We recently connected with Marlene Villafane and have shared our conversation below.
Marlene, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
Well first of all, thank you so much for this opportunity to be featured in Bold Journey. I deeply appreciate it. Thank you again. Well, my resilience? My resilience comes from transforming my entire inner landscape—my mindset, my beliefs, and the spiritual practice that grounds me.
I’ve become intentional with the way I speak to myself. I’m careful about what I allow into my mind: the stories I tell myself, the assumptions I buy into, the thoughts I choose to nourish.
Today, I’m optimistic. I practice positive self-talk. I choose loving, empowering thoughts. I honor myself the same way I honor life itself. That inner devotion becomes the foundation of resilience. Through every up and down, I eventually became better and better through trial and error in finding faith in myself, to mature, to be my own best friend, to hold my own hand. Yes. What we whisper to ourselves becomes the reality we live.
Every day, I affirm the good. I visualize. I chant. Yes—I chant to a Gohonzon as part of my Nichiren Buddhist practice. I’m not here to force conversion on anyone; I’m simply sharing what has deeply fortified me. This practice has healed parts of me I once believed were beyond repair. I’m deeply grateful that I came through the darkness. And honestly? I laugh a lot too. Laughter is medicine. Laugh, people, laugh! Laugh at yourself, laugh with others, laugh until you cry.
Oh it’s fabulous! It’s so liberating to let go and laugh with tears in your eyes until you split! Ha! Ha! As a comedienne, my humor is strong, and it lifts me. It releases tension. It sparks joy in the brain and body. It’s natural, accessible, and profoundly healing. It’s great to make people laugh through my comedy. They also heal and helps them get through things a whole lot better.
Like my spiritual practice, comedy has been one of my greatest teachers. It keeps me present. It keeps me resilient. It reminds me to live in the now instead of dwelling on the past or carrying old pain. Live the rest of my life like a victim?? H to the No! I’ve released so much of that weight. I’m blessed with family and friends who love me, and who I love in return. I’m grateful for those relationships—I manifested that closeness.
But I wasn’t always like this. Years ago, I was extremely fearful. I didn’t trust myself at all. I couldn’t relax and feel safe in my own skin and this also
impacted my physical health. Heart attacks, stomach pains etc. Only later did I realize that my anxiety and depression were magnified by my own negative thinking, which slowly eroded my self-esteem.
I also wasn’t at peace with my past. I wasn’t compassionate with myself. I couldn’t forgive that I was pushed around and bullied as a child and teenager. That story is too common. No one deserves that—ever. Children deserve safety, love, and nurturing. We all do. And the truth is, we must love and honor ourselves FIRST even when it SEEMS the world hasn’t. Once you change your mindset and attitude you’ll see changes around you. When you start practicing true self love the world will reflect that back to you. You do not need to huff and puff in trying to convince anyone to love you because you’ve convinced yourself of the truth that YOU are the wellspring of love. With that comes a deep forgiveness. When you do that you can RELAX! My gosh! Be calm for heaven’s sakes!
Now as a character and comedic actress, singer, writer, content creator, and teacher the arts has become another channel of resilience for me. I take the negative and alchemize it into something positive, expressive, and creative. My family supports me, believes in me—and yes, I manifested that bond too.
I struggled with severe anxiety during music school and for years afterward. My life felt like a swinging pendulum. But one night, during yet another panic attack, something shifted. I spoke to the universe. I declared that I wanted more—that I chose to get better & better, to live fully, to heal. I affirmed that I wanted a joyful, healthy, abundant, purposeful life and career as an entertainer. I chose strength. I chose inspiration. I chose to believe in myself. I came to realize that through life’s lessons, through the ups and downs it’s best to choose love and compassion NOT self pity compassion.
I have talents that I’m sharing with the world. I love working on stage. I love film work. I am passionate about performing. I enjoy the work and respect it. I love creating content, and writing. I’ve been writing several screenplays and have written shorts.
