Today we’d like to introduce you to Sonalii Castillo.
Sonalii, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I was born in Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. I am very much what you see in movies when I was little. I liked to walk bare feet all of the time, I sang to myself and danced to the rhythm of the music in my head. I would get lost and have mini adventures before panic set in when I realized that I got lost, again, lol. I was incredibly carefree with my head in the clouds. When I was five years old, my parents got an opportunity that would change our lives forever. But in order for that to happen, my older siblings and I had to stay behind while my parents went abroad.
My mother, working two jobs, was able to own her own restaurant and saved enough money to bring us to France and at the age of about 6 1/2 my siblings and I moved there with them. Through hard work and perseverance, my mother and stepfather were able to get us out of the country and brought us to France where my stepfather was studying medicine at the time. It was hard being apart, and as a child I didn’t understand it, but now as an adult, I understand the sacrifices that my mother made to give us a better chance at a good life. When I was 12 1/2, we moved to the US, NY and lived in Spanish Harlem for a few years. In school, my favorite subjects were arts, gymnastics and choir, I thrived in all creative studies. I knew very early on that a life of expression was the life I wanted to live.
Fast forward after I graduated HS and technical school, I started with modeling and that was fun, but I wanted more. A few years later, I visited a friend in LA for a week and I realized that this is where I needed to be. So I made the move from Florida where I lived for a few years, to CA without looking back.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Oh no, absolutely not. It was never a smooth road.
Being a woman of color, ethnically ambiguous, with a slight accent that no one could make out, it was challenging for me in the beginning to get in doors or get a rep. I had no clue how to go about being part of the industry. But the universe does look after me I feel and gave me some beautiful guardian angels to look after me. By chance, I took an acting class the summer after I moved here and as fate would have it, my now manager was there. He took a chance on me and the rest is history. I’ve been with him and his company for over 15 years now. He was able to knock down doors for me to make sure I was seen and given a chance, and it has paid off. I’ve gotten a lot of no’s, mainly because most don’t understand that I am a mixed Caribbean woman of Portuguese and Spanish descent and that there is more to me than just my curly hair and golden skin. Latina’s in Hollywood, the majority, are fair with straight hair when I got here anyway. Things are changing now and I am very excited to see what my next project will be. I love it because I can be anyone really, ethnically speaking. I speak three languages fluently and can take on others with ease because of it. It’s exciting to be able to create and have fun that way.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I am an actress, model and when I am not in front of the camera, I am behind it. I am also a photographer. So my world revolves around living a life of expression. Telling stories. I’m proud of what I have accomplished. I’ve surrounded myself with some great people and friends who have helped guide me and make some waves. My most proud accomplishment to me is the Short film that I wrote, produced, co-directed and starred in. It’s called MAMBA and she has won 19 awards. It’s a character that I created for myself almost a decade ago. I wasn’t given the chance to play a character like her and I was tired of waiting, so I did it. And the response has been wonderful. I have an incredible team, worked with some friends on this project and we made her what she is. Out of everything I’ve done, TV series, National Commercials, modeling ads and magazine shoots, because she is my creation and baby, I am most proud of what she has done. I am proud of me for not giving up too. I understand now why people give up and go home or abandon this life. It’s hard, it’s cruel at times fickle. And when fate knocks on your door with that amazing opportunity and you take it, the reward is so incredible that all of those no’s disappear because it got you here.
What were you like growing up?
I was a dreamer. My head always in the clouds. My mother says that I was a social butterfly, to be honest I remember being quiet a lot, crying because I would get picked on lol. I was the peacekeeper. When someone was sad, I wanted to make them laugh, happy. When someone hurt, I would hurt with them. I was like a little sprite, walking barefoot and losing her sandals and shoes every chance she got, which got me a lot of spankings lol. I have always loved animals, to the point where I wanted to get lost with them and leave humans behind. That hasn’t changed much to be honest. I was very much not a normal child. I love to dance and sing and tell stories. Back then, I just loved being in nature. By the rivers that would meet the ocean.
By pastures and cows. Always climbing a tree to steal its fruit. I was very carefree. I loved to draw, to paint. I was always humming some kind of tune. I was always dancing around. I spent a lot of time alone. I can’t be around big crowds, they make me nervous and I am hypersensitive. So the arts, anything creative really, was my gateway to another reality. I would go there when I didn’t like my own. I read a lot of books too. I love to cook. Got that from my mom. I love having friends over and cooking a massive meal and spend hours talking and telling stories. Just listen to them laugh and share and sometimes, with my friends, we tease each other to no end. It’s quite fabulous really. So to say that I am introverted is an understatement. But, when I’m around friends and family, oh I can absolutely be the life of the party.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 1(818) 953-2225
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/SONALIICASTILLO
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/spicymoore
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/spicymoore
- Other: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2342308/
Image Credit:
Jesse Garcia, Paul Schefz, MoorishDreamer
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