An Inspired Chat with Tessie Herrasti of Manhattan

Tessie Herrasti shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Hi Tessie, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What battle are you avoiding?
I’ve spent most of my life avoiding grief. Whenever I’ve lost someone I love, my instinct has been to bury the pain deep inside and keep moving. I’ve always believed that if I ever stopped long enough to feel it, I’d get stuck there, completely paralyzed, unable to climb back out.

But lately, I’ve been allowing myself to feel the waves of mourning as they come. It’s been uncomfortable, raw, and unexpectedly transformative. Even so, I still struggle to let myself break open completely. I don’t let myself cry until there’s nothing left. It still feels as if the well inside me is bottomless, as if if I let myself fall into it fully, I might drown.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Tessie Herrasti, an actress, writer, and expressive arts facilitator who believes deeply in the power of story to heal, transform, and connect us. My work lives at the intersection of creativity, emotional wellness, and world-building. I’m constantly swinging in different creative outlets. Whether it’s developing my fantasy series Jewels of Light and the soul fulfilling projects attached to it, performing on stage or screen, co-hosting a podcast, or guiding arts-based workshops rooted in mental well-being, nature, and embodiment, my mission remains the same: to connect humanity through the power of storytelling.

I’ve spent nearly two decades performing and creating across Mexico City, Paris, Los Angeles, Sydney, and New York. My multicultural background, love for languages, and training in expressive arts and mental wellness come together to shape a creative practice that is both imaginative and deeply human.

I’m still developing Jewels of Light—a fantasy universe I’ve been crafting for the past eight years—as well as continuing to build programs that merge art, storytelling, and emotional literacy. I’m passionate about using narrative and creativity as tools for healing and empowerment, and I’m excited to keep expanding the ways I can bring these worlds and teachings to life. I also have several ambitious projects brewing, each asking to be brought to life in its own time, and that’s an exciting place to be. I believe that art is not just something we make but something that makes us. And I’m here to keep exploring that magic, one project at a time.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
My marriage has come to an end, and the relationship, at least in the form it existed, needed to be released. My ex-husband is an extraordinary man, and I will always be grateful for him, for what we shared, and for everything we taught each other. Our partnership helped us grow, expand, and become more aligned with who we truly are, and I’m grateful that we can still call each other friends.

Letting go of our bond and allowing it to transform into something different hasn’t been easy, but with time, wisdom, and acceptance, I’ve come to understand that this shift is ultimately what’s best for both of us. It’s a bittersweet transition, filled with gratitude, tenderness, compassion, mourning and a deep respect for the journey we walked together.

What fear has held you back the most in your life?
The opinion of others.

That’s the fear that lingers for me. It terrifies me how people with harmful intentions, or even just careless words can wound, distort, or destroy. I’ve always been wary of social media for that reason: it holds the power to connect, yes, but also the power to harm in ways many people never stop to consider. Too often, there’s no conscious reflection on how a single comment can affect someone’s life.

I’m working on releasing that fear through radical acceptance, of who I am, of my humanity, of my mistakes, of my growth. I’m learning not to let the fear paralyze me. Still, it shows up sometimes.

What truly helps is speaking with the people I love and trust. Their care, presence and support reminds me of who I am beneath the noise. I never want to use words as weapons; I’ve felt the sting of hurtful comments, and I’m committed to choosing compassion instead.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Whom do you admire for their character, not their power?
Kate Winslet. I admire her deeply, not for her fame or power, but for the kind of human being she chooses to be. There’s a raw, grounded honesty in the way she moves through the world that I find profoundly inspiring. She approaches her work with such integrity and reverence, honoring the craft without getting swept up in the noise, vanity, or chaos that often surrounds this industry.

I love how she embraces her body, her age, and her evolution as a woman without apology. There’s something incredibly liberating about seeing someone in her position refuse to shrink or conform. She embodies creativity with authenticity, and that feels rare and precious today.

As an actor and as a human, I aspire to that level of self-acceptance and artistic truth, to show up fully, do my best with the tools I have, and stay rooted in my humanity rather than the external pressures around me.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
The very first thing I would stop doing is caring about what people think of me. That fear has held me back in ways I’m only now beginning to understand, and with the clock suddenly louder, I’d let it go without hesitation.

I’d focus on building a family and welcoming children into my life, a dream I hold close to my heart. I would pour my time into the people I love, create memories, travel the world with them, and savor every moment we have together without controlling the experiences and with a total sense of surrender.

I would also stop taking jobs that drain my spirit or exist solely for survival. Instead, I’d devote myself entirely to the work that brings me joy, meaning, and purpose. I’d live as fully, wildly, and authentically as possible every single day.

In those ten years, I’d hope to live an extraordinary life through presence, love, and the courage to follow what truly lights me up.

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