "I told doctors I wanted to go home and die with my kids. So I came home and wrote my will and I held my kids as best I could."
Adassa shares seven children with husband Gabriel Candiani, and he told her that she needed to turn the role down due to her COVID diagnosis.
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But she wasn't having it, explaining: "I said, 'I'm taking this. You can call them back and tell [them] I'm not taking it only if I'm dead.'
"It was like a miracle. It was like I was training like Rocky for a fight. Every day it was like, 'I'm going to walk from the bedroom to the kitchen.'
"Then it was, 'I'm going to walk from the bedroom to the kitchen to the living room.' It was baby steps until I was in the studio recording. I had a great recovery."
Adassa also said that no-one involved in the film knew just how big it would become, especially when it came to 'We Don't Talk About Bruno'. She does understand why 'Dos Oruguitas' was submitted for Oscar consideration instead, however, calling it the "heart and soul of the film".
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Still, she'd jump at the chance to perform the song at the Oscars, exclaiming: "Hand me the mic. I'm ready for the stage!"
Encanto is streaming on Disney+ and is also available to buy on DVD, Blu-ray and digital download.
