Kike Dionis shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Kike, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
I am really proud of always trying to be and become the best version of myself; mentally, physicaly and emotionally. And that means building it up from the inside out.
Nowadays, with all the distractions we have, like social media, TV, internet, etc., it is too easy to just keep on going automatically. You wake up, you go to work, you come back home, you have dinner and you go to sleep, no questions asked. So I honestly think there is a real need of self-reflection, and I think it is good to examine your own beliefs, decisions and actions.
I always try to do that kind of inner work, asking myself certain questions that might be uncomfortable to answer but I think answering them helps me evolve.
That kind of spiritual work keeps my mind at ease in a world where conflict is really common. People may not see it, but the work is being done every day.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hello everyone.
My name is Kike Dionis. I am an actor, originally from Spain and I am currently based in Mexico City.
More than 10 years ago, I finished a Law degree, and I don’t know why, but I couldn’t picture myself dedicating my whole life to Law. There was something about acting that I wanted to try.
Since I was little, I loved movies and I loved doing scenes from different movies in front of my parents and relatives, so I guess, there was always something inside me that wanted to go into that direction.
After studying a 3 year theater course in Madrid, I was lucky enough to go t0 Los Angeles, where I got into a One year acting for film course at the New York Film Academy. I was in LA for two years, and when I came back, I can honestly say that thanks to that time there I believed I could become a full time actor.
I went back to Madrid and I spent there 3 years looking for opportunities, not an easy job. There were some commercial auditions every other week, but I couldn’t find a theatrical agent, which was always the objective.
I did many student short films and low budget projects, as well as theater plays (I really think every starting actor shouldn’t be ashamed of trying all of these out. Of course we all want our lead role, but before getting it, this is what gives you experience).
At some point I thought to myself that my career needed a change in order to grow and to evolve, so I thought about moving out to Mexico. A good friend of mine had been living there for 4 years and he encouraged me to go so I could try it out, and after three years living there, I can say it was the best move I could ever have done.
Of course I still have a long path to walk, but at this moment I have reached a situation that some years ago I could only dream of, so I think it’s important to congatulate ourselves when we look back and we see everything we have done so far.
Best advice I ever got…”Pat yourself in the back, because no one else will do it.”
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a child, as a teenager and even in my early 20’s, I believed that I shouldn’t show my emotions or work on them…I can go even further, I thought that wasn’t even necessary. But at the same time, I thought there was something wrong with me…I had a hard time talking about myself, expressing myself and my emotions…I was scared of doing it.
When I was in LA I took therapy sessions for the first time. One of the best decisions I have ever made. Not only I started to express myself. I started to understand a lot of things about myself and I was able to put them into words. I discovered I am a really sensitive person and I had a really deep inner wolrld.
When I was a kid there was such a misunderstanding about emotions that I only hope for future generations that this change. As a human being, there is a need of expressing ourselves, being listened to and listen to others that helps you grow as a person. Empathy is a powerful tool if used well. At the same time, it is a complicated tool if it’s not well understood, but I encourage young men (also women, but I think they do this work easier than men) to express themselves and not be afraid of showing who they are.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
If I could say something to my younger self, I would say to be confident in any decisions I would have to make. I would tell me that my intuition is a great power thar I have and always to trust it.
I would say that confidence is key in this life, that believing in oneself is necessary.
I would also encourage “myself” to seize the moments with my family, because family will always be there for us.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What do you believe is true but cannot prove?
I truly believe that everything is within us.
Happiness is within us, only us have the key to happiness, to peace with ourselves, to be kind…I believe that everything needs to be done from the inside out.
The changes in your life need to be done on the inside first, and then that will be shown on the outside.
Anything and everything we show on the outside it’s a mere reflection of what we have on the inside. So whatever you want to change in your life, needs to be done and believed inside you first.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What are you doing today that won’t pay off for 7–10 years?
I think all the inner work I do, all the emotional processes that I have been doing for the past years, this will pay off in the next few years.
And I think that will encounter with my best years as an actor, where I still feel young and I think I will have had many experiences within me that I will be able to rely on them.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @kike_dionis
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@kikedionis?si=5meGJdQbddERC6aD
Image Credits
Dan Zapata
Luis Villoslada
Guillermo Dionis
Pedro Silvente Belando
Carlos Bernal Herrero
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
