In an exclusive interview, Flickering Myth sat down with Paula Velasquez to talk about acting, life in Los Angeles and her role in The Real Murders of Orange County…
Hi Paula Velasquez, welcome to Flickering Myth! How have your family reacted to your career choice and your successes in the entertainment industry? Was it always your dream to be an actor?
Hello! Thank you so much for having me. My family has always been so supportive of what I do, I believe that they always knew I was meant to be an artist because since I was a little kid I loved performing and being on stage. I started dancing when I was three years old and since then I have always loved the feeling of performing and they could see that. I was always the kid that loved to dance, sing, act, and be in the spotlight. I have always been very extroverted and emotional, and I always channeled that while performing. My family has always seen that side of me, and they have always pushed me to exploit my talents to the maximum, which I am so grateful for. They are my biggest inspiration and motivation and moving to a different country to follow my dreams as an actor wouldn’t have been a choice without their help. I know they are so proud of the little girl that always wanted to perform, and they are so happy every time I show them some of the work and accomplishment I have done here in the US as an artist.
It has always been my dream to be an artist. I find so much beauty in conveying your emotions through art and impacting people’s lives through it too. When I found acting, I realized I felt at home, I realized I could feel as much as I wanted to and nobody would tell me to stop, on the contrary, it was praised. I am such an emotional being and acting is not only my career, but my therapy since I was seven.
Congrats on your leading role in ‘The Real Murders of Orange County.’ Can you tell us about the role you played?
Yes, it was really wonderful working with such great people. The role I played was called Sarah Ramirez and her story was a real life story. She was murdered by her ex-boyfriend while she was in a car with her current boyfriend at the time. This role was so intense, and it was just mind blowing hearing that the story is a real story. Getting into character and going through what she went through was very intense, but it was such an amazing role to play because it really got me out of my comfort zone as an actor and really dig deep within the character. Also, everyone was so talented and amazing people to work with.
How did you prepare yourself as an actor?
I prepare myself in different ways. I journal a lot and it helps so much to write about the character, all the questions I can answer and get as detailed as I can get in order to know this character more. It helps a lot to do some improvisation before every scene so you can discover even more about this character and how they would react to certain circumstances. It helps me a lot to play around with my voice and say things out loud as the character. Something that is really important for me is to build a relationship and connection with my scene partner as well. Having a conversation as the characters and knowing the other character’s perspective or the way they think helps you a lot to dig deeper within your character. And lastly, feeling, getting myself as vulnerable as I can be and really receiving this character and not judging her choices or personality, etc.
Do you have a particular genre of film you prefer? If so, can you explain?
I love psychological thrillers. There is something so beautiful and twisted about psychological thrillers. I love the fact that you never know what the ending is going to be, it can change within seconds, and you are always impressed by the next move of the movie. It’s kind of like a mind game and it makes you really analyze the movie on a deeper level. I grew up watching a lot of cinema from Spain, very raw and dark. My parents and I nowadays watch psychological thrillers a lot when we are together. We love trying to figure out the movie and it’s as if you were putting the pieces of the puzzle together.
Are there any actors or directors you would love to work with in the future? Any actor you’d like to play alongside?
I would love to work with David Fincher, I think his movies are just insanely well done and I love the darkness of them. Also, Greta Gerwig, I love her work so much and working alongside other women, especially directors is so important and inspires me so much. An actor that I would love to work with is Florence Pugh, I think her job is magnificent and the way she prepares for her characters is so inspiring. Her performances are so moving, and she is just extremely talented.
Finally, any advice you would give any actor who is trying to break into the entertainment industry?
Consistency and follow your heart. I believe that if you want to achieve your goals and live the life that you want for yourself, strive, and live your dreams, you have to be consistent and work hard. We all have fears and obstacles in our lives, but if you really want something, you will be able to find a way, especially if your heart desires something. Do not give up on your dreams. There is a quote that says, “Life is like a mountain. Hard to climb, but once you get to the top, the view is beautiful.”
How can people find and follow your journey?
They can find me on Instagram as @pauvelaasquez and also on IMDB Paula Velasquez! Thank you so much.
Our thanks to Paula Velasquez for taking the time for this interview, and for Liz Rodriguez from EMR Media for helping us with the interview.
