We recently connected with Andre Melgacio and have shared our conversation below.
Andre, thank you so much for making time for us today. We can’t wait to dive into your story and the lessons you’ve learned along the way, but maybe we can start with something foundational to your success. How have you gone about developing your ability to communicate effectively?
I was very shy when I was a kid and started doing theatre to help me with that. It really helped me understand how to connect with other people, to not be afraid to look into other people’s eyes and express myself. That experience awoke in me a dream to be an actor.
But it was only when I was already an adult that I took classes to pursue acting as a career. By then, I discovered I needed to improve the way my body was expressing itself, my pronunciation to speak louder and clearer, and gain control over my nervousness and anxiety before entering the stage. So I found tools and techniques to help me manage and overcome that. I mastered and enjoyed these skills so much that I created a workshop to help people who need to communicate in public but don’t know how to control their nervousness, how to speak with their bodies, how to use the whole potential of their voice, using famous acting techniques from Stanislavski, Strasberg, and Meisner. It’s truly rewarding to pass on the very techniques that not only built my career but also can help anyone to conquer the ability to communicate effectively.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
My professional acting career began in Brazil in 2018, where I had opportunities to work in short films, plays, commercials, and even a soap opera. Moving to Atlanta in 2022 opened a new chapter, presenting the challenge of adapting to a new industry and language, an opportunity I embraced to continue my career. The entire journey has been incredibly rewarding. I’ve been fortunate to secure roles in a variety of productions, including films and TV series, and I currently play a lead character in the show ‘The Dirty A,’ streaming on Peacock and Tubi. I genuinely love the challenge of immersing myself in different worlds and characters. For me, acting is about capturing the essence of a person, understanding their motivations, and sharing their story with authenticity. I’m passionate about storytelling, and I’m always eager to learn and grow as an actor.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
My journey has taught me that an actor must know about three things: the craft, the industry, and the self.
The first and most important area is mastering the tools and techniques of acting. That includes technical study in acting classes to understand how to give life to a character, but it also means being curious and observant of the world. An actor needs to be a constant student of human nature, observing how people and characters navigate life in all its complexity. As one of my teachers used to say, ‘An actor is always learning.’ And, since this work requires profound dedication, only pursue it if you genuinely love the craft.
The second area is learning how the industry works. You need to know the practical steps: how to get representation, what’s required for a professional résumé and headshot, and how to approach the audition process. Thankfully, a lot of information is available online, but be smart about it. Look for trustworthy sources and, most importantly, talk to actors who are actively working. They can give you the real-world perspective you need. When I moved to the U.S., I had to adapt quickly to a completely new market structure, and that required research and networking. You have to understand the specific rules of the game wherever you plan to play.
Finally, while you’re polishing your skills and learning the industry, you must know who you are as an actor. This is about understanding who you want to be and what is your ‘type’ or profile in the market: what roles you are likely to be cast as, based on your look, voice, and acting style. Knowing your profile doesn’t limit you—it empowers you. You get to choose your own path, to achieve your goals, but a deep understanding of your strengths and challenges better prepares you to face and overcome them. And if you want to make any changes, you will know what to do.
Always keep going. Keep studying, keep track of market changes, and keep practicing, especially when opportunities are slow. I firmly believe in the maxim, ‘Work begets work.’
Do you think it’s better to go all in on our strengths or to try to be more well-rounded by investing effort on improving areas you aren’t as strong in?
I would say we should go all in on our strengths, but only after you’ve shored up your weaknesses so they don’t dim your light. You have to figure out your unique quality or skill that makes you stand out, and spend most of your time making that shine. However, you can’t just ignore your weak spots. The goal isn’t to become well-rounded, but to become grounded. You have to invest enough effort in your weaker areas to make sure they don’t sabotage your strengths.
My anxiety sometimes shows up by making me rush a moment, speak too quickly, or look nervous when the character shouldn’t be. To manage this, I work on pacing and breathing exercises to control that tendency, creating a secure foundation that lets my strengths truly flourish.
You can’t be excellent at everything, but you can make sure the things you’re not excellent at won’t prevent your best work from shining and guiding your path to success.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andremelgacio
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@andremelgacio
Image Credits
Andre Melgacio Headshot – @q11photography
The Dirty A – Screenshot – Tubi
The Dirty A – BTS – personal file
Mafia_BTS_1 – @kynderbonillaphoto
Mafia_BTS_2 – @kynderbonillaphoto
Tim Shoot – @elihu_vfx
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