Today we’d like to introduce you to ANNA ROCÍO MENDOZA.
Hi ANNA ROCÍO, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’m a first-generation Mexican American — a proud Xicana, born and raised in Santa Clarita, California, in the neighborhood of Newhall. My parents came here from Mexico for a better life, as so many families have. We come from a line of farm workers and gardeners; their hands and sacrifices built the roots that hold me up today.
Growing up, I never really saw people like us on American TV. But at home, I saw us everywhere. Some of my best memories are sitting next to my mom, watching telenovelas together, completely wrapped up in all the drama, chisme, and romance. And with my dad, it was the old classics: Golden Age Mexican cinema. He loved comedies the most — Cantinflas, Chespirito, Joaquín Pardavé. Those nights in our living room taught me early on what stories can do: how they bring people together, remind you where you come from, and make you feel at home, even when the world outside doesn’t always see you.
Sitting on that couch next to my mom and dad shaped me more than I knew at the time. It made me want to fight for our stories, for families like mine, neighborhoods like mine, Mexican like mine to have a place on screen too. That’s what pulled me into casting. I started at the very bottom — an intern, then an assistant, soaking up everything I could, learning from mentors, leaning on community.
Now, I feel so lucky to do work that keeps our roots alive and puts our faces and voices where they belong. It’s not always easy, but every time I see someone on screen who reminds me of my mom, my dad, my tíos, my tías, my abuelitos — I know exactly why I am here.
Everything I do is for them. For my community. For that little Brown girl in Newhall who dreamed in two languages and believed there was room for us too.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Growing up as a brown Mexican girl in a mostly white, suburban city like Santa Clarita came with a lot of moments where I felt like I didn’t quite belong. I was proud of my family and my roots, but I didn’t always see that pride reflected around me. I’d go to school and feel like I had to speak or act a certain way to fit in — then come home and be reminded of who I really was in our living room, with my dad watching TV in Spanish, my mom cooking up a delicious Mexican meal in the kitchen.
There were so many times when people made me feel small for where I came from. The jokes about “being too Mexican” or “not enough Mexican”, the assumptions or stereotypes about my family, the stares when my mom spoke with her accent in public. The micro aggressions that stick with you.
Later, coming into the industry, there were new challenges. Walking into rooms where I didn’t see many people who looked like me, trying to find my voice, reminding myself that I did belong. There were moments I questioned if I was doing enough, if I was enough.
But I think growing up feeling different made me stronger. It made me want to push back, to carve out space, to make sure other young brown girls see themselves reflected in the stories we tell. The struggles taught me to hold on tighter to my identity, to my family, to my roots.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’ve always known I wanted to be part of the entertainment world. As a kid, I was always daydreaming about being an actor and explored theater when I was younger. I just loved stories and the feeling of stepping into someone else’s world.
I studied TV Production at Cal State Northridge and explored different parts of the industry through internships until I discovered casting and it just felt right.
Now, I focus on casting for film and TV, especially stories that feel real and represent voices that don’t always get heard. I’m a proudly first-generation Mexican American, and I bring that perspective and purpose into every project. I care deeply about helping actors find roles that reflect who they really are and where they come from.
I’m proud to play even a small part in bringing authentic stories to life and opening doors for actors who might not always get the chance. Every time I see someone succeed, it feels like I’m helping make space for my community
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
My biggest piece of advice is to stay authentic and true to yourself, especially in an industry that sometimes tries to tell you who you should be. When I was starting out, I wish I’d known that the very things that made me feel different — my background, my culture, my point of view which would one day become my greatest strengths.
Don’t be afraid to bring your whole self into every room you enter. People remember honesty and heart. Also, be curious and ask questions, be willing to learn from anyone, and stay humble enough to know there’s always more to learn!
And lastly, build community. This industry can feel lonely sometimes, so surround yourself with people who lift you up, who get you, and who remind you why you’re doing this.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @annarocio
- Other: IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6416139/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_2_nm_6_in_0_q_anna%2520rocio%2520
