Rising Stars: Meet Natalia Bilbao

Today we’d like to introduce you to Natalia Bilbao. 

Hi Natalia, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I was born in Bilbao, Spain, where I attended St Georges English School, a British school where I started reading Shakespeare and performing in English. I was a semi-pro tennis player throughout high school but once I graduated, I got into my very first acting course at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. I was only supposed to stay there for a month, but I ended up getting into another program. I came back to Spain, started my Business Management degree and studied acting, and performed on shorts and webseries on the side. Every summer until I graduated college I went to study theater in London, to RADA, and then LAMDA. When I graduated college I moved to Madrid, the capital of Spain to pursue acting full-time in 2013. Until July 2018 I lived and worked in Madrid in English and Spanish on films, shorts, music videos, plays, radio shows, tv series, tv shows, and any form of acting and storytelling I could find. Initially, I had survival jobs until I decided to focus on my acting career fully and really hustled and succeeded to live very decently through acting. In June 2018 my O1 Visa was approved and I moved to LA to further my acting career, a fresh start, another leap of faith into the unknown. After a year and a half of finding acting opportunities and auditioning a lot, the pandemic hit, and I found myself finding a new world of possibilities with virtual shows. Today, 4 and a half years after moving to LA I have over 11 Best Actress International Awards and an Emmy Award as part of a TV show team. 

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
It has most definitely not been a smooth road. I’ve done all types of performing jobs, on stage, on the street, in tours, on sets, in buses, on beautiful locations, at times when it was so hot, I thought I’d faint, others I’d freeze, starving, tired,… But it’s always been worth it and despite all the constant rejection, the desire to keep walking, to improve my craft, and to be part of inspiring and empowering projects with passionate and compassionate people is much bigger than the setbacks. 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I believe in channeling my energy and strength into strong and inspiring female roles that can help other women and young girls feel empowered and motivated to achieve anything beyond what they have traditionally been expected to. I’m known for taking on intimidating projects in front of big crowds of people or celebrities and bringing an authentically genuine approach. For me it’s all about connecting with my passion, compassion, and fun-loving side so that others feel inspired to connect with themselves and each other in that same way. 

I’m proud of daring to dream and follow through, to choose a path that is risky and unknown, and to trust that no matter what, I will make a worthy contribution in the lives of those around me. 

Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
Eating delicious homemade food with my family by the beach. Enjoying the breeze and the smell of freshly baked fish while hearing music in the background. The thought of just relaxing, playing, and being around my family for a full week. 

Contact Info:

• Website: www.nataliabilbao.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natalia_bilbao/

Image Credits
Othello Marx Photography