Today we’d like to introduce you to Ana Karina Cano.
Hi Ana Karina, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My love of performing started from an early age. I remember the first time my mom took me to the theater. I don’t quite remember the play, but I remember the feeling of fascination for what was happening on stage. The story, the costumes, and the dances; I was truly captivated.
In the end, my mom asked me if I liked it and I said I did, but I would rather be up there (pointing at the stage). From that point on, my mom enrolled me in dance classes. I started with ballet and when I was five years old I had my first performance in “The Nutcracker” play. I was onstage for just a couple of minutes but that was enough to make me fall in love with performing. Being on stage and the excitement going on backstage was the most amazing feeling ever, and I have been pursuing that feeling ever since.
A couple of years later, I started taking acting classes and I knew what I wanted to do for the rest of my life: bring characters to life, create stories, and to transmit feelings. I found the thing that inspires me and makes my heart race, so my goal since that moment has been to prepare myself as well as I can to be able to do this for a living. To pursue my passion.
I’m originally from Chihuahua, Mexico. I graduated from Business administration with a minor in marketing and media production and have always interspersed my studies with my artistic life. As part of my diploma, I studied filmmaking in VFS Vancouver Film School and it was great seeing the other side of the magic, getting to think as a director and seeing all the departments working together.
I started my training in theater at a very early age and I’ve been fortunate enough to train in a lot of different parts of the world, enriching my education with a multicultural view. I trained for a year in classical theater in Mountaban, France. And after the pandemic, I moved to Madrid, Spain, where I studied producing and scriptwriting in UC3M, as well as acting for film with the renowned Spanish director Salvador Calvo.
Recently, I spent a couple of months in New York studying the Meisner technique at The actors’ Studio as well as acting for film workshops at T. Schreiber and HB Studio. I moved to Los Angeles in January of this year and have been here training and working on short films since. It has been a marathon to get to where I am today and I know there is still a long way to go, but I couldn’t be happier and grateful to have finally made it to LA and call it home.
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?
The road to pursuing an acting career has been anything but smooth. It has felt like a crazy roller coaster with ups and downs. I’ve seen both amazingly gratifying moments as well as a lot of challenges such as rejections and self-doubt.
Acting is a highly competitive field, and I’ve had to learn how to deal with rejection and how to view each audition as an opportunity to grow and improve, regardless of the outcome. A professor once told me NO means Next Opportunity and every no gets you closer to your yes, so don’t give up. All these experiences, all the “No”s and the “Yes”es, have made me stronger and more resilient, and I am grateful for every experience, both positive and challenging because they shaped me into the actor and person I am today.
My hometown in Mexico is not known for having a film industry, so in order to pursue my dreams and grow as an actress, I had to leave my house, my family, and my friends. I think this has been one of my main struggles. Uprooting myself and leaving everything I knew behind in order to follow my passion. Even though it has been hard sometimes, I have never felt alone. All my family is rooting and looking out for me and I have also met the most amazing people along the way.
I grew so much not only as an artist but as a person and I have never felt so close to achieving my dreams. I’ve had a lot of moments where I look around LA or I’m on set acting and I get this overwhelming emotion of appreciation and awe. I can’t believe that what I’ve dreamed of since I was a kid is finally coming true.
And I am here thanks to the unconditional support of all the people who surround me and believe in me. My parents who have always supported me and encouraged me to follow my dreams, my uncle and aunt, and all my friends and professors, without whom I wouldn’t be here today.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I have been acting since the age of 12. My acting journey started in Tampico, a city in the northeast of Mexico. I got cast in my first big production as the lead just because I knew how to play the recorder (it’s crazy how casting works sometimes!) that led to multiple opportunities and I kept growing and working on theater ever since.
I have been part of over 18 plays, including “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, “The Mousetrap”, the female version of “The Odd Couple”, “Ça c’est Palace” a musical I did in France, and my favorite and longest running production “Romeo and Juliet” from William Shakespeare, where I gave life to Juliet Capulet.
One of the best productions I have been a part of was the play “Murdered to Death” by Agatha Christie. It was so amazing because it was completely in black and white. The costumes and our set were every shade of gray, and we had gray makeup on our whole bodies. (As you can see in the picture at the end, it’s not edited in B & W, that’s what the play actually looked like!) It just amazes me how art can transport you into all kinds of scenarios and experiences.
Lately, I have been focusing more on acting in front of the camera. I have had the opportunity to work on over 15 short films, some of them are going to festivals soon and I’m really excited to see how they do. I have been working with really talented people, learning from everyone around me and growing with each shoot.
Something that has always stuck with me is my love of dance. I have been in all kinds of dance classes such as jazz, hip-hop, belly dance, Hawaiian, break dance, heels, tap, and my favorite, Aerial dance. For me, dancing is an incredible way to express myself through my body. Having a passion for dance not only is a skill in and of itself, but gives me a keen understanding of my body, and the way I move. Something that is so important when creating a new character for a film or play.
I found myself portraying different characters in short films all around the world, in multiple languages. I think my ability to adapt to new cultures and portray them in my work and art is something that sets me apart from others. I’m also extremely proud of my Mexican culture and love to bring it alive in different characters and situations.
I’m really happy I decided to take the leap. Even if it’s sometimes really scary, I’m open to taking all the opportunities that come my way, wherever in the world it takes me. I truly believe that art can change the world and I’m hoping to leave my mark as a strong Latina, breaking stereotypes and showing the world what we are capable of.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I truly think we each make our own luck. While luck has certainly played a role in my acting career, I firmly believe that success in this field is a combination of talent, hard work, and seizing opportunities when they arise. It is about being prepared, constantly improving my skills, and collecting all the tools so that when the opportunity knocks on the door I’m ready for it.
What sets me apart from others is not only relying on luck but also my commitment to continue to learn and grow. Ultimately, luck can open doors, but it is our skills, dedication, and ability to adapt that allow us to make the most of those opportunities.
This is my dream come true and I made it here not by luck but with hard work, determination, and a great support system that always believed in me and encouraged me to follow my dreams. Always dream big. You can do anything you put your mind to.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anakarinacano/
- Other: https://resumes.actorsaccess.com/anakarinacano
Image Credits
Gabriela Mora Pranav Mehta
