Today we’d like to introduce you to Danni Vitorino.
Hi Danni, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I grew up on the east coast in Massachusetts in heavily Portuguese-populated neighborhoods. I’m Portuguese and Polish. Actually, MA has the largest Portuguese festival in the US, the Madeira Festival. I’ve moved around my entire life. To this day, I have yet to live in the same place for more than 4 years. I learned to adapt to my surroundings very early on. I would put on accents and play characters in school to mess with the other kids since I knew I would probably leave soon anyway. In the third grade, I convinced my group of friends I was a witch (I was obsessed with the tv show Charmed as a child.) I ended up moving away Halloween day from that town. Flash forward to me attending high school near that area, I’m in class and now friends again with one of the friends from that group. She told me how mad she was with me because for years she believed I was a witch and kept my secret. It was a really funny moment!
I graduated from Fairhaven High School and attended Bridgewater State University. My dream university was NYU, but I was too poor. A week after getting my bachelor’s degree and being the first in my family to do so, I ran to New York and attended the Stella Adler Studio of acting. That was my transition to the big apple. I stayed there for several years after completing my training with the conservatory. I performed in several off-off broadway productions, made some pretty spectacular memories, and met some amazing people while there. When the pandemic hit, I decided to transition to Los Angeles and chase a more tv/film medium of acting. I’ve been here two years now.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Absolutely has not been easy and in a way I’m thankful. Whether it’s working a shift until 3am and going to an audition for 6am, walking an hour to class because you can’t afford a car or uber, or just everyday struggles like staying mentally and physically healthy and happy. I find a general struggle is having to constantly prove myself or my skills in this business. That’s a lot of people though right? I remember one of my instructors telling me to act less gay and another telling me how surprised they were I could play a straight man… I think that could be considered a main struggle of the queer community in this industry though. I’ve learned to distance myself from opinions or critics. I’ve created a tough skin for myself. What’s the saying? You can be the ripest and juiciest apple in the orchard but there is always someone who doesn’t like apples.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I started my acting career with community theater in Massachusetts. While in New York. I was in several off-off broadway productions of musicals and plays. I’ve only been in LA for a short time and I have been in five short films, two commercials, a music video, and an indie feature with future projects lined up as well. When I first moved out here, I joined the Mad Acting Studio under Max Decker and there I was able to work on my craft and met some great people along the way. One of them being my fantastic agent, Lori Brevig. I’ve taken up training with the Groundlings here in LA. I’ve trained under the brilliance of Leonard Robinson, Chris Eckert, Navaris Darson, and Guy Stevenson. I recently performed for the first time on their student stage. I’ve also started work in production as a producer assistant and coordinator. I’ve found a passion for producing and look forward to further developing my skills there.
I love the work. I pound the pavement looking for any opportunity I can get to perform, or produce, and make great connections with other filmmakers doing the same. I strongly believe in community and I am so grateful for everyone I’ve met and worked with along the way. I’m excited to see what’s next!
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
I honestly don’t know where this industry will be in the coming years. I have hope there will be more inclusivity and new stories told. I personally would love to see more trans stories told. Give me a rom-com starring TS Madison or Trace Lysette. There are so many talent-abundant individuals from the queer and trans community that I would love to see in action or just more of in every field of filmmaking.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.dannivitorino.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ohsodanni/
- Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm12564723/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0
Image Credits
Chris Jon Photography, SCREEN GRAB – “Trixie Motel”, “Spread: Pigs to Slaughter”, “Misdiagnos’d”, “Netflix is a Joke”, “Gen V”, “What Had Happened Was…”
