Meet Eleny Reyes

We recently connected with Eleny Reyes and have shared our conversation below.

Eleny , thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?

I get my resilience from my mom. She came to the United States from Cuba at just 16 years old, arriving without loved ones and stepping into a life that was anything but easy. She became a mother at 16, faced challenges most people never have to imagine, and still found the strength to keep moving forward. Watching her navigate hardship with courage and determination has shaped the way I face my own problems. Whenever I feel overwhelmed, I remind myself of the loneliness and difficulty she endured and how she never stopped fighting for a better life for us.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I’m an actress, and I’ve been training since I was in high school. Over the years I’ve spent countless hours in class, on set, and working to grow in this craft, and it’s been incredibly rewarding to finally see my work really come to life. My first feature film, Por La Vida, is now being screened, and being part of that project has been such an incredible experience. The story centers on a complicated father daughter relationship where the two must learn to live and heal together under the same roof.

Even though I feel really grateful to be able to do what I love, acting still comes with its fair share of rejection. You hear “no” a lot. That part isn’t easy, but it’s taught me patience and persistence. I think a lot about my mom and everything she pushed through, and it reminds me to keep going and stay focused on why I started in the first place. I’ve always wanted to tell stories that matter and stories that make people feel something or see themselves a little differently.

That’s what really what drives me, to be able to tell meaningful stories that connect with people. I hope to keep growing, keep learning, and keep sharing work that resonates.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Three things that have helped me the most in my journey are resilience, consistent training, and vulnerability.

Resilience has meant putting my ego aside and accepting that acting isn’t linear. Some days you feel on top of the world, and other days you’re like why did I choose this? But that’s part of it. You have to let yourself fall, mess up, and even feel a little embarrassed sometimes, because that’s honestly where so much of the growth happens. Every “no” or setback has taught me something I needed to learn.

Training has also been huge for me. I really believe you’re never too good for class. There’s always more to learn, more layers to peel back, more ways to sharpen your craft. The best thing you can do is stay curious. Show up, watch other actors work, learn from teachers, and keep challenging yourself.

And then there’s vulnerability. Acting asks you to be open and real, even when it feels uncomfortable. That’s where the magic happens. When you let yourself be honest with your emotions and your instincts, that’s when people really connect with you.

My advice for someone just starting out, would be to not rush the journey. Be patient with yourself, be brave enough to be vulnerable, and trust that every experience (good or bad) is shaping you into the artist you’re becoming.

Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?

The biggest challenge I’m facing right now is putting myself out there more and really presenting myself as an actress. I’ve always struggled talking about myself and my work. It’s something that used to make me feel like an imposter. But I know it’s part of the journey, so I’m actively working on it. I think it’s about forcing myself to feel a little uncomfortable until it starts to feel natural. Whether it’s in a group of people or just when someone asks, I’m practicing really going for it and saying, “I am an actress,” and actually feeling proud when I say it. It’s all about owning your story and your work.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: elenyreyes