Today we’d like to introduce you to Valentina Olarte.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Valentina. So, let’s start at the beginning, and we can move on from there.
My career as an actress started “officially” when I was 16 years old back in Colombia, and I decided I wanted to go to school for acting. I had been part of a couple of plays here and there, went to a musical theatre academy for a couple of years but I had grown up more as a basketball player more than anything else. It wasn’t until one night, after a Bingo Event with my family and some friend’s that we ended up at a restaurant that used to be a theatre and I decided to go and play and created a play with a couple of other girls to perform immediately to our parents. After that night, I felt it. I wanted to be an actress! I was going to go to Argentina for Acting School, but almost at the end of 11th grade, we moved to the USA. I went to The University of Houston School of Theatre and Dance and got my BFA in Acting. After that, I stayed in Houston for a year, but as that year went by I was getting closer and closer to the film industry and ended up moving to Los Angeles. Now, as an actress in L.A, I’ve done plays, commercials, voice-overs, dubbing, short films, feature films and lately lots of Improv. I created a couple of groups with friends for Improv, sketch, Talk shows, etc. In general, I’m doing what I love and hoping to get better at it day by day so that I can inspire, spread awareness, spread empathy, and most importantly spread love.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It has been more like a roller coaster! Ups, downs but always fun (at least roller coasters are for me!)
I’ve had several things I’ve struggled with. The language barrier was one of them. Which at school got me on probation since it was affecting my acting. I took it as a challenge and a push to be better, and here I am, with a better understanding of accents as one more tool for my Actor kit. There have been moments when keeping focused was hard due to money. And other moments where it felt like I was giving it all and not moving forward. But its all part of a process and I feel like every obstacle or struggle is an opportunity to learn!
We’d love to hear more about your work.
As a bilingual actress, I love doing projects in both languages. I continue to explore the different realms of acting both by working in other people’s projects and creating my own. I’m also a Zumba Instructor, and I do some modeling here and there. Some of the projects I’ve been most proud of were ‘Blackbird’ back in Houston where I got a nomination for Best Actress in the Houston Press Theatre Awards. A couple of dubbing projects (Spanish to English) which are on Netflix (Casa de Las Flores and La Catedral del Mar) and all of the projects I’ve created and worked with friends, especially our Spanish Improv Troup Impromundeando and our group Hispanic L.Artists (Both pretty new but it’s just the beginning!)
What were you like growing up?
I love everything related to the arts! I loved acting, music, dancing, poetry, painting, etc. I also really liked sports (Basketball and Tennis on the top)! I was a very good and dedicated student. I’ve always loved the outdoors. I’ve always been kind and loving. I LOVE PEOPLE and having new experiences with them. I love food and trying new flavors. I love exploring cultures. I’ve always loved the world and wanted to make it positive and happy, so I’ve always tried to be positive and focus on the best sides of people!
I’m also a goofball! Lovemaking noises, faces, etc.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.valentinaolarte.com
- Phone: 8326542353
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/valeolarte92/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/valentina.olarte1
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/valen_olarte?lang=en
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezkpF0vUq_8&t=206s
Image Credit:
Mariangela Quiroga
Alex Zuniga
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