Interviews
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Recent Articles
Interview with the Talented:
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I've asked my personal friend, roommate, and colleague to sit with me and conduct an interview for my website. She graciously agreed and I think it went really well! We had a lot of laughs and some interesting conversation came out of it. Enjoy!
1.) Where are you from?
I am from Buenos Aires, Argentina. I lived there until two years ago, when I moved to New York to start my training in acting at The American Academy Of Dramatic Arts. I did their full acting programme, and I got to work with amazing people from the industry. We did open plays to the public, such as Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare, and Baltimore by Kirsten Greenidge. I graduated last year, and the ceremony was at The Majestic Theater, home of Phantom Of The Opera. It was thrilling to be standing on a Broadway stage for the first time.
2.) What are you looking forward to in your career?
Since I was a little girl I wanted to be an actor. As I grew older I got sidetracked with other things, thinking it was more of a hobby, and not giving it the value it truly had in my heart. It was just a couple years ago that I stopped making excuses, and really jumped into the pool of what I want to do with my life, which is acting. I could say that my tightrope moment is being a successful actor living in New York, or even Los Angeles. I always felt that my place in the world was somewhere else. Now that I have been living here, and having all these wonderful and exhilarating life experiences, I know I am where I belong. I would love to be able to act for a living, not having to have another job to sustain my everyday needs. I know I have to pay my dues and work hard, I am not expecting to be handed to me, but I am focused and determined.
3.) What is something you’d like to see more of in the arts? Maybe something you’d like to see change or something that has already begun to change that you’re excited about? (Ex. Equality, acting technique, training, etc
Last year I applied to audition for a staging of Evita The Musical in Florida. I never got a response, but I didn’t think much about it since I am just starting out, and it was under an Equity Showcase Code, which I am not a part of yet. Months later, I saw an article on Playbill.com that showed the casting of the musical. Not one latinx actor was in the list, not even in the ensemble. El Che Guevara was played by an ex American Idol contestant, who doesn’t even have latinx DNA running through him. It was sad to see that the production did not respect the background of the story. Yes, Argentinian’s look a lot like any other Caucasian person, it happens to me all the time, no one guesses or even believes when I tell them I am Latinx.: but still, make the effort to cast latinx actors to be part of a latinx show.
I do see a big change in this matter, but there is still a lot of prejudice and type casting. Every time I apply for a Latinx rol, I barely get called, and if I do, they say they love the work I present, but can’t hire me because “I don’t look the part”. I would love for the stereotype to truly stop, and hire people for their work, not only for how they look. It is something tricky to ask, because characters do have physical qualities and characteristics, but sometimes they don’t, and that’s when I get upset and frustrated, they just want a type.
For this to change, it will take one brave person to break the mold and say “let’s show another side of what is supposed to be”.
4.) Tell me a funny joke.
-Knock, knock.
-Who’s there?
-Barbara.
-Barbara who?
-How dare you forget who I am!
5.) What’s something, outside of acting, that makes you happy?
Going to the movies or the theatre is something that I love, and makes me happy. Besides that, I just love going to diners and try new food with my boyfriend. And Disney World, amusement parks make me really happy.
6.) Any projects coming up?
I am currently working on my own play, “This is me”. I have applied to present it at The Fringe Festival, and hopefully it gets selected. I am also planning on sending it to other festivals to have more options.
7.) What got you into writing?
To be honest, I was tired of going to a lot of auditions and not booking jobs. I know that that is something bound to happen, but I also felt I was losing track of what it feels like to step into someone else's shoes, and enjoy working on a character. I decided it was time to stop waiting until I was chosen, and start working on my own material, so that way, I could do both.
I’ve always loved writing, and these past few months I have been writing experiences I’ve been having in the city; and realized I could put them together in a play. I am currently on my fifth draft, but each time I work on it, new things pop ups, it’s a wonderful feeling to watch it grow.
8.) When was the first time that you can remember being truly inspired?
The first time i was inspired to become an actor I was 5 years old. I was watching Jurassic Park, and it was the scene that Dr. Grant and Dr. Ellie see the Brachiosaurus for the first time and start crying. I was amazed that these people were blessed to be in the presence of this beautiful creature. I thought to myself, “I want to be there, I want to be part of a movie like this”.
9.) What’s a fun fact about you that most people may not know about you?
I am a animal and baby whisperer. They all love me.
10.) Tell me one of the most embarrassing moments of your life.
Besides acting, I love being part of the creative process. Whenever I can, I work as a Production Assistant. I was a PA for a musical, last year, called Welcome To America. We had several Central Park scenes that consisted of just a park bench. My coworker and I had to bring in the bench each time, in the dark, and it was a really heavy iron bench. This one time, it was the last park scene, and I was bringing in the bench walking backwards. All of the sudden I see my coworkers eyes and mouth get huge, and heard his voice in slow motion say “Beeeeeeee caaaaareeefuuuuuuuuuul”. While that happened, I fell on my butt, and stabbed my leg with one of the sides of the bench. Everyone in the audience went “UUUUUHHH!”. I got up as soon as possible with my arms up in the air and yelled “I’M OK!”. Everyone clapped. My leg was bruised and cut terribly, but it didn’t matter to me, because the embarrassment was way worse.
11.) In a world where being a working actor is a constant and difficult journey, what keeps you motivated?
Every time I go to an audition, that I work on my play, see a movie, those are the moments that remind me that I am doing what I love, and no matter how hard it is, I remember how lucky I am that I am being able to do it. The feeling you get when you are casted to be part of something, no matter how big or small the role, it is the most wonderful feeling in the world. Being able to step into someone else's shoes, and becoming that person, even if it is for 1 minute of a monologue in an audition, it is what I choose to do. I will keep fighting to make this my daily life.
