Today we’d like to introduce you to Maricruz Menchero.
Hi Maricruz, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m an artist in every sense of the word… I grew up in school choirs, creative writing competitions, and oratory contests. You could find me staging plays with my dolls, creating imaginary forts out of cushions, and doodling in travel journals. I was lost in books, in paintings, and in the backstage wings of community theaters.
I studied architecture at The University of Notre Dame. I loved math and I loved drawing, so it seemed like the obvious career choice. My studies took me to China, Cuba, and Italy, where I lived and breathed the classical structures of the greats. Many nights were lost in studio, with mornings swept away in diligent design accompanied by song, dance, and the occasional film.
The quiet whispers of the theater frequently pulled me back to the stage — both as a student and as a working professional. The comforts of a stable career didn’t placate the unsteady yearnings of a little girl who longed to perform. While working as an architect in a high-end residential firm in Dallas, Texas, I auditioned and got cast in a local production of Les Miserables. The rest is history…
The show ultimately inspired a move to New York City, where I pursued formal training at Stella Adler Studio of Acting. I was your real-life Hannah Montana — working full-time as an architect during the day and training at Stella Adler in the evenings. A desire to continue honing my craft led me to Chicago, where I graduated with an MFA in Acting from The Theater School at DePaul University.
The pandemic welcomed me to the unexpected world of Zoom, where I crossed international waters from the comfort of my bedroom. I befriended acting coaches and artists from all over the world. During this time of rest, I also discovered a greater alignment between my life, artistry, and career. After spending a year and a half at home in San Antonio, Texas, I made the move back to New York City.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Every opportunity, every success, and every failure is a stepping stone to the next opportunity. I don’t think there is such a thing as a smooth road. It simply doesn’t exist. I do believe that every experience propels us forward in some way. Obstacles or roadblocks serve to (1) redirect us to where we’re meant to be and (2) transform us into the person we are forever becoming.
It took time for me to admit — first to myself and then to others — that I wanted to pursue acting professionally. I’ve always wanted to be an actress. It just didn’t feel like a possibility growing up. The industry felt too different, too unknown. It was a dream, but very distant. I also had a lot of interests (I still do!), and they directed me towards a different path.
I look at actors who started their careers at a younger age, and I do wonder whether the journey was easier in some ways. I’m sure it wasn’t any less competitive, but there is something about being a kid and just being responsible for being a kid and doing that thing that you love.
One of the challenges for me has been learning how to juggle my acting career with my day job and the responsibilities that come with being an adult. It’s a balancing act — working, auditioning, cooking, cleaning, doing laundry, working out, managing finances, spending time with family and friends, etc. It’s tricky! Some days I feel like I’ve got a handle on things, and other days it feels like I’m drowning.
…and I know I’m not alone. I see a lot of artists doing the juggling act. It’s tough — the juggle, the constant rejection, the silence, the pressure to look a certain way. You have to have incredible faith on this journey, a soft interior with the resiliency of a warrior, immense love for the craft and kindness towards yourself.
I try to do something creative every day. It is a self-imposed challenge and the thing which brings me the most joy — especially when done with equally passionate individuals. For me, it’s reading a book about someone who inspires me, helping a friend dive deep into a character, or writing song lyrics in my journal. It’s decorating my room and directing a photoshoot at work. Even looking at a tree can be a creative pursuit. The possibilities are endless!
Despite the challenges and maybe because of them, I’ve learned that things tend to unfold on their own time. What’s meant for you won’t pass you by. Every journey is different, and I simply needed to live a little more before redirecting mine.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I like to say I’m a different kind of triple threat — I’m an actress, an architect, and an artist. I channel my creativity into everything I do. Because I have pursued different fields of study and have various lived experiences under my belt, I bring a unique perspective to whatever project I’m working on. I have a critical eye with a great sense of design, but one that is also understanding and empathetic.
In terms of acting… Most of my experience is theater based, but I’ve really started diving into on-camera work these past couple of years. I’ve grown to appreciate the intimacy of working with the camera and the specific type of stillness and presence that it calls for. I’m actively auditioning commercially and just recently recorded a voiceover campaign for a company in Texas. Being both a native English and Spanish speaker has opened a lot of opportunities for me — especially in the voiceover world.
I have other passion projects I’m currently developing which merge my different interests across various mediums. It’s too soon to share with the public, but stay tuned!
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
It’s scary to go after what you want, but life is too short to spend it living someone else’s life…
I’ve recently started asking people the following two questions: what do you do and what’s your dream? If the two answers don’t align, I try to probe a little further. Fear (no surprise!) is the biggest factor holding people back. Another factor is a limited imagination.
A lot of people don’t feel they can pivot. All they picture is that straight, bumpy road to the finish line. They don’t realize that they can take a right turn and arrive at an even more beautiful destination. We’ve been conditioned to choose one thing and stick with it. We’ve been taught that careers start young, we can’t let people down, and some dreams are simply out of reach. We’re too old, too inexperienced, too ill-equipped… you name it.
I’ve discovered a new calling: to remind people of their dreams and to help them imagine a future where said dreams are a reality so they can start taking steps toward them. I don’t know exactly what this means for me. I’m still in the imagination phase myself…ruminating on several ideas to discover which path excites me the most. (Again, stay tuned!) For now, I hope to inspire by example, and, if you want to chat about the two questions above, feel free to reach out!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://maricruzmenchero.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maricruzmenchero/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maricruzmenchero/
Image Credits
Matt Wade, David Noles
