How did you get your start in acting?
I was born and raised in Los Angeles, and never had any family or friends in the industry so I never saw being an actor as a real life option. It was always a dream I had and not something that I thought could ever be plausible. I started acting when I was very young and continued to act throughout school. I had a year left before I graduated with my degree from Cal Poly and I decided I needed to take the chance and go for it, be an actor full time. And after I graduated, that’s exactly what I did. I hit the ground running.

What is your inspiration when it comes to acting?
My inspiration is the art itself. To be able to live in someone else’s shoes for a short while, to see life as someone else, it’s an amazing experience. I aspire to be like all of the great actors that we all love to watch in movies, TV or in theater productions, I aspire to be as remarkable as they are and they are my inspiration. It’s a hard business and it can be very demanding, so if I can stay true to myself and to those that I love and be successful, then that’s a major accomplishment.

So you lived in Okinawa, Japan for a little bit, what was it like when you were there and what do you miss most from living there?
It was amazing living in Okinawa. I literally just dropped myself there, lol. I didn’t speak the language and it was the first time that I had ever been out of the United States really, not to mention living away from home. Their culture is very different from ours and very different from my home life; my mom being from Chile, she brought many of those lifestyle traditions to our home. It was the ultimate acting experience as well. You feel like your living someone else’s life when you’re stripped of all the comforts that you have in your daily routine back home, so you learn to adapt very quickly. There are many things that I miss, the gorgeous water, the clean air, but most of all the juice. They have a juice made from a melon that they sell all over Okinawa in vending machines. I haven’t been able to find it here; it’s so yummy and refreshing.

How did it feel to have your first lead role in the short film, The Bitterness?
It was, at the time, a scary and exciting experience. I was expecting a very small project since it was my first short. I remember arriving to set and seeing the huge white movie trucks out front and thinking…OH MY GOSH, THIS ISN’T THE RIGHT PLACE! They know this is my first movie right! And then walking on set and seeing all the people! But everyone was so nice and welcoming and Kim Putman, the Director of The Bitterness is so amazing and talented that my nervousness went away very quickly. She’s on board with you from the very beginning and she communicates everything to you, so it was awesome.

How did you react when you found out The Bitterness won best film at some of the film festivals?
It’s incredibly rewarding to have anything you do receive recognition. Kim and I would talk on the phone and by email about how well the film was doing across the United States. Its really cool to see people like your work, and it’s the ultimate gratification when someone comes up to you and says…I totally got you, I went through something similar and you took me back, thank you.

What was your reaction to being cast in “Sorority Forever?”
I was so thrilled!!! I was called in by Big Fantastic to audition for the project; I then went through the auditioning process, which included callbacks. Warner Brothers and McG’s company, Wonderland, also played a roll in the final casting of the project. It was a long process and a lot of time went by before I knew if I was cast, so when I got the news I was really excited!

Can you tell me a little about your character and why did you choose to audition for this character?
I play Rachel Perkins, who is the vice president of the sorority. Rachel is the girl that is caught between two worlds. She wants so much to achieve success within the sorority, but in order to do so she has to do things that make her question herself. She doesn’t know how much she is willing to do to succeed, that’s her struggle.

I didn’t have the opportunity to choose the role. When I was brought in to audition, I read for practically all the girls, as well as at callbacks. Rachel from the beginning was my favorite, which is why I probably clicked with her. She is strong and driven but has moments of weakness and questions herself and the world that she lives in. I think that’s a very human quality to have and that a lot of people can relate to that.

How was it like your first day on set?
Very exciting. I arrived in Spokane and was driven to a historical mansion, which I later came to learn, was once haunted, lol. I was taken back by the set and that we were filming everything on location. You could feel the history and the energy of the house; it was incredible. And everyone on set was in such a great mood and so friendly. They welcomed me and the girls were all so very sweet. We all blended with each other very well and very quickly.

What are a few things you would say to convince someone to watch the show?
Lol. I don’t know of any other web series that is about the sorority life and the mysteries within it, not to mention all the hot girls, lol. Big Fantastic and the WB have made sure that the show is a full experience. Myspace is on board with the show and there are tons of extra features tied into the show that are available, fans will be able to get extra juicy info about the plot through blogs on Myspace, not to mention we each have our own page. It isn’t just about watching a show anymore, it’s about having a daily life experience with the show.

What’s the most challenging role you’ve encountered so far and why?
My role in Edges of Darkness was very challenging. I play a girl who is not mentally stable, not to mention a bit on the insane killer side, lol. It was my first time playing the “bad girl” of the film, so it was a lot of fun. I really got into the role.

What’s the best advice you’ve heard when it comes to the acting business?
Stay true to yourself and be yourself because no one else can be you. You are an individual and that makes you interesting and original.

By far, what has been the most fulfilling thing you’ve accomplished whether it be in acting or in school?
I was very proud when I got my degree in Animal Science Pre Vet Medicine. I always had to study harder and longer to get good grades. So when I graduated with a solid GPA, I was very proud of myself. Especially because just before I was almost done with my degree, I wanted so much to be acting full time that it became difficult to focus. I’m very happy I finished.

And now with acting, it’s fulfilling everyday, everyday I do something that I love. I love the art and how it makes me feel.

Where do you see yourself in the next few years when it comes to acting?
I would love to continue on the road that I’m on, the road of films and web series. Ultimately I would like to work in TV and film. And when I’m able to take a break I would like to do theater projects.

Do you have any advice for anyone trying to break into the acting business?
Don’t quit, don’t be lazy and keep going. Don’t let people tell you that if it doesn’t happen in the first six months or in the first year or even the first five years then that means it’s not going to happen. I believe it can happen for anyone as long as they are dedicated and focused. You decide when to get off the roller coaster, not the other way around. Don’t get lazy either. Acting is a muscle; we are athletes for the art. Professional athletes have to train daily; it’s the same thing with acting. It’s a lifestyle, it’s something you have to train and keep training otherwise you get tired and sore.

Do you have anything to say to your fans and supporters at Portrait Magazine?
I just want to thank them for their constant support. The road I’m traveling is very empty without them, and so they mean a lot to me, truly. I hope they enjoy “Sorority Forever” and have as much fun watching it as I did making it for them. And I hope they will enjoy Edges of Darkness, that’s coming out later next year.