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Daily Inspiration: Meet Anthony Hernandez

Today we’d like to introduce you to Anthony Hernandez.

Hi Anthony, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
December 10th, 1989. I was born in Pasadena, California at Huntington Memorial Hospital. I grew up in a town called Glendora located in the San Gabriel Valley. As a child, I loved to play sports, video games, and hang out with friends around my neighborhood. I loved performing for talent shows and entertaining others. Growing up, I always envisioned myself playing sports professionally or joining the air force. My father used to be a pilot so we shared the same love for flying and sports. I was fascinated with planes and I’d watch them fly over trying to figure out which model they were. After high school, I had no clue what career or future I wanted for myself. After a year of jumping community colleges, I realized I needed a fresh start. So, I moved to Long Beach where my best friend was attending CSU Long Beach. I knew I wanted to study film and who wouldn’t want to live by the beach? I began studying at Long Beach City College and toward the end of my time there, I changed my major to Theatre Arts. My goal was to get into Long Beach State, but my grades weren’t good enough to apply for the film program. So, with my future in the balance my advisor went over other majors that weren’t impacted.

At the time, schools still had non impacted majors so some areas of study weren’t as competitive to apply for. I wasn’t really sure why, but for some reason I kept looking at Theatre Tech. I kinda liked the idea of working behind the scenes building sets and working with lighting. So, I applied and got in! During my first semester, I realized once again I had no clue what I wanted to do. Theatre was a new world for me and I wasn’t sure if my heart was all in. My advisor recommended I try an acting class. So I did. And the rest is history. Once I got serious about the training, I knew if I wanted to really chase this dream, I needed to go through grad school. It wasn’t something I wanted. I needed it. I needed it for me, and there was a lot of fear in that. My parents don’t have college degrees let alone a Masters’ degree. My journey was moving into uncharted terrain. I spent three years straight trying to get into grad school. Each time I auditioned, I felt I got closer and closer.

After that third time, I really began to question if this acting thing was for me after all. I started working random jobs and eventually picked up a full-time gig working delivery for Amazon. I did that for about ten months. Again, I had hit that wall of not knowing. I was sitting in my delivery van back hurting from hauling so many boxes and packages. I’ll never forget it. I was truly depressed. Rethinking my entire life wondering how I got to where I was, as there were another 20 packages sitting next to me waiting to be dropped off. At that moment, I decided I was gonna quit my stable full-time job and risk it all. The other times I auditioned, I was either working or in a show so there was always something else going on. This time, I had to put all of my chips on the table and go all in. It was life or death for me. I couldn’t see or imagine myself doing anything else. So I raised the stakes and said this is it. Then, CalArts called my name and thats how I got to where I am today. In the midst of this pandemic halfway finished with my graduate career working from home. Just like everyone else.

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 has been so bumpy! One struggle that comes to mind is just the constant battle with myself. The road to growth isn’t what people think it is. I think you have to truly face huge decisions more often than you’d like. Acting isn’t exactly a stable 9-5 and there is no guarantee. Having to battle with the logical choice and what your heart tells you is risky. For me, I have chosen the journey of facing my fears. Fear plays a huge role in what I do. Getting in front of people and telling your truth can be terrifying. Opening up to your deepest insecurities and doubts isn’t a walk in the park. I have to live in the uncomfortable and exploring that space within myself brings up painful truths. Who do I want to be? What kind of actor do I want to be? Am I going to go into that which truly scares me, or am I going to settle? As an artist, I have to confront this every day. Identity plays a huge part. I believe a big part of that is how I handled my hardships. I feel that the struggle is what truly makes us better. We gain perspective and empathy toward others. I have sacrificed relationships and financial stability just to get here. Could it have been easier? I don’t know.

At the end of the day, we can either trust our instincts or choose something else. I can’t tell you how many times I had to consider getting an actual job instead of being in a show that wasn’t paying me. My sister and both my parents have full-time county jobs and I’d be lying if I didn’t consider following that same path these last five years. I imagine any trailblazer deals with obstacles every step of the way. Another challenge for me was simply asking for help. I am truly grateful and indebted to my family for staying by my side through this whole process of getting into grad school. I’ve had uncles, aunts, cousins, grandparents, and friends who supported me. They’ve helped me pay for applications, plane tickets, hotel rooms, gas, food, etc. Half the time, they just invested in me knowing what I was chasing. I owe my mom a lot for constantly updating my family about what I was getting into otherwise I don’t think they would’ve been so keen to help me. I’ll never forget one time I auditioned in San Francisco and I had NO money. My auditions for the day were done and I legit had nowhere to go. It’s hard for me to ask for help for anything. Let alone a hotel room for the night in the middle of winter in San Francisco. It was nighttime and I was eating dinner at some diner. I remember just staring at my empty plate feeling embarrassed to have to make that kind of call. Looking back, that wasn’t the time to let my ego get in the way of finding somewhere to sleep.

When I was growing up I didn’t plan to be an actor. I didn’t plan to be on this dream chase. It just happened. So, I’ve learned that plans change. Yes, my goal was to get to where I am, but the plan of how to do that changed so much to the point where I nearly gave it up. Anything worth having in life doesn’t come easy. I truly believe that the struggle led me on this trajectory. I can recall the numerous times people told me I needed to have a “Plan B.” But I am not in the business of taking the easy route. And there’s nothing wrong with that choice. It just isn’t for me. I don’t want to wake up one day in the future and wonder “What if?” As I reflect, it truly wasn’t a smooth road. Any path uncharted is riddled with bumps. This journey has been the most challenging thing I have ever experienced and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am an actor. I am currently in the middle of my second year of the MFA Acting program at California Institute of the Arts, or CalArts. I am training in the art of Theatre and eventually Film. I am also learning how to be an artist overall which has been a gift. There is a freedom and liberation in this work. I love to make music and write rhymes. Moreover, I love to just create and collaborate with other artists. I specialize in making fish tacos and quoting Drake lyrics as they pertain to the current moment. I feel I am known for my laughter and big heart. I was raised by women so I always find myself wanting to help others. I am most proud of my mother overcoming cancer. After two surgeries and one year of chemo treatment she is cancer free. My ability to live and be guided by my heart, my desire to empower myself and others through my vulnerability, and approach my art with the need to tell my truth with the goal to have a positive impact on the world. That’s what sets me apart.

What’s next?
I’m looking forward to what the universe is going to throw my way. Life often gives me the things I need and I am excited for what is to come. My plan is to strive for anything that will bring me joy and inspire my work. I want to be working bi-costal performing theatre and working in television. I look forward to connecting with more artists and collaborators. I also look forward to having children and a partner in crime to share my life with. 2020 was such an intense and rough year, so following the chaos this pandemic brought us I look forward to and plan to just live my life fully. It’s too late to hold anything back now,

Contact Info:

  • Instagram: thee.young.prince
  • SoundCloud: TherealAnthonyH


Image Credits:

Tyler Pucci Cynthia Price

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