Emily Ríos was 16 years old when she landed the first lead role of her young career in the small independent film “Quinceñera.” Little did she know, “Quinceñera” would surpass everyone’s expectations and go on to win the coveted Grand Jury Prize at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival.

Since that fortunate break six years ago, Ríos has made every great opportunity she has been given count. Most recently, she has earned recurring roles on hit TV shows like “Breaking Bad,” “Men of a Certain Age,” and “Friday Night Lights.” Although TV is something she is always open to, acting in films is what she is focused on right now.

In the new comedy “Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son,” which hits theaters Feb. 18, Ríos plays Isabelle, a young graffiti artist who attends an all-girls performing arts school where Big Momma (Martin Lawrence) and his son Trent (Brandon T. Jackson) go undercover after Trent witnesses a murder.

During an interview with EXTRA, Ríos, 21, talked about her appreciation for all forms of art and admits why she doesn’t consider lowbrow comedies like “Big Mommas” her kind of humor.

EXTRA: Has the auditioning process become easier since your first experience in “Quinceñera?”

Emily Rios: (Laughs) Yeah, it has. I had to audition for the part in “Quinceñera” about four times. For this I just had to read for the producers and the director. But “Quinceñera” was one of my first auditions, so I really didn’t understand the process. Now I’m more knowledgeable about it, so that helps calm my nerves because it’s a really nerve-wracking experience.

Your character Isabelle is a talented artist. Tell me more about her.

She is the best of the best in painting. Her background is that she used to paint ...