Please introduce yourself. What do you do? Why? What do you want people to know about you? This is THE perfect opportunity to highlight reel your narrative and shout it from the rooftops. I hope you’re not afraid of heights!
My name is Julia and I’m an actress originally from Spain but now based in New York City, where I have been living for 3 years. In 2017, despite having a good job in my hometown and being in a very safe place with my life, I decided to move to London to pursue my acting dreams (and also to live as many adventures as possible, since I love traveling!). While I was living in London, the greatest opportunity of my life came in the form of an audition for an important acting school in New York, the Stella Adler Studio of Acting. I auditioned and I got in, and the rest is history as they say! I moved to New York and I struggled a lot at the beginning: I was on my own, I didn’t know anybody, I ran out of money and I had to be very strategic to find different ways to survive in the city. It was very hard, but I did it and I feel very grateful because everything ended up well.
What qualities make you different and unique from everyone else in the industry?
If I had to choose two qualities that I think best describe me… those would definitely be passion and resilience. I moved first from Spain to London completely on my own and then from London to New York, again completely alone, and it was very scary. However, I did it and I would do that again, despite all the harships and obstacles I found on my way, because I feel a very strong passion and love for my dreams. I strongly believe that you have to try to do what you love in life, even if you don’t get it, but sometimes I think the answer must be in the attempt. I have also been told that my stories and my commitment to my dreams are very inspiring, and inspiring people is something that brings a lot of joy in my life, so if I can inspire even just one person it will all be worth it.
Describe THAT moment when you realized you’re doing what you were born to do. Paint a vivid picture of the experience so readers can take the journey with you.
I think I just knew that I’m doing what I was born to do since forever. I don’t remember any specific time in which I realized ‘oh, I wanna be an actress’, but I can say music has always been a very important part of that decision. Ever since I was a little girl, I have always been very connected to music. My mom is half deaf, and I have always felt that I had the moral obligation or the necessity to feel music for her, and I have always felt very priviledged to be able to feel music the way I do. Music makes me feel very connected to the characters I play and I always use it to work on my plays and my acting projects. I also sing and dance and I think this fact also made me realize at some point that I wanted to be a performer. It’s just been in my blood my whole life, I feel like I was already a dancer, singer and actress right at the moment of birth hahaha it just feels very natural to me, it’s my natural state, it makes me happy and it’s one of the things that makes my life meaningful, interesting and colorful.
What’s been the biggest challenge you’ve had to go through and how did you grow through it?
My biggest challenge so far has definitely been moving to the United States, completely alone. When I moved to New York for the first time, it was very sudden and unexpected, so I had the means to cover the flight but not the accommodation. I had to work my way into finding free accommodation in one of the most expensive cities in the world (and I did it!) and I had to be as resolutive as I could. When you want something, you go for it no matter what, and that’s what I did. The second time I moved to New York, one year later, I didn’t know anyone and finding both accommodation and a way to support myself was a total nightmare. It was hard, but what matters is that I did it and I feel very proud of this personal achievement! And above all I feel a lot of gratitude because I learned a lot about that experience and now I feel stronger than ever before!
Who are the TOP 3 people you’d want to meet that could elevate your career or business? Why these specific individuals?
Lin-Manuel Miranda, because he’s simply a legend, an inspiration, an creator, and he has inspired me a lot with his work.
Alejandro Amenábar, because he’s a terrific Spanish director and he can tell stories that are able to move audiences to their core.
Christy Altomare, she was the first Anastasia I saw on stage and it’s always been a dream role of mine. She inspired me a lot and still does!
Drop your social media links.
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/julita.navarro/
FACEBOOK: Julia Navarro