We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Paula Sofia Rivero. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Paula Sofia below.
Hi Paula Sofia, so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?
It’s been a journey and a huge learning curve to own that part of me. At the beginning, when I started auditioning and attending dance calls, I scanned the room and became aware and worried that most of the girls were blond, or there were few girls with curls or a similar height/body type. But call after call, I learned that that was my superpower: that no one looked like me, and it was alright. So, I started to rely on my dance, my smile. I enjoyed doing my curl routine and owning who I am in the room, just as I do in my daily life.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Hi! I’m Paula Sofia Rivero, a Mexican performer based in NYC. I graduated from The Neighborhood Playhouse, and since then, I’ve been working in theater, film, and teaching. My background is dancing, but I love to perform in general. It’s a process that excites me, from learning or creating new material, the rehearsal process, putting it all together with the crew, costume, lights, etc, and then getting to perform from dress rehearsal to closing night, there’s nothing like it.
I’ve also been on set for some feature films and short films, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for me!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
RESILIENCE. As an immigrant and artist, you have to be open to changes and learn to navigate through them because there are a lot of things that you can not control.
CURIOSITY. I believe that curiosity leads to freedom and creativity. I love to travel, to learn, to ask. Just like a 5-year-old that is discovering the world and wants to know everything, and they believe that they can do anything because for them, there are no limitations, nor are they afraid of failing, because they don’t even know what that is.
JOY. You have to find joy in the smallest things because the industry is harsh. We normalize rejection, and all those “no’s” we get, and sometimes it can be discouraging. So just pausing and finding joy
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
I really like to move and dance, it’s my best medicine, but because it is also my job, sometimes it’s hard to disconnect one from the other, so I meditate or listen to a podcast. Doing some Reiki or Access Bars to align everything and release tension/thoughts has also helped a lot.
Going for a walk, hug trees….yes, hug a tree! (or a human, people don’t hug enough). And definitely putting all screens away. I can’t delete social media because it’s a way to find auditions or how casting finds you, but taking a break from that is also important
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @pollyrivero_
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