Story Time!

The Universe has a magical way of communicating with you to tell you “you are on the right path my queen” (RuPaul’s voice). Once you take daring action towards your dreams, She sends you these moments of magic. Moments that fill you with Soul Juice to build your career for years.

These are my two favorite ones.

First story, New York, 2008: 

Freshman year of college at NYU, my theater nerd self was introduced to the genius that is Mark Rylance. He was doing a hilarious play called “Boeing-Boeing” with Bradley Whitford, Kathryn Hahn, Gina Gershon,  Mary McCormak and Christine Baranski…. I mean… Can you imagine?! How this ensemble of actors impacted my naive, baby-artist soul?! It changed me forever; it taught me my standard of Power, Joy, Truth and complete Abandon in the work. I had never experienced the level of commitment and truth on stage like I did with Mark Rylance. I had never witnessed an actor with zero ego. I could feel his utter joy and love for the craft, and I felt seen. 

One day, I was crossing town through Times Square. I always picked 48th street, because I just loved passing by that theater.  I took a moment, and as I basked in the yellow light of that Marquee, Mr. Rylance popped out of nowhere wearing a red bicycle helmet… and smiled at me. It was just me and him on a rainy street, in the middle of Broadway. 

Cue tears. I thanked him, we talked about his Tony speech (prose by Louis Jenkins) and Mark Rylance proceeded to recite a poem for me. A full 3 minute poem… just for me. Who was I to be privy to such a moment?! To witness him in a moment of pure joy, using language in ways I’ve never seen it used before?! In this moment, intentionally or not,  Mark blessed my career. I carry that moment with me every day. I remember every detail of that space we shared on 48th street. The encounter that ignited the first half of my creative growth: My training; the New York Years.

Second story, 9 years later:

After I graduated from Grad school I had a very dark time with immigration. I was freaking out that I wasn’t going to make it, that this attempt to be an actor in Hollywood was beyond stupid.

I was a few months away from my visa expiring. And finally, I booked a job. A job I loved! A new play at South Coast Rep, with one of my favorite directors I’ve ever worked with, in a role where I got to tackle all kinds of hilarious characters, including a yogi who cocoons in her aerial silk for safety.

One day during tech, I was sleepy and tired from hanging upside down while they lit my face. I sat in my dressing room during a break and I ripped open a Larabar when I heard a voice outside my dressing room. 

HOLY SHIT? 

No…. No way.

I saw as my face flushed bright red like something out of Willy Wonka. The voice was still going… my hands started to shake, the floor got colder underneath my bare feet. I walked up and pressed my ear against the door; Could it be? Granted her daughter and I were sharing a green room, but surely this icon wouldn’t drive to Costa Mesa on a Thursday evening? But it was her, I felt it in my soul. Tear flood gates: open.

I opened my dressing room and jumped into the hallway. 

AND THERE SHE WAS. In a light linen ensemble, with her blonde hair in a simple updo, 

The Queen: 

MERYL STREEP.

Meryl Streep… outside my dressing room. 

Chillin’. 

I broke down, hugged her, and by divine intervention communicated that this was my first professional job out of grad school and that I believed this moment was the best Omen an actor could ever get. What she said is just for me, but she was just the sweetest most generous being. At that moment, she felt like my tía. And with the most beautiful hug, she blessed and ignited the second part of my journey: my professional years, The LA years.