Today we’d like to introduce you to Sandra Santiago.
Sandra, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Finally, Following My Dreams!
It seems as if it were just yesterday; I was in kindergarten, center stage, surrounded by other tiny dancers. I remember telling them, “Please, look at the audience, not me.” From the youngest age, I adored an audience. I was confident that I could make people happy—it was what I truly enjoyed.
I was the oldest in my very traditional Mexican family. My younger brother was named Felipe after our dad. He loved having a son who bore his name. There was another “man in the family.” But suddenly something happened that changed everything. While my mom was giving Felipe a bath, he fell and hurt his head. I remember my mom and I running as fast as we could to the closest clinic. My mom was screaming. I desperately wanted to help but did not know-how.
The clinic staff took possession of Felipe and guided us into a separate room. When we came out, my brother was gone. It turned out that the doctor didn’t know Felipe was allergic to penicillin. Upon treatment, he died instantly. Seeing my mom in so much pain was unbearable. I felt completely powerless. My Dad was devastated. The doctor flew out of town, probably afraid of the consequences for his fatal error.
Years later, my mom took me to the movies to see E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. When the kids said goodbye to E.T. at the end of the film, I felt the same loss, the feeling you have when you need to let go of something you love in order to find peace. The movie was cathartic. Since then, I decided that’s what I want to do. I want to help people heal through art.
Dance became my outlet. I kept taking different types of classes, including ballet, flamenco, Hawaiian, Hungarian, Russian, Folclórico. My dad also loved music. When he would bring home records of his favorite songs, he would always wake me up, so we could dance. My dad had such an incredible smile! My love for the arts grew ever stronger. After a while, all I wanted to do was to perform.
With my dad’s help, I eventually left town to attend an exchange program in Kent, Washington. I joined the school’s theatre group. I was the only Mexican with a heavy accent, but I still got a part in Cinderella, playing the stepmother. When we performed, people started laughing at my performance. But that was OK. Because of my accent, I played a funny stepmother rather than an evil one. Even though that accent was genuine, I felt love and acceptance from the audience. I was just so happy that my words were understandable, despite the language barrier. And laughter is so good for you.
After my time in Kent, I went to a top acting school in Mexico City. I had dreams of performing on television and in movies. I knew I could make it. I had the talent. After graduating, however, my dreams were momentarily crushed. I saw some ugly realities. My acting coach lived in one tiny room in downtown Mexico City. Yes, he was on TV, but his lifestyle was abysmal. I didn’t want to live like that. I was not a rich kid and people have to live. Bills need to get paid. As the oldest of eight kids, I considered it necessary and reasonable to contribute my fair share. My ego should not be bigger than my family’s needs.
Later, I decided to learn French and to go to Paris. My dad paid for everything. He just wanted me to be happy and do what I want with my life. I went to La Sorbonne, but I was still so conflicted and guilty. I had to earn money, so I could help my family. But my dream was like a curse; the more I hesitated, the more I needed it. So while I studied French Literature, I also became a dancer of folclórico ballet.
When the famous Ballet de Amalia Hernandez came to Paris looking for dancers, they invited me and I accepted. There I was again, in the middle of that big stage, this time performing with one of the top Mexican folclórico dance companies, watching the audience smile, listening to the roaring applause. It was like a drug. After that, I was ready for my next artistic venture.
I wanted to be a mime. Yes, a mime. I went to visit Compagnie de Mime Marcel Marceau and met the master, himself. As was his tradition, Marceau mimed for the incoming class and perspective students. He was amazing! The tuition, however, was steep, especially for foreigners. I could not ask my dad for more help. It was too embarrassing. I didn’t even consider this a means to make a decent living. Despite working a variety of jobs to save up the money, my dream to become a mime eventually died.
I started to wonder if I might be getting in my own way by constantly creating new barriers and different goals. Art was not going to make money and despite my passion, I needed income. In order add value to my resume, I decided to learn Japanese. Oh yeah . . . wrong move.
