Meet Oksana Barrios of Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Oksana Barrios.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Hi! I’m Oksana Barrios, a first-generation Mexican American actress and lifestyle content creator. I know most kids don’t really know what they want to be when they grow up, but I always knew, without a doubt, that acting and fashion would somehow be part of my future. Luckily for me, I get to do both.

I remember being 12 years old, going to Kmart with my grandma and spending my entire $20 allowance on the cutest flower-print tee that I later had her sew into a tank top because I thought it looked “so much cuter” that way! Having my grandma as my personal seamstress definitely stressed my mom out whenever she bought me clothes so she’d always ask, “Are you going to cut this one up too?” just to mentally prepare herself.

While my nights were spent bossing my grandma around making sure my “designs” came to life, my afternoons were spent at an after-school music program where my parents forced me to take piano lessons. The deal was: if I took piano, I could also take the theater class. I’m still not really sure why a music school had a theater program, but honestly, that’s none of my business because that’s where I first fell in love with acting.

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?
I was painfully shy growing up to the point where even talking to people felt terrifying but whenever I stepped on stage, I suddenly felt this overwhelming confidence I didn’t even know I was capable of and I loved that feeling. One day, my acting teacher, who was a young film and TV actor/model, pulled me aside and told me, “You need to meet with my agency.” That moment genuinely changed my life. Even though I didn’t end up signing with them until years later, apparently I needed a few more years of training and to get my braces removed first, the experience introduced me to the world of on-camera acting, and I immediately knew it was what I wanted to do.

Looking back, I think my ability to fearlessly chase my dreams comes from my parents, who came to America with nothing except their own dreams. It’s definitely been a bumpy road on both sides of my career, from thousands of acting rejections to trying to survive an ever-changing Instagram algorithm, but there have also been so many moments that reminded me why I love what I do.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’ve had the opportunity to book commercials with brands like Home Depot, Disney, AT&T, and the NFL, but one of my favorite experiences to date was acting alongside Sung Kang in an indie film. When I say Fast & Furious was my brother’s and my go-to road trip movie, I mean we’ve probably watched it together at least 200 times so being able to call him and tell him I was working with thee “Han Lue” felt like one of those full-circle, pinch-me moments I’ll never forget.
This spring, I also had the opportunity to live in New York for two months while performing in Innocence at the Met Opera, which was an incredible experience, especially after the show received a rave review from The New York Times.

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
Even with the exciting moments, I think every creative goes through slower seasons, and I’ve learned those are often the moments that push you to grow the most. During one of those periods, two of my close actor friends and I decided to create our own opportunity by co-writing and acting in a short film for the 48-Hour Film Festival. Our team ended up being runner-up for Best Acting Ensemble, and the experience reminded me how important community and creativity are in this industry.

Right now, I’m just focused on continuing to grow, telling stories that feel real to me, and working with people who genuinely inspire me. I’m really grateful for the path so far, even the messy parts, because they’ve all shaped who I am creatively and personally. At the end of the day, I just love what I do, and I’m excited to keep learning, keep creating, and see where it all leads.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oksanabarr
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/oksanabarr
• Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11505829/