We recently had the chance to connect with Ramiro Leal and have shared our conversation below.
Ramiro, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What are you chasing, and what would happen if you stopped?
I’m chasing growth — not just in my career, but in who I am as a human. Acting and modeling have given me this rare space where I get to expand, to transform, to step into new emotional worlds and bring people with me. I’m chasing the ability to tell stories that stay with people long after the screen goes dark… stories that make someone feel seen, understood, or inspired.
If I stopped chasing that, I think I would lose a part of myself. Creating, connecting, and expressing isn’t something I do — it’s the way I move through the world. The work keeps me curious, disciplined, and aligned with the life I want to build. Without the chase, I’d feel like I’m living with the volume turned down. So I keep going, because each step forward brings me closer to the stories I’m meant to tell.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Ramiro Leal, and I’m an actor and storyteller based in Los Angeles. I come from a place of deep curiosity — I’ve always been fascinated by the emotional worlds people carry inside them, and acting became the way I explore that. What draws me to film is its power to shape perspective, to move people, and to hold moments of truth that we don’t always get to say out loud in real life.
Ultimately, my ‘brand,’ if you can call it that, is rooted in authenticity. I’m not chasing perfection; I’m chasing truth. My goal is to work on projects that stay with people, stories that make you feel something long after the credits roll.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
I think what breaks the bonds between people is usually silence—those moments when we stop telling the truth, stop listening, or stop giving each other the space to be fully human. Most relationships don’t fall apart because something dramatic happens; they fracture slowly, in the little misunderstandings, unmet expectations, and unspoken hurts. When people stop feeling seen or safe, connection starts to fade.
What restores those bonds is humility and presence. Choosing to see someone clearly. Choosing to hear them without defending yourself. Choosing to repair instead of retreat. I think the strongest connections come from two people who are willing to be open, imperfect, and intentional with each other.
In my work and in my life, I’m always reminded that relationships thrive on honesty and empathy. When those return, the bond does too.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
There was a moment in college when I genuinely questioned whether I should continue pursuing acting. I wasn’t getting the kind of training or creative challenge I expected — I felt stagnant, like I was going through the motions instead of expanding. And for a while, I wondered if that meant I wasn’t meant for this.
But the truth was, I didn’t need a different career path… I needed a different environment. So I pushed myself to seek out more challenging courses, to find mentors, and to surround myself with peers who were as hungry to create as I was. Working with film students, building scenes together, experimenting, failing, trying again — that’s what reignited me. That’s when I realized that storytelling wasn’t just something I wanted to do; it was something I couldn’t walk away from.
Looking back, I’m grateful for that moment of doubt because it forced me to take ownership of my craft and build the foundation for the career I have now.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One of the biggest lies in this industry is that there’s only one ‘right’ path — that success has a formula, or that you have to fit into a certain mold to be taken seriously. The truth is, everyone’s journey looks different. Some people find momentum early, others much later, and both are valid. Creativity doesn’t follow a timeline.
Another lie is that vulnerability is a weakness. In reality, it’s one of the strongest tools an actor has. Audiences connect to truth, not polish. And yet, the industry often pretends that perfection is the goal when the most unforgettable performances come from people who are willing to be messy, emotional, and fully human.
I think we also tell ourselves that opportunities are scarce when, in fact, the landscape is expanding. New formats, new voices, and new platforms are opening space for stories that would’ve never been told a decade ago. There’s room for more people than we think — but scarcity mindset still shapes a lot of decisions.
At the end of the day, I think the healthiest thing an actor can do is step outside those myths and define success on their own terms.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people say that I lived with intention — that I showed up with an open heart, a curious mind, and a real desire to make others feel something. I want to be remembered as someone who cared deeply about the craft, who treated people with kindness, and who used storytelling to make the world a little softer and a little braver.
If anything, I hope the story people tell is that I followed my path fully — that I took risks, that I grew, that I kept choosing creativity even when it was difficult, and that I made others feel seen through the work. And beyond the screen, I hope they say I loved well, supported others generously, and left a sense of warmth behind me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ramirohleal.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ramirohleal/
Image Credits
Troy Williams