I also have a passion for teaching music/voice, acting and motivational speaking and mentoring children but I also teach and motivate adults of ALL ages. Mentoring helps them so much and it helps me also. It’s a reminder to keep myself in check. I have compassion for students who have performance anxieties because I’ve been there but we get through it. First breathe deeply. Breathe deeply. You’ll live! You’re safe! You are your own sanctuary. You are worth it! You CAN do it because YOU say so! It’s what you tell yourself in your head NOT what your ego says.
I also get inspired by everyone, family, friends etc. It could be something profoundly humorous that I hear while waiting on supermarket line or looking at a portrait in a gallery or museum. Inspiration comes in different ways.
As for the severe anxiety, I ran to Barnes & Noble and began reading Louise Hay. I read Zen Buddhist texts. I immersed myself in Eckhart Tolle. I practiced affirmations, meditation, visualization. I exercised. I created vision boards. I even took Korean yoga. Then I started practicing Nichiren Buddhism. That saved me. Then again, I chose to save myself. It’s become a new way of being in my life. Every step, every new practice, every moment of choosing myself helped piece me back together. And that is how I built my resilience—day by day, thought by thought, breath by breath.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I’m a proud New York City native, born on the Upper East Side and raised on the Upper West Side’s Bloomingdale neighborhood. My mother Nancy came from Ponce, Puerto Rico and my father Wilfredo “Freddy” came from Arecibo, Puerto Rico. They both came to NYC as teenagers. They filled our home with culture, humor, grit, and passion; not just my parents of course but the entire family. My mother first worked as a seamstress with her aunts and later with her younger sister my aunt Carmen. Mom then started working as secretary for a senior citizen center in East Harlem on East 104th st. After that, she worked as the office manager for Violence Intervention Program V.I.P. which counselled and helped battered women get back on their feet. They are instrumental in producing the Bridal Marches which happens every September. Mom became wonderfully ferocious about women’s rights. She saw battered women enter VIP for years witnessing their pain. Quite the lady. She became a lioness but she had a soft side. She worked hard. My dad worked hard too in various lines of work. He definitely had a very silly side to him and a soft heart too. He certainly loved to try to make me laugh! Ah! He always made sure I was ok. They both supported my artistic endeavors. I attended Holy Name School through 8th grade, and from the very beginning I gravitated toward performing — acting out scenes from TV shows, singing constantly, and doing celebrity character impressions long before I understood what “character work” even meant.
By the way, as for teaching, I also have the privilege of teaching music part time to students with special needs, especially those on the autism spectrum, with
SNACK (Special Needs Activities for Children/Kids). I recently started working with them. I adore this work — the connection, the joy, and the visible growth in their cognitive and expressive abilities. SNACK is an extraordinary program. They offer Music, Painting, Dance, Yoga, Swimming etc.
In addition, I work part time with Duet as a care companion for seniors. Sharing conversations, laughter, movement, and emotional connection with elders is profound and humbling; it truly enriches their quality of life — and mine.
Musical Training & Education
My formal musical training began at Harlem School of the Arts, taking voice lessons several times a week with Athena Lampropoulos — an extraordinary teacher who introduced me to classical foundations and taught me my first arias. She pushed me to trust my voice and step into its power.
I auditioned for LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts twice. The first time, I didn’t get in. The second time, with Athena’s guidance, I was accepted as a sophomore. At LaGuardia, I studied with remarkable teachers, including Anna Ext, who had the keenest ear and the honesty of a laser beam — if you sang beautifully she told you, and if you didn’t… oh, BOY! She definitely told you! NO filter!
