Not to indulge in a cliché, but former Miss Panama Patricia De León is one fiery Latina. Actually, she's a series of fiery Latinas -- in movies, she's usually
the spunky senorita who doesn't take any mierda. It's a stereotype she doesn't dispute. "We're very passionate people," she says. "Very loud. We're
nice, but when you piss us off it's like, 'Don't mess around with my people.' " In the boobtastic romp American Summer, a Risky Business for the 21st century, Patricia plays a prostitute, "the one who's always fighting and complaining." In the decidedly different Mr. Sadman, an indie about a Saddam
Hussein look-alike adrift in Los Angeles, she plays a wacky Mexican neighbor. "She's really loud, and she gets in everybody's business. Every time he
comes out she's like, 'What you doing today? Why you doing like that? Why you wearing that clothes?' " The real-life Patricia is both articulate and calm, but
when we get on the topic of girls behaving badly she seems to snap into character, scolding an unspecified young star. "You're a celebrity, for God's sake," she
barks. "Get drunk if you want, but don't pass out in the street! You know there's gonna be cameras there. Why are you gonna be opening your legs when
you know you're not wearing any, any -- any chones?" That's Mexican slang for panties, she explains. It is our new favorite word, and we resolve to use it
frequently. Thank you, Patricia De León. Thanks for chones.
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