Conversations with Irene Morales

Today we’d like to introduce you to Irene Morales.

Hi Irene, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
It’s an honor to be here! Thanks so much for having me! My story started as a little tropi-goth, weirdo growing up in Miami, Florida. Most writers are outsiders, in order to better observe the fellow freaks around them. In my case, think Harriet the Spy meets Daria, but goth-Latina: a recipe for a full freak.

Living with my grandparents I’d watch “Are You Being Served” reruns on PBS with my grandpa, my mother has a dry and dark sense of humor, and I got bullied in school and by my friends for being different – they could smell the freak on me. I also didn’t look “Latina enough” which still haunts me to this day. Too white for the Latinas, too Latina for white girls, a tale as old as time.

Add this all to mix with and fast forward to 14 [years old] when I started writing jokes, then 21 when I first got on stage at the original Miami Improv, and then 28 when I finally moved to NYC for comedy. Now at 37 (gasp! A woman in entertainment revealing her actual age?!! Will she ever work in this town again?!!) I’m still in NYC, writing and performing stand-up, taking acting classes at the William Esper studio, all while trying to make it to my day job on time.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
I think most artists struggle with some aspect of their mental health, their home life isn’t a walk in the park, and they don’t come from money; to keep it brief, these three apply to me. It’s been helpful to remind myself that for every ten people who seem to be doing better than you, there are ten who aren’t doing so great, and how important it is to always remain grateful for what you do have. (I know you may be rolling your eyes – I’m saying this to myself as much as I’m saying it to you.)

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a stand-up comedian who focuses on anecdotal, self-deprecating, and observational humor. I’ve been known to make the most of the space on stage and make silly voices and noises when needed, as well as completely losing my mind if the set is going poorly – anything to make the audience laugh and feel less alone. I’ve been doing stand-up comedy for 16 years; I should be funny by now.

I’m also an actor, and I’m proud of the micro-budget film that made it to Amazon with Stephanie Hsu, Janeane Garofalo, David Krumholtz called “Asking For It.” I play the funny, rough-around-the-edges, lesbian roommate – not a stretch. I’m happy to be taking classes at the Esper Studio because I am getting stretched there and damn, the growing pains are real, I’m looking at you David! (David is one of my teachers who will never read this.)

I think what sets me apart from others is what makes each of us unique: our voice. Our perspective gained from the life we’ve lived, the culture we’ve been brought up in, the mistakes we’ve made that shape our lives. Each of us has our own, little freak perspective and when we’re brave enough to share a piece of ourselves with the world, it’s always nice when fellow freaks out there say back to us “Yes!! Me too!! I’m so glad I’m not the only one!!!” through laughter, a smile or being moved by a performance

What’s next?
My plans for the future are to keep on living! Along with breathing in and breathing out, here are some things Nana has cooking (I’m Nana): I started up my podcast again, hoping to *God* third time’s a charm! It’s called “Dear Nana, Advice From An Idiot” on Apple, Audible and hopefully Spotify too? I need to employ a young buck to help me figure that out. I have too many amazing friends to not record our conversations and share them with fellow freaks. Please rate, review, and subscribe! (God, I wish I didn’t have to say that.)

I also started a substack this year, another drop in the bucket. It’s called “Here’s The Thing…” and it’s just a little stream of consciousness of whatever I’m feeling that Friday. They’ve been fun to write, not sure if anyone is reading them, but I’ll keep releasing them like tadpoles after a rainstorm. Be free my little pollywogs!

Taking classes at the William Esper Studio has been and continues to be a big change for me. I’m there four days out of the week, not including rehearsals, which cuts into my stand-up time (luckily everyone has been so lovely about re-booking me on different days and shows.) And nothing could’ve prepared me for the emotional exhaustion I’ve been feeling! Twice a week it’s “let’s rip out a little piece of your heart and perform it for the class” and twice a week, it’s never good enough because the point is to continually push yourself, “nudging” as my teacher affectionately calls it. Can I nudge myself off a cliff? Just kidding! I’ll save it for class. I’m looking forward to being cast in creatively fulfilling and successful tv and film projects, aren’t we all? Surely, they need to cast a Nana or a freak or both! Freak Nana, coming to NBC this fall! Thank you so much for asking me all these questions, I feel like the luckiest tropi-goth, little freak, Nana in the whole wide world!!!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.irenemorales.com
• Instagram: @irenesmorales
• Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@irenemorales2556

Image Credits
Mike Bryk Instagram: @mikebryknyc