Rising Stars: Meet Natalia Castellanos

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

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?
When I think about my story, the first thing that comes to mind is how my father’s career rather accidentally influenced my own. I was born in Suriname to Colombian Venezuelan parents. My dad was a Venezuelan diplomat, so we moved around every few years. After Suriname, we lived in countries including Venezuela, Poland, Romania, and Jamaica.

I was fairly reserved as a child, and every time we moved, I had to make new friends. Theater is what helped me get out of my shell. I always enjoyed performing on stage and being in plays afforded me the opportunity to explore an experience that I loved with new people. When I was 18, I landed a job on a professional set as a body double and stand-in for Jennifer Grey. At that moment, I realized I could turn what had been only a hobby into a career. I was hooked, and my career journey as an actor and creative was launched.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Mine has not been a smooth road to become the artist that I am today. Although, we all go through challenges one way or another, and I am convinced we are better for them. For me, I wanted to get into a career — specifically, acting — that I knew nothing about, and this was complicated by the fact that I was not an American citizen at the time. I had no choice but to just dive in, learn about my industry as I went, and lean on others to help guide my way. I prioritized finding a way to stay in America, knowing it would afford me the greatest opportunity. To achieve this goal, I worked at burnout levels daily to get a degree that would help me stay in this country while also pursuing my career as an actor.

One year, I worked long hours hosting a game show during the day, and at night, I put in significant hours at a law firm that was sponsoring me… often until the early morning hours. I just got enough sleep to be able to do it all again the next day. I was doing what I had to do to survive and pursue my dream, but I knew it was not sustainable: I was always tired and never able to give my full self to any one endeavor. In life, I choose to think of myself as a student — always. As a result, I make the conscious decision to focus on the lessons I am learning as I move along my path. I believe that’s how we can all best grow and thrive in our chosen careers. The lesson my “burnout” days taught me is how to find a better balance. I discovered the art of setting boundaries, and came to understand that it’s ok to take a step back and say “no, I don’t have the bandwidth to take this on right now.” Overworking is not synonymous with professionalism. True professionals have the confidence to only take on what they can reasonably execute at a high level.

For me, having the ability to set reasonable boundaries in any work setting is non-negotiable. Will I always do great work? Absolutely. Will I produce great work if I’m exhausted? Never. Specifically, as an actor, I’ve also learned that it is essential to be your own cheerleader and to be comfortable just being yourself. The latter part doesn’t come easy, it only develops organically with time and life experience. I don’t think it’s something anyone can perfect, so I have actively chosen to give myself a break whenever doubt creeps in, whenever I worry that I haven’t achieved some arbitrary level of success. I am not the first to use this phrase, but it’s true: It’s a marathon, not a sprint. The most successful actors I know have been tenacious, they haven’t given up because of perceived mistakes or failures. Instead, they learn from them (do you see a theme here?), they adapt, and they are better as a result of this process.

Finally, while my younger self may not have held this view, what really keeps me going, is my love for art — of acting, but really for all of my artistic pursuits. I am a better creator not chasing fame or some end goal. I am at my best when I give myself some grace to embrace that I am ever-evolving. It took me twelve years to finally become a U.S. Citizen. A huge weight was off my shoulders, but I still felt out of place. Not growing up in America made me different from my piers. And not growing up in a traditional Latin way also made me feel I didn’t belong. But, this combination of “not belonging” has encouraged me to fall in love with my differences, to celebrate them, and to seek out those who view them as assets rather than hurdles to overcome.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I define myself as an artist, a true lover of all forms of self-expression. Over my many years in this country and the myriad projects on which I have had the privilege to be a part, I have learned that just relying on acting performance isn’t the only way I can flex my creative muscles. Teaching, coaching one-on-one, applying my craft to voiceovers and even discovering the joy of pottery have all shaped the way I approach my work in front of the camera. The diversity of my creative interests has made me a better performer.

You may have seen me as Mayor Susanna Lopez in Amazon Prime’s long-running drama series BOSCH; as ATF Special Agent Cha’Risa Swan on NCIS: Los Angeles (CBS); as Claudia Fuentes on CRIMINAL MINDS: Beyond Borders (CBS); and on Secrets and Lies (ABC) and Battleship (Universal). I have also lent my voice to dozens of commercials, most notably for spots with Verizon, Gap, Hallmark, Toyota and McDonald’s. In addition, I was the voice of the bilingual channel MTV Tr3s for over a year, have voiced trailers for Disney+ in Spanish and English, am one of the zombie voices on all the AMCs The Walking Dead franchise and I’m called on to dub many Netflix, Amazon and Disney+ shows and films.

I take great pride in all of my work on and off camera. I find each opportunity simultaneously challenging and exciting. I can’t highlight one of my children and say that this one is “the best.” They are all special in their own way. I believe what sets me apart from others is the sum total of my diverse experiences. My worldly upbringing helps me to approach all aspects of my life and career with curiosity, empathy, love, compassion, professionalism and understanding. I hope my uniqueness invites others to challenge their perspectives and choose to seek out the positives in our differences.

Any big plans?
My various successes have afforded me a platform to speak up for those who feel they don’t have a seat at the entertainment industry table. Whether it be through interviews such as this or in my work as a membership advocate with the actors’ union SAG-AFTRA, I am grateful for the opportunity to advocate for others who share stories similar to mine.

On a more personal note, I hope to possibly get married again, have a family, and continue inspiring others with the work I do as an artist in all its forms. I look most forward to living a long, healthy life filled with memorable experiences.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.nataliacastellanos.com
• Instagram: @hereisnatalia
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalia-castellanos-3549082a/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/HereIsNatalia