Check Out Carolina Queiroz Couto’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Carolina Queiroz Couto

Hi Carolina, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory. 
I grew up in the West Zone of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in a humble community called Jardim Sulacap. I had a dream of living the American dream and studying in the United States, but I had no money to do so. I worked hard to pay for my English classes in Brazil so I could have the chance to come to college in America someday. An opportunity presented itself to come and study in a small liberal arts college in Illinois. I had no idea how I was going to make it work financially, but I trusted in God to show me and my family the way. Many people helped to make this dream come true, including the donors at the college. After three years of trying to make it happen, I was finally accepted at Principia College, and I fell in love with Acting. 

Being far away from my family was hard (it’s always been) but it also helped me to have the courage to study what I really dreamed of and pursue a career in acting. There were so many financial and cultural walls I had to break through to finish college, but I did it successfully. Even during college, I got my first few professional acting work, a Classical Acting Award from the Kennedy Center, and my EMC card (Equity Membership Candidate). Soon after I graduated, I booked more professional projects with local and equity theaters, even throughout the pandemic. And the most amazing thing happened! I was accepted into a highly competitive Master of Fine Arts Acting program at Louisiana State University. That is where I got my teaching certification in Seven Pillars Acting with Sonya Cooke, the founder of the technique. After that, I was able to come to Los Angeles to continue pursuing acting, but now with a master’s degree under my belt and many opportunities to teach in town, including at the Fountain Theater (through the Fountain Voices program) and the Actor’s Studio of Orange County. 

I feel so fortunate to be here. From where I come from, stories like these don’t happen. So, I feel like I’m living the impossible dream! 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The biggest struggles have been navigating the rules imposed on international students and the financial burden that comes with some of these restrictions. Outside of that, breaking through the acting industry is always difficult for anyone pursuing this career. I think the combination of both these factors made it quite discouraging to pursue this profession, but at the same time, it taught me to think outside the box about how to move forward and make it work. 

Missing my family, my language and my culture has always been difficult. It is something you can never overcome. But I try to carry them with me in every project I take on and in every victory I have here. Everything becomes about representing Brazil and sharing my success with my family. Ultimately, I know that I am in my right place, and I know that they are happy for me and want the best for me always. 

I think it is important to keep a grateful heart and a positive attitude even when things get tough. It allows me to keep an open-minded perspective and enjoy the process. 

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 an actor! Some of my main roles include Desdemona in Shakespeare’s OTHELLO produced by Theater Baton Rouge, Cordelia and the Fool in Shakespeare’s KING LEAR produced by Ozark Actor Theater, directed by A.S. Freeman, and Oscar in Lynn Nottage’s SWEAT produced by Swine Palace, directed by G.D. Kimble. I have also had the pleasure to do one of my favorite shows in 2022, produced by the Red Magnolia Theater Company, Lauren Gunderson’s THE REVOLUTIONISTS where I played Marie Antoinette. It was such a wonderful thing to work with a theater that focuses on women’s playwriting, and that is run only by women. It is such a rare thing, and I couldn’t be more proud of that work. 

Another wonderful production I got to be a part of was Thornton Wilder’s OUR TOWN, produced by Ozark Actors Theater in Rolla, MO. This was such a beautiful production to be a part of, and I was nominated by BroadwayWorld as Best Actress in the region. This was the project that opened the door for me to be a part of the EMC program. 

I have been a part of one-woman shows, including THE TWELVE DATES OF CHRISTMAS by Ginna Hoben and the one I wrote with the support of Leigh Fondakowski from the Tectonic Theater Project called CONFESSIONS OF A CARIOCA. I have also been a part of a few short film projects like LA MANO NEGRA, BREAK, and THE BURGER (all available online). I also love to direct! I have been an assistant director to a Swine Palace production called CRATERS by Femi Euba. I’m a teacher, as well. I was the professor of record for the Beginning Acting classes at the undergraduate level at LSU. I am currently a Teaching Artist for the Fountain Voices and an Instructor of Seven Pillars Acting at The Actor’s Studio of Orange County. I also coach privately. 

I’m looking forward to getting my Moment Work teaching certification through the Tectonic Theater Project in New York this summer. I’m also excited about new collaborations and new projects coming up with folks here in Los Angeles. I want to grow as an actor and as a director in town while continuing to support other incoming artists through my teaching and coaching. 

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up.
My favorite memories are the times I used to go to the beach in Rio de Janeiro with my best friend, Bruna. We would only have enough money for the bus ride… We would bring sandwiches and enjoy a Saturday at the beach shore in Barra da Tijuca all day. We had so much fun and felt so independent even though we were so young… We would play in the water and meet new people. Go for long walks along the shore and lay down in the sand while we tanned. Sometimes, she would bring some extra cash, and we would buy some coconut water. We would play fresco Bol sometimes, swim, and dance to Brazilian funk. Ah, those were such good times! I keep trying to find again that sense of adventure and freedom in my collaborations. And it’s becoming easier and easier to do that since I moved to L.A. I guess it’s all that sunshine and palm trees that bring this irrevocable sense of peace and fun! 

Pricing:

• Private Zoom coaching lessons: $50/hour

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @carolinaqcouto
• Other: https://www.backstage.com/u/Carolina-Queiroz-Couto/

Image Credits
Cameron Radice
Joyce Dang
Zachary Ochinko
Alice Wilkinson
Alana Johnson
LaDonna Ouedraogo
Douglas Scott Streater
Justin Newel
Adam Seeholzer
Bob Phelan
John Contini
Vastine Stabler
Brett Duggan
Haven Armstrong
Irina Kruchinina
2KFILMS
Red Magnolia Theatre Company