1.) Where are you from?
I am from Buenos Aires, Argentina. I lived there until two years ago, when I moved to New York to start my training in acting at The American Academy Of Dramatic Arts. I did their full acting programme, and I got to work with amazing people from the industry. We did open plays to the public, such as Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare, and Baltimore by Kirsten Greenidge. I graduated last year, and the ceremony was at The Majestic Theater, home of Phantom Of The Opera. It was thrilling to be standing on a Broadway stage for the first time.
2.) What are you looking forward to in your career?
Since I was a little girl I wanted to be an actor. As I grew older I got sidetracked with other things, thinking it was more of a hobby, and not giving it the value it truly had in my heart. It was just a couple years ago that I stopped making excuses, and really jumped into the pool of what I want to do with my life, which is acting. I could say that my tightrope moment is being a successful actor living in New York, or even Los Angeles. I always felt that my place in the world was somewhere else. Now that I have been living here, and having all these wonderful and exhilarating life experiences, I know I am where I belong. I would love to be able to act for a living, not having to have another job to sustain my everyday needs. I know I have to pay my dues and work hard, I am not expecting to be handed to me, but I am focused and determined.
3.) What is something you’d like to see more of in the arts? Maybe something you’d like to see change or something that has already begun to change that you’re excited about? (Ex. Equality, acting technique, training, etc
Last year I applied to audition for a staging of Evita The Musical in Florida. I never got a response, but I didn’t think much about it since I am just starting out, and it was under an Equity Showcase Code, which I am not a part of yet. Months later, I saw an article on Playbill.com that showed the casting of the musical. Not one latinx actor was in the list, not even in the ensemble. El Che Guevara was played by an ex American Idol contestant, who doesn’t even have latinx DNA running through him. It was sad to see that the production did not respect the background of the story. Yes, Argentinian’s look a lot like any other Caucasian person, it happens to me all the time, no one guesses or even believes when I tell them I am Latinx.: but still, make the effort to cast latinx actors to be part of a latinx show.
I do see a big change in this matter, but there is still a lot of prejudice and type casting. Every time I apply for a Latinx rol, I barely get called, and if I do, they say they love the work I present, but can’t hire me because “I don’t look the part”. I would love for the stereotype to truly stop, and hire people for their work, not only for how they look. It is something tricky to ask, because characters do have physical qualities and characteristics, but sometimes they don’t, and that’s when I get upset and frustrated, they just want a type.
For this to change, it will take one brave person to break the mold and say “let’s show another side of what is supposed to be”.
4.) Tell me a funny joke.
-Knock, knock.
-Who’s there?
-Barbara.
-Barbara who?
-How dare you forget who I am!
5.) What’s something, outside of acting, that makes you happy?
Going to the movies or the theatre is something that I love, and makes me happy. Besides that, I just love going to diners and try new food with my boyfriend. And Disney World, amusement parks make me really happy.
6.) Any projects coming up?
I am currently working on my own play, “This is me”. I have applied to present it at The Fringe Festival, and hopefully it gets selected. I am also planning on sending it to other festivals to have more options.
7.) What got you into writing?
To be honest, I was tired of going to a lot of auditions and not booking jobs. I know that that is something bound to happen, but I also felt I was losing track of what it feels like to step into someone else's shoes, and enjoy working on a character. I decided it was time to stop waiting until I was chosen, and start working on my own material, so that way, I could do both.
I’ve always loved writing, and these past few months I have been writing experiences I’ve been having in the city; and realized I could put them together in a play. I am currently on my fifth draft, but each time I work on it, new things pop ups, it’s a wonderful feeling to watch it grow.
8.) When was the first time that you can remember being truly inspired?
The first time i was inspired to become an actor I was 5 years old. I was watching Jurassic Park, and it was the scene that Dr. Grant and Dr. Ellie see the Brachiosaurus for the first time and start crying. I was amazed that these people were blessed to be in the presence of this beautiful creature. I thought to myself, “I want to be there, I want to be part of a movie like this”.
9.) What’s a fun fact about you that most people may not know about you?
I am a animal and baby whisperer. They all love me.
10.) Tell me one of the most embarrassing moments of your life.
Besides acting, I love being part of the creative process. Whenever I can, I work as a Production Assistant. I was a PA for a musical, last year, called Welcome To America. We had several Central Park scenes that consisted of just a park bench. My coworker and I had to bring in the bench each time, in the dark, and it was a really heavy iron bench. This one time, it was the last park scene, and I was bringing in the bench walking backwards. All of the sudden I see my coworkers eyes and mouth get huge, and heard his voice in slow motion say “Beeeeeeee caaaaareeefuuuuuuuuuul”. While that happened, I fell on my butt, and stabbed my leg with one of the sides of the bench. Everyone in the audience went “UUUUUHHH!”. I got up as soon as possible with my arms up in the air and yelled “I’M OK!”. Everyone clapped. My leg was bruised and cut terribly, but it didn’t matter to me, because the embarrassment was way worse.
11.) In a world where being a working actor is a constant and difficult journey, what keeps you motivated?
Every time I go to an audition, that I work on my play, see a movie, those are the moments that remind me that I am doing what I love, and no matter how hard it is, I remember how lucky I am that I am being able to do it. The feeling you get when you are casted to be part of something, no matter how big or small the role, it is the most wonderful feeling in the world. Being able to step into someone else's shoes, and becoming that person, even if it is for 1 minute of a monologue in an audition, it is what I choose to do. I will keep fighting to make this my daily life.
