We were lucky to catch up with Ela Rodríguez recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Ela, 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?
Growing up being the only one that looks like me was a little challenging but it became even more noticeable when I decided to pursue acting and moved to Los Angeles. Even though LA is diverse, in the film industry (specifically for actors) there’s always “a look” directors are looking for and unfortunately my look can be a little too “exotic” sometimes. Thankfully, I’ve learned to accept who I am and understand that my look works for certain roles and not for others. So far, my success comes from a very optimistic and positive way of thinking; never giving up, accepting when some doors don’t open for me, and taking everything as an opportunity to keep growing and learning. These things are very important to grow and succeed, therefore they help me to become a better version of myself both professionally and personally.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
People always ask me: “When did you realize you wanted to become an actress?” And to be honest, I never actually had that moment. I remember I always wanted to be an actress. I was always on stage performing, dancing, reciting poems, etc. For me it was more of a “Why?” rather than a “When?”. “Why do I want to do this?” And that was easy to answer: Because I wanted to make people smile and/or laugh. I’ve always liked seeing people happy, so when I was the one making people laugh and smile, it would only encourage me further to keep doing what I was doing. That is precisely the reason why comedy is so important to me; being funny is how I was making them “happy”, at least for a little bit, and I realized I loved the feeling of making someone smile. Another thing that is completely different from acting but I’m passionate about it as well is: kids and helping them. Since I was in High School I’ve been working with kids, first as a babysitter, then I became a Theater Instructor, and now I’m working as a Behavior Interventionist for kids with autism and it has been an incredible journey. Entertaining people and helping kids are my goals in life and that’s why I love acting and any job related to kids.
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?
There are always very specific and crucial things that create a great impact in everybody’s journey and for me three of those are: patience, proactivity and always being open to learning new things and adding more talent and knowledge to the tool box. These are definitely not the only qualities, skills or areas of knowledge that are required to be successful in this particular career but they have helped me to be more prepared for anything as a professional. My advice for those who are early in their journey is this: No matter how hard it seems, patience and passion are the key, and giving up is not an option. Sometimes it might be easy, sometimes it might take time but, be PATIENT. You can’t predict the future but you can work on your present, and that’s why you need to do more; work more, take more classes, do more research, learn new languages, learn new skills, etc. But most importantly, be sure that you do this because you love it, if you don’t, the process is going to be ugly and eventually you’ll want to give up. If this is what you truly want, enjoy the whole process and knock on every possible door in your way. Be proactive, don’t sit and wait for things to happen, do the work and make yourself happy, this is your dream, fight for it.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
As an artist who loves acting, modeling, writing, directing, etc., I’m always looking forward to collaborating with fellow artists. This career that I chose requires collaborating with other people, and we are all in the same boat, therefore I’m here to share my talent and skills with people that have other talents and skills that I might not have. We all want to express something and how beautiful it is to collaborate and make that a reality. Whether it’s to make people laugh, or to convey a message, or just simply to entertain, we’re all trying to make our dreams a reality and that’s why I would love to keep collaborating with artists not just here in L.A., but also all around the world. I’m always looking to collaborate with Actors, Filmmakers, Photographers, Writers, Producers and Dancers. One thing I have to say, I love commitment, dedication and passion, and I’m not one to put up with excuses. If you have these qualities we will make a great team. If you want to create something, connect with me on IG @elarodz_ and let me know what ideas or talents you have and let’s make it happen.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.elarodriguez.com
- Instagram: elarodz_
- Linkedin: Ela Rodríguez
Image Credits
Steve Escarcega
