Daily Inspiration: Meet Sonia Balcazar

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sonia Balcazar.

Hi Sonia, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
When I told my Dad that I wanted to be an actor and study acting in college, he said, “Absolutely NOT! I will not pay for my daughter to go to college and then become a starving artist. Major in something practical, and then you can do whatever you want after you graduate!” So, I earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business with a concentration in Marketing & Management. After I graduated and went to work in outside sales, I paid for myself to go back to school for acting. I went to a two-year acting intensive program at Shelton Studios in San Francisco. Once I completed that program, I decided to quit my career in sales and focus on acting full-time. Looking back, my Dad was right. I have never been a starving artist with my degree and business experience, but more importantly, I use that degree to its fullest now as I navigate my acting career.

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 anything that you are passionate about will come with struggle. We persevere through the hurdles and challenges along the way, and sometimes there are detours, but you always come back to what is true in your heart.

When I decided to dedicate my life to my passion for telling the stories of the human condition, I experienced  many highs and many lows. For a period, I slept in a spare room in my parents’ house on an air mattress with a hole in it while found myself sharing a bed with my adult sister for months while I was working to save up a little more cash for my next move. I struggled with  not having enough gas to get home from an all-night film shoot that ended at 5 am. Even deep heartbreak came around when I was given an ultimatum by a former partner of mine to choose: him or my acting career. I chose my first love- acting. . I slept soundly on that air mattress after celebrating the premiere of my first lead role in a feature film.  When your heart keeps tugging you in the direction of your dreams, no struggle will ever stop you from pursuing them.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Personally, my purpose in acting is to share the stories that need to be told. I don’t do it for  the fame, nor money.  I act because it is my passion, and I love it;I will be acting until the day I die. I know that if I continue to focus on the purpose and mission of my craft, that abundance will continue to come in ways beyond my imagination.

I have played a wide range of roles in my career. Recently, two of my projects, a Chicano family TV pilot titled King of Downey, and a short film, titled In Broad Daylight, were finalists at the Mexican American Film & TV Festival and Awards. BOTH of my projects WON on the same evening! In  King of Downey, I play an educated, career-driven Chicana mom of  three kids, married to a real state Agent, played by Actor/Comedian Jerry Garcia. We won Best TV Show! In In Broad Daylight, I also play a mom in a story about a Los Angeles Sheriff’s Deputy faced with a life-altering decision that impacts my son’s life. Again, we won Best Short Film! These are the roles that continue to fulfill my purpose and tell the stories that need to be told. I am very honored to share these stories through a wide range of roles. Ultimately, I remain very moved by one particular role that stands out most to me to this day. This was early on in my acting career- I was performing at the Shelton Theater in San Francisco. I played the role of a woman battling alcoholism, and she was at rock bottom in one of the scenes. After that show, a woman came up to me and said, “Thank you for telling my story! When I saw you on stage, I could not help but think that was me when I was at rock bottom, and I have been sober for over ten years now. Thank you for helping me feel seen!”

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
This journey has not been a straight path for me. I have taken a few detours in life for different reasons. The most important lesson I have learned in my journey is that no one will believe in me for me. I must believe in myself first and foremost, wholly and completely. Once I began to trust myself and believe that I was worthy of all my dreams, things began to unfold rapidly. Opportunities started to flow in like never before. I won’t starve – the well of stories will never run dry.

Contact Info:

• Website: IMDb.me/SoniaBalcazar
• Instagram: @soniabalcazar
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SoniaBalcazarActress
• Twitter: @soniabalcazar

Image Credits
Sonia Balcazar, Giselle Anaya, Alex Alessandro Garcia, Miss Karissa B/Baby WestCoast, Chance Falcon, Max Castor, Jeff Reyes, Cindy Luna, Jerry Garcia, Jesse Mansanalez, JC Olivera, Dylan Kenin, Steve Louis Villegas, Freeman Cole, Alejandra Pena, Alex Ferrufino, John Mercado, and David Mansanalez.