Meet Natalia Bilbao

Today we’d like to introduce you to Natalia Bilbao.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Natalia. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I was born and raised in Bilbao, Spain, became a tennis semipro while I was in high school, then started Business College at Deusto Business School and an acting degree in Artebi in Bilbao and combined that with acting classes at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London during the summer.

Once I graduated with high scores and after being in my very first feature film with an award-winning actress in Spain, I decided to move to Madrid, the capital of Spain, to pursue acting full time. Initially, I struggled to work as an actress, so I worked for several temporary companies, I taught English, I worked at events as a hostess and in the production aspects and even combined a full-time job at a tech corporation with night acting classes. I was trying to squeeze acting into my very demanding corporate job, but I was getting 5 hours of sleep and feeling miserable, so one day, when my boss offered me a promotion and said I had to focus on my corporate career and stop acting, there and then I decided to quit, having barely any savings and no safety net, just with the conviction that I couldn’t turn my back on acting, my true calling and passion. I gave up all financial stability and a promising career in one of the top tech companies in the world to chase a dream. I freelanced as an actress, host, MC and also worked for different start up companies part-time until I decided to just be a storyteller and that’s what I’ve been doing for the past four years.

A bit under two years ago, after working on some internationally acclaimed and award-winning films and hosting very reputable online, TV and live shows, I decided to move to the USA with an O1 Visa to propel my career forward and work with some of my favorite directors, actors and artists. Ever since moving to Los Angeles (I live in Hollywood) I haven’t stopped auditioning and working. I’m a natural-born hustler and I refer to myself as a creative cockroach, meaning I know I will find work as an actress and host regardless of the circumstances. I have a strong resilience and discipline thanks to my years as a semi pro tennis player, which is what has kept me going and makes me continue pursuing my dreams. Today, I have a regular TV hosting job for one of the world’s top fashion brands, cohosting their weekly live show which is one of the top Mexican online shows at the moment. I’m also part of TMI Hollywood, LA’s longest-running comedy sketch show. I just finished dubbing a TV series for Netflix playing a really amazing role. Just last week I got cast as one of the leads in a feature film shooting in early September in New Mexico, I’m also shooting another film this month in Los Angeles and yet another at the end of September in Los Angeles too. I feel blessed to be so busy.

Has it been a smooth road?
There’s been a lot of sacrifices, both professionally and personally. I choose projects based on what I think they will bring to me as an artist, obviously, I love doing high paid jobs. But I’ve had to turn down things that I thought wouldn’t benefit the type of career I want to have. Personally, I’ve been so focused and dedicated to my craft that I haven’t had time to have deep romantic relationships and have hurt some friendships, but fortunately I have a wonderful family and close group of friends who support me 100%. But it’s not easy, sometimes it feels lonely when all your focus is on your career like right now, all my family is in Spain (where I’m from) and I’m here because I have a lot of work and don’t want to stop riding this great wave. I’ve always had to prove myself, coming from a nonartistic environment, people never took my acting dream seriously and thought it was just a phase and that I would soon settle into a comfortable and safe corporate job. I love that I’ve kept my promise of continuing to advance in my craft despite the setbacks.

We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I’m a very versatile actress, I do drama, comedy and action. Being a semi pro athlete has allowed me to perform well in physically demanding roles and action-driven projects. In terms of comedy, I’m quite good with accents both in Spanish and English, which guarantees me constant work as well as adaptability when it comes to the range of roles I can play. I guess, if I had to describe myself in a short sentence I would say I’m a bilingual bad-ass biker chick with European grace and dark humor. I have the ability to be a tough exterior soft interior kind of performer. People always talk about how reliable I am and how grounded and strong my characters are.

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Los Angeles is heaven for actors who want to be artists and business people which is what I consider myself. It offers so many possibilities, communities and niches. If you have a clear brand, you’ll find your market and the people to help you approach that market in the most efficient and creative way. I’m in love with Los Angeles and the beautiful and rich diversity which makes it one of the most innovative and thrilling places in the world to live and work in.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.nataliabilbao.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natalia_bilbao/

Image Credit:
Fresh Look LA

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