After graduating LaGuardia, I earned both my BM and MM in Vocal Performance at the Manhattan School of Music. In the summer of 1996, my sight-singing teacher, Carol McCauley, invited me to join her daughter and nine other MSM students to represent the U.S. in a massive choral performance in Croatia and Bosnia — during the war. The destruction we witnessed was heartbreaking: homes reduced to rubble, communities fractured. Yet the warmth, generosity, and spiritual resiliency of the families who hosted us in Medjugorje moved me profoundly. Even amid devastation, there was beauty — goats roaming beside us as we walked to get basic amenities, a reminder of life’s simplicity and fragility. We even went to visit Apparition Hill.
ALSO, right after senior year of MSM I wanted to take more acting lessons. So I’m reading through Backstage and BAM!
I saw an ad for The Simon Studio. I called and spoke with the founder Roger Hendricks Simon. I came in auditioned and got in. That was 30 years ago.
Well I still study off and on with Roger. He’s been an amazing mentor. I also am his administrative assistant. He’s been instrumental in my growth as an actress because he’s NEVER been partial on a specific method. His studio has been very welcoming and beneficial to writers and directors as well who have presented new works in progress and receiving critiques through our cold readings of their original material. Also from their works developed in studio we’ve had full stage productions as well as films in which our lovely Simonistas were cast in including me. It’s an honor to have worked in various films and readings that were developed in class with our beloved writers and directors. Roger also has been performing on stage and in films quite frequently. He also works closely with his son, a very talented film maker Daniel Hendricks Simon who leads the The Simon Studio Film Actor’s Lab. I’ve also participated in the lab and grown tremendously on camera. Every aspiring actor in NYC should take his lab class. It’s a MUST!
Professional Work
Soon after graduating, I landed the international tour of Porgy & Bess as Clara, followed by the Australian tour of Show Boat, where I understudied Julie and performed the role for a week. Yes. I really love performing on stage.
Though I wasn’t the most popular kid growing up — more gawky than glamorous — performing always help me find my freedom, confidence, and belonging.
Comedy quickly revealed itself as my sweet spot. I grew up studying the greats: Lucille Ball (my beloved redhead and the queen of physical comedy), Carol Burnett, Eartha Kitt (my favorite Catwoman), Tracey Ullman, Madeline Kahn, SCTV, Jerry Lewis, Gilda Radner, and the brilliance of SNL. I also love the comedy of Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Melissa McCarthy, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler and many more. Kind of a long list here but had to mention!
I envision myself easily as a principal player on SNL and/or hosting my own variety show — and aside with features, I envision performing on the stages of Broadway playing iconic characters that leave a mark.
In between gigs I worked as a a tour guide on and off too! I have my NYC tour guiding license. I’ve worked with several tour guiding companies.
However, the experience of being a tour guide has been invaluable because given me a confidence and edge as a host, a teacher and a entertainer.
This genre of work has translated into my performances as an artist meeting all walks of life from different parts of the world.
My One-Woman Show
In 2011, I began developing my one-woman show, Marlene Goes to Hollywood. I entered the 11th Annual One Festival,
competed, and won. I performed it again in 2017, stepped away for 7 years, then returned to refine it.
It’s a journey of my past as a Latina grappling with severe anxiety, and awkwardness while growing up on the Upper West Side. It’s filled with impersonations of the stars who inspired me, family members, characters I’ve met along the way, and original songs as well as cover songs that weave the story together. It ultimately traces my discovery of my true voice, resilience, and calling as an entertainer.
This June, I brought the show back — Off-Off Broadway at the Alpha Omega Theatrical Dance Company — directed by the company’s
founder, the phenomenal Enrique Cruz de Jesús. My goal is to take it Off Broadway, then Broadway, and eventually hey turn it into a feature film.
When there’s a will, there’s always a way.
Lady Ville Media Production
In 2021, I founded my LLC, Lady Ville Media Production. During the pandemic, I began writing, developing, and filming original characters and sketches for my comedy channel on YouTube, later sharing content across IG, TikTok, LinkedIn, and more. My aunt, Carmen Martinez — a gifted author and one of my greatest supporters — helped shape some of the creative process. She’s written a few of my sketches. She is like a second mother to me. She’s the author of The Light Behind the Darkness which was published in 2016. My aunt showed very early signs of clairvoyancy at barely 3 years old and her fears and inability to defend herself with such a gift is well painted in her autobiography.
