Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Azucena Flores Pizaña. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Azucena, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

It´s funny because a lot of people say things like “when I was 5 I knew I wanted to be a performer”. But for me, I didn´t have my moment until I was in high school. My brother and I were both in drama club and in choir but that was mostly just for credits. Illumination struck me when I played Satan. It was at the end of my time in high school during, a Christmas that is traditionally performed in Mexico called Pastorellas, that tells the story about how some people were going to visit Jesus when he was born. And as they journeyed they came across the seven deadly sins. Anyway, I was playing Satan and I rememeber that as Satan I was drunkenly singing along to a guitar, I was in the middle of the stage, alone, the lights darkening everything around me. And I just felt completely present and at peace. I remeber thinking “why wouldn´t I want to do this forever?”.

I knew in that moment that I wanted to always be on stage, but I was afraid. And growing up in Mexico, there was a lot of uncertainty around life as a performer. I had anxiety about stability or if I would ever be able to travel which was another thing I was very interested in. The voices around me, including my own, made me feel insecure. I saw a lot of stereotypes and requirements to be an actress. You need to be tall, have a great body, have a lot of connections in the industry. That´s what a lot of people told me at least. They would say “its a difficult path, not everyone can do it, it´s for a different type of person”. So I decided to go to school for something else. That way I could pay for classes myself.

It’s so stupid now that I think about it. Now that I think about why I waited and didn´t pursue the thing I loved right after high school. Now that I´m here I can see how there are so many opportunities for so many different types of people rather than just being ruled by the physical. But I also feel that I needed to go through all that, become stronger, emotionally prepared, confident, before I could be here and give everything to focus on the thing I love. I really needed all of my life experience to prove that this is what I want.

Azucena, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Well, I am a Mexican woman, born and raised in Mexico City, currently based in Los Angeles. I started performing in highschool and from there I´ve kept myself busy with classes in stage combat, contemporary dance, improv, traditional Mexican dances, and musical theater. I´ve been a part of a lot of short films and student films as part of the conservatory that I did in Mexico. And I am currently at the Art of Acting Studio Los Angeles in my second year of the professional acting conservatory. I’ve also worked as an entertainer/dancer in Mexico.

I’ve spent years developing all aspects of my performing resume. My current obsession though is Shakespeare which has been a fun and interesting challange. It´s helped me develop better language skills and given me an appreciation for a whole genre of plays that I wasn’t familiar with. I like to think that every little thing I’ve learned gives some new dimension to the creative works I participate in.

I think one thing that sets me apart is my insatiable hunger for knowledge and skill development. I am interested in growing all aspects of my career inside the industry, not just performing. I’m one of those people that soak up information like a sponge. Curiousity is one of my defining characteristics so I’ve always wanted to do everything.

The thing I am most proud of is that I have become a confident woman who fights for what she wants. I still keep in mind that I’m a human being with flaws but now I recognize when I’m afraid and I don’t let the fear govern my life. I take it as an impulse to keep growing.

I want people to know that my main purpose as an artist is to keep understanding life and humanity. I want to keep growing and understanding myself and my different states. And as I learn and grow in knowledge I will then be able to help others. Through the art of acting I can help them understand their own lives and their own selves by the different stories I tell.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I think that my whole life has been one pivot after another. Mostly becuase I was in such a fight with myself. I kept trying to convince myself that I could do something else other than being an actress. I tried to find fulfillment in other jobs but nothing worked. I worked in tourism, travel, as a dancer, receptionist, in guest services. I opened a coffee shop with my mom. I worked in fine dining restaurants. I started learning to be a sommelier. I took beautition classes to work with eye lashes. I worked as a nail stylist. I worked with a congresswoman with my older sister. I thought about studying skin and dermetology. I was trying to convince myself that I could figure out a life where I didn´t have to be an actress. But nothing made me feel the way acting does. It´s quite frankly, what I was born to do. And when I stopped fighting with myself that´s when the doors started opening. I got accepted into the Art of Acting studio. I got my visa approved. I move to Los Angeles and found a community.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I don´t remember what movie it was, or it might have been a musical becasue those always make me cry, but I remember going to the movies and the story was so good that I actually connected with it. I don’t have the words to explain it any other way. I wasn´t going through the exact situation but the main character´s emotions matched perfectly with what I was feeling. It gave me kindness towards myself and helped me to understand myself better.

And that connection is what I find most rewarding about the art of story telling, afterall thats what actors do. We helps the audience connect with the characters and understand aspects of their own personal lives and what they´re experiencing through our performance. And maybe they won´t find all the answers but they are free for a moment during the film, play, concert, during the novel, and maybe that escape helps us in our regular lives.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @azucien
• Facebook: Azucena Flores Pizaña

Image Credits

Mikey Mulhearn, Diego Salazar, Fadhia Marcelin.