Today we’d like to introduce you to Monica Perez.
Hi Monica, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
TLDR: I’m the first person in my family to go to college, and I dropped out to have an acting career.
This question always makes me freeze: trying to pinpoint where to start, how detailed I wanna get, would they be interested in the director’s cut version. But, as with all things in life, you just gotta start, so here it goes:
I knew I wanted to be in the spotlight as an artist since I was little, which is weird considering I was (and still am) super shy and hate talking about myself. I remember, in elementary school, we had a career dress-up day and since I didn’t know how to dress up as an actor, I just wore a super cute outfit to school, carried a microphone, and said I was a singer. There wasn’t much offered in my elementary school in terms of creative arts, so I took choir and played the violin to fill my artistic needs.
Fast forward to 6th grade, and I starred in my first play. I guess this is where you would say I officially got the acting bug. From then until senior year, I took every drama class, starred in every play I could, and got involved in the inaugural film club. I grew a lot as an artist over these years and would love to add that my high school Most Likely To was to win an Academy Award.
After graduation, I went to Pepperdine to study Sports Med/Pre-Med. Besides acting, I was huge into science and looked into a career in medicine. I chose Pepperdine because: 1. I always loved California, 2. I would be close to my brother who was stationed in San Diego at the time, and 3. If I was going to have an acting career, might as well be near the heart of the biz with college as an excuse. While I did love my time at Pepperdine, there were times that really challenged me. I realized that to have a career in medicine, I would always have to be stressed with studying and taking on more loans for continued education. During a Praise and Worship session, I felt God’s calling in my heart that I was to pursue my passion, so I left back home after my sophomore year to really give this thing a shot.
When I came back, I landed my first professional role, playing a mean girl gone good in A Million Hits. That was a super fun first-time experience filming during my birth month in Austin. My friends even landed a special appearance in the film when they came down to visit me. The director needed extras for a party scene, and my friends were excited to be involved. After that, I started working in the service industry, where I grew a thick skin needed for this business and enrolled in KD Conservatory. I landed an agent right after graduation and continued to book myself gigs. I did various plays, booked another indie, and continued to be in acting classes. While I was working towards a career, I wasn’t getting much of a collaboration with my agent at the time. I worked hard to make some sort of working relationship but was eventually lost in the shuffle. My first agent was a good learning opportunity for this business, but it was time to move on.
I eventually changed agencies and have been working with my current agents since. Under them, I have booked numerous industrials and commercials, including my first SAG National commercial. My agents are fantastic, hardworking ladies that I’m super grateful to have on my team. I’m currently repped in the South-Central market by them but looking to expand across the USA.
While at KD, I remember our first-year drama teacher telling us that, of everyone enrolled in the class, only a small few would still be working in this career in just a few years. I’m proud to say that I am one of those very few. I am not where I want to be yet, but the journey in this career is the real prize. Looking back, I see how much growth I’ve had and how unexpected this business can be. I’m excited to see where my career takes me next along with the new people I will meet.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I think the biggest challenge this career has brought me has been my ability to maintain a healthy mindset. While I’ve had growth during this career, I’ve also battled with the feeling of enoughness. You do the work and bring the best You towards a role, only for your work to be sent into the void and never hearing any feedback. And it can be worse in the commercial world where it all comes down to how you look and fit in with the brand.
There are countless times where I’ve thought, “what’s the point, why am I doing this, is this really meant for me?” Countless times where I’ve wanted to quit, where I’ve taken class after class and received coaching for auditions only to not book anything. You start to wonder if you’re good enough, talented enough, pretty enough to be in this biz.
Show business is a lot of No’s. But the best defenses to hearing the No’s are having a great support group and not comparing your journey to anyone else’s. Everybody knows how hard this business is; it’s important to find those who can support you and vice versa. Celebrate their wins, and they will celebrate yours. Know that as long as you put in the work, what’s meant for you will not pass you by. Not booking a job means it just wasn’t for you, but the right one will come.
I’m so proud of the people I have in my corner and the fact that I’m in their corners as well. I am blessed to have my family support me in this career. I know not every parent wants to hear that their kid is dropping out of college, especially when they were studying to go into medicine to pursue an acting career. But my parents trust God’s calling for me and believe in me, even when I don’t believe in myself.
I also look at the work I’m putting in now as an investment that will pay off when bigger gigs come my way. I’m happy I didn’t have my big break early; I wouldn’t know how to navigate the success and would have probably fizzled out by now.
There are an endless amounts of reasons why one hears No in this business. It could be as simple as not having the right look or even nepotism, one just has to have a life that doesn’t revolve solely on this. It took me two years with my current agent before I finally booked anything with them. Be a well-rounded person, collaborate with others, and keep going.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
To reintroduce myself, I’m Monica Perez, an actor. I’m better at dramas but work on my comedy muscle when any comes my way. I’ve worked with various theaters in the DFW area with the most notable being Teatro Dallas and MainStage Irving. As for independent films, I’ve worked on A Million Hits, Mom, and Missing Persons to name a few. And, as I’ve said previously, I’ve also worked on several industrials for corporations and some commercials.
One of the best roles I’ve done was playing Conchita in Anna in the Tropics. That character was so fun to explore: her history, her pain of being a neglected wife, her temptations, and justifications of being with someone new. One of the biggest challenges of that role was exploring her sexuality. It rarely happens, but when it does, I’ve always had a mental block when any work requires anything sexual. I get too self-conscious thinking of my parents and friends of family seeing me in those situations. But living fully as the character helped push me past those blocks. I also would like to give major props to the intimacy coordinator for his approach in choreographing the opening of Act II, along with the director and my scene partner for helping me feel comfortable in that setting.
Throughout my career, receiving recognition has been a sweet blessing. From the first time, I was asked for a picture and autograph from a young girl that watched me in my senior play to when I received a message from a respected local actor praising my work and getting DMs on Instagram from strangers that loved the work I’ve done in the indie’s they’ve watched. Even just the work I do in my classes, being recognized for the work I put in helps me feel I’m doing something right.
I would say the thing that sets me apart from the rest is just my experiences in life. As I’ve said before, I can’t compare my journey to others, we are all individuals with our own experiences that color our lives differently. Of course, there are decisions I’ve made that I regret, but I wouldn’t be who I am today if I made different life choices. The best I can do is be in competition with my old self. Doing the work required in this business, along with exploring new hobbies and saying yes to new experiences, set me apart from the old me and bring me new lenses I can explore a character with.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
The most important lesson I’ve learned is just being patient with this industry. This business is unpredictable, there is no one way to approach this, or else everyone would be doing it. From barely going on one audition a month with my old agency to several due in a week with my current agency. Not booking for two years, to booking several projects, one becoming a SAG national commercial, making me SAG eligible, all in one year.
If you couldn’t tell, I’m a firm believer in the Law of Attraction and Power of Manifestation. I’m a pronoia person: believing the universe (God to me) works in my favor instead of against me. I take care of my mental health and take breaks from this industry when needed to recenter myself. Afterwards, I always end up coming back ready to fully dive back into this.
The biggest teaching that fellow artists, coaches, and casting directors give is that if you focus on the work, the right work will come. They are all on our side, just keep going and giving your best.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.monicaaperez.com/
- Instagram: @monicalyssa
- Facebook: @themonicalyssa
- Twitter: @monicalyssa
Image Credits
Jordan Fraker
Kris Ikejiri
David Carter
Jason Fitzgerald
