Today we’d like to introduce you to Angelique Rivera.
Angelique, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My love for the performing arts began when I was two years old, learning to dance in a ballet class, but it was when I discovered musical theatre at around eight years old I was instantly hooked, and there was no going back. My first musical was “Annie” and I was cast to play the bully of the orphans, Pepper. This was a stretch for me since I was an awkward, shy, and quiet kid, but taking on a challenging role like that opened me up to parts of myself that I didn’t know existed. That is when I fell in love with acting and became determined to become a professional actor. I continued to do musicals all throughout my childhood, and in high school, I began studying and performing in plays. I knew by then that I wanted to get into a BFA program for college so I could study acting. I was laser-focused and hungry to keep growing and improving my craft. I went to the University of Florida and was in their BFA Acting program, and although I learned a lot, I struggled to get cast in the department shows. However, I would get cast in a lot of student films, and that is how I met my then-boyfriend, now husband. He was planning on moving to Los Angeles when I met him, and as we got more serious, I began to consider going a different route and pursuing a career in TV and film instead of theatre. I graduated a semester early to move to Los Angeles to begin auditioning.
My first day in Los Angeles I had set up two acting manager meetings and an interview to work as a server at a restaurant. Before the end of the week, both managers wanted to sign me, and I got the restaurant job. It was pilot season, and I started auditioning right away. I got no after no. It was rough. I didn’t even get callbacks. My first callback was six months later, and that happened to become my first professional job as a series regular on “American Crime,” which was created by Academy Award-winning screenwriter John Ridley. When it’s for you, it’s for you. Filming alongside greats like Lili Taylor, Regina King, and Timothy Hutton was like getting paid to receive the finest acting training. I learned so much from everyone on that set, and it has greatly influenced who I am as an artist. Becoming Evy Dominguez was such a special process for me, she gave me the amazing opportunity to get back to my roots of why I fell in love with acting in the first place because I had to transform into something completely different than who I was. I am a girly girl but for Evy I had to go without wearing makeup, I couldn’t pluck my eyebrows or color my hair, I had to change my voice, my walk, everything. That role launched my career as an actor, and I steadily worked in TV and film for years after that. I even attended the Primetime Emmy Awards because we were nominated for Best Limited Series!
Although I am grateful for every role and every project I have ever been a part of, I knew there was something missing, and I couldn’t really put my finger on it. It wasn’t until I had a long break from booking acting jobs and couldn’t catch a break in life when I discovered this book called “The Artist’s Way” by Julia Cameron. Reading her book changed my life, expanded me as an artist, and changed my trajectory. I discovered while reading this book that I was a filmmaker. A word that felt so big and scary to me at the time because it was so out of my comfort zone. I was so heavily focused on acting for so long and never considered that I could be anything else. I had explored writing and directing prior to that but didn’t necessarily believe that I was that. This caused a major identity shift in me and prompted a leap of faith from the known of where I was to the unknown of who I was going to become. That leap of faith led me to make my first short film, “I’m Not Okay,” which I wrote, directed, produced, and starred in. It’s about a woman who prays for clarity after experiencing the worst year of her life, but when she wakes up and begins to uncontrollably think out loud, it challenges her way of living, grieving, and perspective on life moving forward. This past October, it premiered at the Orlando Film Festival, and now I can confidently say that I am an actor and a filmmaker.
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?
It’s definitely been more of a rocky road, but that’s just life. There will always be peaks and valleys. The ones who keep going learn that it’s perfectly designed that way. Nothing worth having comes easy. Nothing of true value is just handed to you. You have to believe for it, you have to work for it and be present in the process. I’ve experienced many struggles internally and externally. A large part of the battle has been in my mind though. I’ve had to do a lot of work to change the way I think through my relationship with God and therapy.
My short film, “I’m Not Okay”, openly depicts this journey I went on to heal my mind. I had a victim mentality for a very long time due to holding onto past hurts and resentments. I was unconsciously very angry and dealt with negative intrusive thoughts constantly that would spiral very quickly into anxiety, and when 2020 hit me, it hit me hard. I stopped taking care of myself, and I was very depressed. I was dealing with a level of grief I could barely manage. I lost my dad in January, all my jobs by March, my grandma passed away in July, and by the end of the year, I was in the hospital fighting for my life. It was in that moment on that hospital bed, once I regained consciousness, that I made a promise to God. I told Him, “I know I’ve been living like I’m already dead but I don’t want to die, I want to live again. If I survive this, I promise I will live for you.” That was the lowest moment in my life but also the most important. It was the day I decided to take responsibility and do the work to change my perspective and heal my mind, which ultimately changed my life. “As a man thinks, so is he.” – Proverbs 23:7
I still struggle with my mind; it’s an everyday battle, but now I have the tools to fight, and I feel stronger than ever. And that’s what struggles do; they make you stronger and wiser.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am most known for being an actor since filmmaking is more of a recent endeavor for me. As an actor, I pretty much do it all – TV, film, voiceover, commercials, and print. I am most known for playing Evy Dominguez on ABC’s American Crime season two. I work mostly in drama and horror, but I really enjoy comedy and hope to do more of it in the future. As a filmmaker, I have one short under my belt and would love to make more. Eventually, I’d like to transition to features. I am most proud of my work in “I’m Not Okay”. Bringing a vision from conception to completion is the most rewarding experience. To wear so many hats and balance all of that was a fulfilling challenge. It’s also so beautiful to watch people come together from all different walks of life and offer their talents to take on this huge undertaking with you. It’s so humbling. Filmmaking requires a village, and I have immense gratitude for my village. I have surrounded myself with incredible artists that I respect and admire, which has made all the difference. So thank you to my husband Arnau and my friends Brandon, Jordan, Wes, Alycia, Doug, James, and Miguel for being so generous with their talents and choosing to make “I’m Not Okay” with me.
I believe my faith sets me apart from others. Moments before we started filming “I’m Not Okay”, I prayed with everyone on set. When you take yourself out of it, recognize your creator, make your art a loving sacrifice, and work in divine flow, then anything can happen, which makes the work so freeing, unpredictable, and exciting! The pressure is off, and you can just purely create – it’s an indescribable feeling. We shot 90% of the film in one day, 70% of the film was improvised and looking back it’s shocking how smooth it went. When I think of all the moving pieces and how everything aligned so beautifully, it makes me emotional. I poured my heart and soul into this. I pushed myself as an actor like I never had before. I was going through a rollercoaster of emotions for 12 hours straight. It was exhausting but also exhilarating. It felt like a release. I just laid it all out, so I really feel like “I’m Not Okay” is a piece of me. It’s scary to be so vulnerable, but what also sets me apart is that despite the fear I’m going to be vulnerable anyway – in my art and my life.
If you’d like to watch “I’m Not Okay” you can see it on the Art In Reel YouTube channel starting January 26th, 2024: https://www.youtube.com/@ArtInReel
What makes you happy?
Jesus, my husband, my family, and my friends. Walking on the beach, swimming in the ocean, hiking a mountain, traveling to new countries, meeting new people, helping others, and giving to others. I mean, so many things. The through line here is connection. I am most happy when I am connected to God, nature, and others.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.angeliquerivera.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angeliqueroblesrivera/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AngeliqueRiveraOfficial
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelique-rivera-864b89240/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/itsangeliquer
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ArtInReel
Image Credits
Wes Rodriguez, Kevin Thomas, ABC, Gunpowder & Sky, Alexis Dickey
