Liza colón-zayas thrives on screen and stage 

  SPEAKING OF RUSHES, AFTER NEARLY THREE DECADES OF THEATER PERFORMANCES, YOU FINALLY MADE YOUR BROADWAY DEBUT. WHAT WAS THAT LIKE? It’s a combination of_ finally_ and disbelief, because

when you’re struggling so hard for so many decades, you can come to believe negative things. I don’t know if that will ever fully disappear. It’s great to get recognition, but it’s also, for

me, I’m always waiting for the other shoe to drop. But it’s great because we work so hard. WHAT DO YOU DO ON A NEW YORK CITY DAY OFF? Avoid New York City. My work is so demanding that my

favorite thing to do is just hang — whether in my house, with friends or my husband — and cook something or watch a film. I’m really almost a shut-in when I’m not working because it just

demands so much, not just physically but emotionally, and I need to cocoon. So even though I love this city, and I love that culture is right there and diversity is all around me, I’m happy

to be home.   YOU’RE MARRIED TO AN ACTOR, DAVID ZAYAS, AND YOU’VE WORKED TOGETHER IN THEATER AND ON TV’S _DEXTER_. IS THERE COMPETITION?  No, never. No, I don’t get that. I don’t understand

it. We are each other’s cheerleaders. Always have been. He was a dear friend, a best friend to me for years before we started dating. I’m so proud of him. I’m so happy for him. YOU’RE

TURNING 50 THIS YEAR. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT BIRTHDAYS? It’s not a big thing to me. I have a lot of friends who celebrate all month and every year with a vengeance. I never really paid

attention to it, but this year, it’s a biggie, and it has a little more weight to it than it ever did. I can’t read anything into what a number means because I’ve put expiration dates on

myself before and I’m like, _You know what?_ _To hell with that. _This life has been, this journey has been, so shocking and amazing and also tragic. Just roll with it. ARE YOU MAKING ANY

CHANGES AS YOU AGE TO KEEP UP YOUR ENERGY LEVEL? Girl, I’m trying. I have to maintain it. The only working out I really like to do is sit-ups. I’m trying to do that regularly. I do — I’m

sorry — like my Scotch. I just feel like there’s got to be something to live for, and I’m gonna try to balance it.