Now my cousin, Javier Luis, is a celebrated salsa artist, and I’ve had the joy of recording and performing live with him for many years. I had the pleasure of appearing in and working with him in his videos. He’s a bombastically talented Salsa singer and songwriter. He’s always recording new material. He has a great following now and rightly so. He’s also assiduous. I love that! That’s a very important element to have and to applaud. That’s something to admire. We’re actually both assiduous. I tell you, we’ve been through thick and thin together. Although Javier is my cousin still I call him and his brother Gabriel my beloved brothers always. Why not? Now as for his mom, my aunt Carmen she is also a talented song writer and written many of his lyrics for his albums. We’re very proud of each other.
My Mother, Loss, and Resilience
Well, I must speak about my late mother, Nancy Martinez, who passed from Alzheimer’s this May. With the help of our amazing family and home attendants, we cared for her lovingly through her final years. It came to the point where we had to feed her, bathe her etc. I’m so grateful that on my off time I hung in there and took care for her as well, held her hand, sang to her etc. She became my baby. Her passing reshaped my resilience and deepened my purpose and she’s at a much better place now!
In her honor, I entered the national Fab Over 40 campaign, which celebrates women over 40 years young reinventing themselves, pursuing dreams, and supporting meaningful causes. The winner receives $40,000, a feature in New Beauty magazine, and a beautiful getaway. I’m currently working my way toward the GOLD/GOAL finish line — and the campaign moves fast. Anyone wishing to support, vote, or donate visit: https://fabover40.org/2025/marlene-c65d although next week will be the semi finals. Free votes and donations daily are appreciated. The donation of votes help support the National Breast Cancer Foundation.
My objective is to donate a portion to the Alzheimer’s Foundation & Society and complete the final touches on my mother’s resting place. I will also share it with my immediate family. Also I have family in Florida and Puerto Rico. They flew over to us for my mother’s wake and memorial. Time for me to fly over and spend quality time with them which I did not get to do when they were here. I miss them dearly. I also plan to create a nest egg.
. My journey is fueled by art, faith, family, and the belief that reinvention is always possible — at any age.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
1. Looking back, the first thing I’ve learned is this: Focus on what truly matters. Be wise with your energy. Know your purpose — or commit to finding it
— and live with intention. Your mental state is everything. Protect it. Feed it. Shape it. Nourish your brain body and soul with positive thoughts.
AH! Food for thought! Yes?
Be wildly creative. Think empowering, loving thoughts so you can develop the resilience of a lion or lioness. Be your own best friend through every season of life. Your life will manifest according to the story you tell yourself — the thoughts you choose, the narrative you repeat, the vision you hold.
So be mindful. Boy! Are we powerful creators! The choice is in your loving hands!
Find a spiritual practice that brings you peace — meditation, yoga, prayer, breathwork, whatever aligns with your spirit. Remember: you are the superstar of your reality. What you think and what you speak shape what you live. So speak with compassion. Never pity yourself — uplift yourself.
So remind yourself daily that you are deserving. Be compassionate with yourself. Take care of your mind and body: walk, breathe, stretch, dance, move. Release stagnant energy. Even your eating habits will also change according to your primary way of thinking. You will naturally shift toward health and alignment.
It is our birthright to be healthy, happy, and successful. Enjoy those blessings and use them to do good. Do great things with it. Wish good on others. NEVER wish bad. Wish good. The energy that you send out comes back to you like a Boomerang. Share generously, and protect your peace. Honor boundaries.
Know that we are LIMITLESS. When your vibration rises, you set yourself free. You inspire and become inspired.
