Today we’d like to introduce you to Mario Corona.
Mario, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
When I was a kid, I saw a picture of a whale drawing small red hearts from its blowhole, it had a quote that said: ‘Life is a song for the heart that is free’. In me, as I knew I would live my life that way. My name is Mario Corona and I am an actor. I was born and raised in what was considered to be the largest city in the world for many years, Mexico City, the ancient Tenochtitlán, the capital of the Aztec world. From a very young age, I was fascinated by the music of Carmina Burana by Carl Orff, since my mother sang in the Choir of the National Conservatory of Music, she even became my music teacher once.
The natural inclination I felt for acting took me to my first audition when these guys from a film company suddenly appeared in my classroom, they were looking for their talent for their next commercial. I raised my hand among other two people… then I thought, these will be too easy. There I was, encouraging my mom to take me to audition for the part and after a callback, they called me! Well, my mom answered. So I was selected to make my first commercial for a milk brand, and guess what? My mother was selected too! But this time she didn’t play my real mother, a model took that honor.
Time passed and there I was in my early twenties when I started as a stunt for the Action/Drama hit telenovela ‘Nada Personal’ starring Demián Bichir while studying Theater at The Russian School of Acting for four years. I also learned fencing, height falls and stage fighting. During School, won the first place for a monologue contest and then I was selected for the Youth Arts Festival in Sofia, Bulgaria with an excerpt from ‘Catcher in the Rye’ and then graduating with a Diploma with the play ‘White Nights’ by Fiodor Dostoyevsky. Later on, was selected to host a TV show for kids that became one of the most popular shows of this nature in Mexico, that show actually holds the record for having the largest team of reporters in the world to close to 300k reporters. That show is Bizbirije by Once TV and for this work, I was awarded with the National Journalism Prize and the National Locution Award twice in 2004 and 2005. Oh yes, my mom was very proud.
I have worked for major Television Networks like the Disney Channel, Discovery Channel. My film work includes three Sony Pictures, Neill Blomkamp’s second feature ‘Elysium’, starring Matt Damon, Diego Luna and Wagner Moura, the comedies Bad Girls (Niñas Mal) and Road to Fame (Casi Divas), in Television, the Awarded hit series ‘Las Aparicio’, high-tech invention show ‘La Fábrica’ for the Discovery Channel and Disney’s ‘Zapping Zone’ Time for auditioning came back but this time for a play, I was so intrigued by it, did it, never heard back from them until three weeks later, where they thought I was on a deserted island or something. They didn’t get my number right so instead of a 9 they dialed 3, anyhow, they reached me to say I was on board to play fine Lawyer Muñoz. During the tour, I switched characters, this time to play Umberto, the youngest son.
While performing in Tijuana, a Theater Promotor from LA saw the play, liked it and invited us to perform there. Two months later, we were there in the city of Angels. I wouldn’t be here if they hadn’t called me in the first place. Funny how destiny works huh? So I did ‘Filomena Marturano’ a theatre play based on ”Marriage Italian Style” by Eduardo de Filippo, which reached its 300th representation in Los Angeles, a plaque was unveiled and the plane that took me here had a name: Oscar! Shortly after, I decided to move to LA on my birthday in 2012. It was a bold and emotional move, again, felt free to embark in this new adventure.
After two weeks I bought my bicycle. On it, I’ve traveled all over the city from casting to casting and getting to know my surroundings. There are many jewel spots in LA, being the Griffith Observatory my favorite one ever. From Hollywood to Santa Monica, DTLA to Culver City or Sherman Oaks to Culver City, I’ve ridden my true companion everywhere to reach my destiny and getting there to meet more Casting Directors. All of this took me to participate in the hit series “Jane The Virgin” the very week they won the Golden Globe, they were very enthusiastic. Then worked in “Maira” a short film Directed by Shelby Baldock that participated in the Southern Film Festival in Laffayette, Louisiana. My work also includes Film such as ‘Madness in the Method’, the Theatre plays ‘La Bestia’ and ‘The Lullaby’ both participated in the ‘Short and Sweet Festival’ held at the Lee Strasberg Institute, commercials, including a successful beer campaign for the World Cup opposite Sylvester Stallone and Dolph Lundgren; also short films with the American Film Institute and Chapman University.
Great, 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?
Acting is not an easy way, and even if you succeed, you’ll have to keep on track and train. Hardships are opportunities to grow, even if you don’t see them as such. There are many factors to take into account, the language, the culture, but especially, the system, how does the system work compared to your country, to your industry. If you understand the system you’re in, then you can contribute to it.
Being a sports person myself, I have encountered an analogy between sports, specifically football soccer, and acting, when it comes to acting, is like playing in different positions on the field, each one of them with different mindsets. For instance, midfielders keep the ball and create the plays, the opportunities, then enter the strikers or forwards who’s work is to score! Characters are no different because they have different positions and perspectives in relation to the story, different natures and different needs, therefore different forms to show them.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
As an actor, I am constantly thinking about the world we live in, the human condition, thats my enterprise. That’s why I’m also focused on creating more stories and content. I am currently working on the last stage of a sci-fi series with Dani Azu and Mike Bonza. I studied Psychological Realism Theatre at the Russian School of Acting in Mexico and I have learned through the process that there is a unique nature in all things that need to be represented. I may be known for my work in the TV show for kids ‘Bizbirije’ the Feature Film ‘Niñas Mal’, and the TV hit ‘Las Aparicio’ but I know I make my own way in life by simply being honest and transparent with the people I love and come to my life. I have a passion for my work and another aspect of my life which is traveling, I am a proud actor-traveler. I learn a lot when I travel.
I did my first solo trip when I was 14 to Denver to participate in the International Friendship Cup of Colorado, I returned the following year. Then came Western Europe, Moscow, Sofia, Rila. Then later visited distant countries like Mongolia or Egypt, Indy style! I did a road trip from Miami to LA with my ex and another one in New Zealand in both islands. When I was 24, I traveled to Europe on a cargo ship in exchange for work. Recently crossed Asia and Siberia on the Trans-Mongolian train from Beijing to Moscow. Traveling completes me.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Wow, I believe both personal and professional moments for being proud can be found when you love what you do and appreciate the simplest of life, its moments, I love to collect moments, I love to harvest the daily gratitude in everything, and I have a good memory for those moments. I am thankful for all of that.
The day I met Harrison Ford.. (still have goosebumps) wrote him a thank you letter, gave it to him, hand shaked me! When booked a campaign to work opposite Sylvester Stallone and Dolph Lundgren for the World Cup Russia 2018. Last year was a great year for personal challenges. I completed the San Dimas Turkey Triathlon, my first one, and four days later finished 20th place at the Turkey trot LA 5k race, and as for my career, I did my first play in English during the Short and Sweet Theatre Festival. I felt comfortable in the skin of Shane in ‘The Lullaby’ Directed by the lovely Lucy Vico. Of course, there is a special place for when I had the honor of winning two medals back to back for hosting Bizbirije, those were the National Journalism Award (The highest award of the prestigious institution) and The National Award for Hosting in 2004 and 2005.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1708588/
- Instagram: instagram.com/mario_corona_
Image Credit:
– Mariel Mayora (Mario 2.jpg) PERSONAL PHOTO.
Suggest a story: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