In Japan, I learned the language but continued to run away from the responsibility of being ME. Instead, like a coward, I chose to create in other fields. This went on for many years. I remember being very sad. The life was being sucked right out of me. But I stuck with it and managed to help my parents. Now, it was my turn.
My life had to change. I decided to come to America with my first child, my sweet daughter. Surely here we could grab hold of the American Dream and thrive. I entered into a new relationship and had a son. But when my partner realized that all I wanted to do is perform, he invalidated me to the point I had to end the relationship. I continued to push against all the odds, despite being responsible now for two wonderful kids. Motivated and driven by a deep belief in myself, I went to the Beverly Hills Playhouse and kept at it.
I have never found a partner that could deal with my acting. I was always made to feel that it wasn’t a real job. It seemed like I had to ask permission to be myself. I also went through the tremendous pain of fighting to keep my kids. Acting doesn’t pay well early on, so I struggled to support my kids. Later, when I was a star, filming movies on the other side of the world, people started to question if I was spending enough time with my kids. Their worries and there were many, became mine. Eventually, I realized that, sometimes, the people you consider the closest will support you but, sometimes, they won’t. For me, that was way too often.
All my life, I had to prove that I was smart. I had to show people that I could make a living, which meant denying my art. My dad passed away without seeing me married to a good man, whom he believed would protect and provide for me. My three sisters got married and fulfilled the traditional Mexican lifestyle of being a wife and mother. But I finally realized that I don’t need validation from anyone. It was time to stop beating myself up. I decided just to be me—an entertainer—and finally gave myself permission to call myself a movie star.
God only knows how hard that was. I had to develop an unwavering belief in myself. People’s insecurities and fears should not impact our hopes. We have the right to choose what road to take. Sometimes, we choose wrong because we want to please others. There are many different reasons for giving away your power. I did it to help my family. But let me tell you—the only way you can help others is by staying true to yourself.
And, yes, there will be many obstacles, like not having money to pay rent, or having to sell your home because you can no longer afford it, or hiring an attorney to help you keep your kids. I paid my lawyer with checks, post-dated six months out, not knowing if even then I would have the money. Life is a game, but so what? I love games! Bring it.
And this brings me to my current project. Along with artist Eric Marihno and our wonderful team, we are creating a film called The Life Force. This powerful story will coax people to consider a different perspective. My film The Life force has a diversified cast with me as the Leading Latina star. While grieving her parents’ passing, Gina inherits a generational curse that catches the attention of her love interest, Jason. He belongs to a cult that observes the seven deadly sins. Gina is forced into an intense spiritual journey where she uncovers truths about her destiny. As she questions her spirituality, the audience will experience her journey through a variety of art forms, thrilling scenes and beautiful music.
We hope this movie will encourage people to question their existence and the trajectory of life, to consider living fearlessly, to ponder the very existence of love. Might it be just a fantasy? We want to tell a story people can connect with, one of coming to terms with spirituality in the face of death and grief.
Ultimately, it is my deepest wish that anyone I cross paths with will be able to say that I have made them a little happier—if even just for a moment. I would encourage them as I do you: No matter what, follow your dreams; that is what life is all about.
Has it been a smooth road?
A lot of struggles and not a smooth road.
What else should our readers know?
I am a Mexican American actress full of life who perform and dance salsa dancing, I am world traveled and speak different languages. I have a do not give up aptitude and I make things go right.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
I see more diversity in Hollywood, we need to step up and create better projects for our selfs.
Contact Info:
- Address: 2353 Hollyridge Drive Los Angeles California 90068
- Website: www.sandrasantiago.com
- Phone: 3103450515
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: Sandrasantiago_official
- Facebook: Sandra Santiago
- Twitter: Sandrasantiago_
- Yelp: Sandra Santiago
Image Credit:
Photo by: Jonny Marlow, Photo by: Marty Gottlieb
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