Ilia Isorelýs Paulino is a star and she knows it. The 27-year-old actress broke into the recurring role of Lila on HBO Max’s The Sex Lives of College Girls last year. And after wowing viewers with a handful of hilarious moments, she was promptly upgraded to series regular for season two, which premiered November 17.
Paulino says not much has changed for her since season one (although she’s proud of herself for remodeling her mom’s kitchen). Despite only having a few lines in each episode, the fan favorite agrees she’s made the most of her “two minutes” and cranked up her comedic skills this season. “Yes I have. I made a whole meal bitch — a seven course meal,” she jokingly tells POPSUGAR. According to Paulino, she was technically already a series regular on The Sex Lives of College Girls, but she “definitely got more playtime this season.” “When the show got canceled I thought they had to give me more scenes,” she says. “Send me in, Coach. I’ve got a few hoops.”
“It hasn’t escaped my notice that I’m the tallest girl on the show, and I love that I get to play a character who is so unapologetically in love with herself.”
Like the rest of the Sex Lives of College Girls characters, viewers have gotten to know Lila better this season, especially since she joined Bela’s comedy magazine and was promoted to general manager of the Sips cafe – which is “the most exciting part” for her Paulino Her storylines in season two were a pleasant surprise, and the actress says she’s grateful to have the opportunity to bring a character like Lila to life — with a pinch extra.
“Anytime I see a female character just being herself — the love, the sex, the fun, when she gets a little angry — it’s just so exciting to see full-fledged female characters having fun,” says Paulino. “It hasn’t escaped my notice that I’m the tallest girl on the show, and I love that I get to play a character who is so unapologetically in love with herself. Yes, I’m sure there is some level of narcissism, but I love that it can just be that way. It doesn’t have to be a plot or anything. She only exists in her body, wants what she wants and she goes after it.”
Viewers have been happy with Paulino’s performance so far, but the actress says there’s so much more to explore with her character — her sex life. “I want to see Lila fucking,” says Paulino frankly. “And I want her with someone who makes her edgy and edgy because we saw Lila, the confident bitch… I’d like to see Lila in love, or not even in love, just damn it.” She doesn’t have to be in love yet. She doesn’t know what love is. Shit, I’m 27 and I still don’t know what love is.”
Only time will tell who Lila’s future love interest will be, but Paulino already has a candidate in mind. “Swedish, 1.80 meters tall, with muscles the size of a head,” she says, “but plays the piano and reads books.”
Additionally, Paulino manifests another great idea for The Sex Lives of College Girls season 3 (if and when the series is renewed). “The little musical theater nerd in me would love an episode of a musical,” she shares. “We just have so many singers on the show and I’m like, ‘Please?’ So I would love to have a musical episode next season I think Justin [Noble] is below. We just have to convince Mindy [Kaling]. It doesn’t even have to be a musical. It can be a fantasy, like someone hitting their head and they dream. I do not know. Take me to the writing room.”
The second season of The Sex Lives of College Girls is streaming now on HBO Max.