Stay open. Learn. Evolve. Be present. Don’t linger in the past — take the ups and downs; the lessons and use them to create the best version of you. Live your best life and do what you love. Manifest like a king or queen! Remember we are infinite. We’re eternal.
2. Practice your craft. Practice! Stay connected to it. Meet new people. Network. Build sincere, positive relationships. Your motivation will always come from loving yourself, loving what you do, and embracing your purpose.
And create your own work. Don’t sit around wondering why no one is writing something for you. No, no build it yourself. Write your sketches, monologues, short scenes. Film them. Play with characters. Put them on social media. Start a channel. Collaborate with family and friends. Create vehicles for your talent.
Get up and help yourself — and have fun doing it. Start with something and honey bun the ideas will come to you!
3. Spend time with yourself. Get comfortable in your own company; spending time by yourself— that’s where maturity grows. Get good with that and make time to connect deeply with family and good friends. It’s all about the quality of the moments you share.
Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?
YES! I love this question. What book? There’s not just one. There are so many. AHH1 Long list coming up but read on! Read on! As a passionate performer, I’ve read countless scripts and plays — Tennessee Williams, Shakespeare, Neil Simon, Arthur Miller, Paddy Chayefsky, and more
but the books that have shaped me the most as an artist and in my spiritual revolution go far beyond the stage.
One of the most powerful is Sanford Meisner on Acting. That book changed the way I approached performance. Meisner’s technique trains you to respond truthfully and organically by being fully present — not digging through old emotions, not forcing anything, not relying on preconceived ideas. It taught me how to listen, not just as an actor, but in everyday life.
Years ago, when I hit a breaking point where I knew I needed to transform my mindset — when I finally accepted that my thoughts were shaping my reality — I practically ran to Barnes & Noble and grabbed every book that spoke to me.
I read You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay, A New Earth, The Power of Now, and Stillness Speaks by Eckhart Tolle. I devoured The Fear Book, Making a Change for Good, and Three Keys to Freedom, and Joy by Cherie Huber, The Silva Mind Control Method by Jose Silva and The Four Agreements by Miguel Ruiz. That’s just SOME of it. There’s so much more. Those books cracked a code in me, rewired my thinking, and helped me step into my own power.
When I began practicing Nichiren Buddhism, I read even more — especially the SGI publications and the work of the late Daisaku Ikeda, who was the president of SGI and whose legacy continues to guide millions. His teachings in the Lotus Sutra and The New Human Revolution gave me discipline, clarity, and a mindset anchored in resilience. Through this practice, I learned that I can be, do, and have the great things I desire — as long as I cultivate them from within. When I chant I also chant for Koserufu which means world peace; starting from within each and everyone of us and then all around.
Another major influence was Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. That book drilled into me the importance of keeping your mind fixed on your intention. Stay faithful to it, stay focused, and the universe will align circumstances and people to help you cross the bridge toward your success.
And of course, I have to mention my aunt again, Carmen T. Martinez, who is an amazing author, lyricist and sketch writer.
Her first book, The Light Behind the Darkness (2016), recounts her real childhood experiences in Puerto Rico communicating with the spirit world. It’s definitely an autobiography. I love autobiographies too. By the way, Lady Sings the Blues? Riveting read.
And finally… I love reading things that make me laugh. Laughter is healing. On a silly yet great note, I grew up sneaking Archie Comics from a family member’s big collection which I appreciate — and yes, I still cracks me up every time!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/villafane_marlene/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marlene.villafane.2025
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marlene-villafane-46485970?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
- Twitter: https://x.com/@marleneVilla55
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KRANEKynlw
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@marlenevillafane1?_r=1&_t=ZP-91gECdr4rvj, http://www.youtube.com/@Marlenesactingandvocalstudio, https://www.imdb.com/find/?ref_=opensearch&q=Marlene+Villafane
Image Credits
Angel Guadalupe, Marlene Villafane, Donna Clarke, Anonymous
