We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Nico Oria a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Nico, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

The best things in life, I’ve found, come from taking great risks. Leaping when you’re unsure where you’ll land. My entire adult life has been a string of risks that have landed me to where I am today. The pursuit of a career in the arts is a huge risk in it of itself. Choosing to break away from the norm to follow your dreams is scary but for some of us there is no other option. I am no exception! I found acting at 15 and never looked back. The choice to commit to my craft prompted me to apply to several theater programs for undergrad, all of which were out of my home state of Florida. That alone was unheard of in my large yet close-knit Cuban family. However, I have always let my intuition lead me and it truly has never steered me wrong. In fact, following my gut has taken me to some pretty awesome places. I lived in New Orleans for several years, honing my skills and working with various theater groups in the city. Fell in love with improv all because I signed up for a class on a random Sunday, even though it scared me. Now this doesn’t mean that every risk I took paid off or that I did everything that scared me. There were plenty of times I was too scared to fully dive in. I wasted a lot of time trying to pursue alternative avenues in the entertainment industry because at times acting felt like too much of a gamble. I thought it would be easier to do something acting adjacent but it was infinitely more difficult. Time and time again, without fail, I’d crawl back to acting and performing. That inevitable return was enough proof that this was my true path in life. So after years of back and forth, I fully committed to my pursuit of acting but shifted from theater to film and television. I, unfortunately, made that choice January 2020 so there was a slight pause in my plans. In 2022, I took my chance and officially moved to LA with my dog Finn (the pup in the pic!) but without really knowing anyone out here. Cut to today, I can safely say that it was the best decision I’ve ever made!

Nico, 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?

Hi there! My name is Nico Oria and I was born and raised in Miami, Fl (y si soy Cubana!) I am an actor and improvisor in Los Angles, California. I made the big move to LA two years ago all in pursuit of my big dreams! However, I began dreaming of this life when I was much younger. As a kid, I would fantasize about being a child star like Dakota Fanning – little me was all about the drama! At the same time, I have vivid memories of making people laugh and the joy it brought me. I officially began my training at 15 when I found a small scene study class that laid the foundation of my entire career. One 2 hour class a week, that’s all it took, I was hooked! After 3 years of training, I found myself studying theater and film production at Loyola University New Orleans. After graduating, I worked with several theater groups in the city. My favorite being with Belle Fetes Productions where I was lucky enough to play the role of Jeanne Françoise Pontalba in Look Don’t Tell for several seasons. Side note – I highly recommend playing an 18th century French Aristocratic Socialite if you get then chance, it does wonders for your confidence! Aside from my scripted theater work, improv has been a home base for me as an actor. The last 10 years performing and learning improv and sketch has molded me into the performer I am today. I was very lucky when I first started and was afforded the luxury of hours of stage time. That built my confidence enough to attend the 2019 Summer intensive at iO theater in Chicago. More recently, I’ve been working my way through the Groundlings program, reaching the Improv Lab level & loving every second! Follow me on instagram for more info about my next show!
After years of being on stage, I made the transition to the screen when I arrived in LA. At first it felt pretty daunting, especially with the strikes last year, but little by little I’ve been able to build my reel. The first project I booked was a local Toyota commercial that had a good run last year. With the commercial and a few indie shorts I worked on, I was able to apply for representation. Earlier this year, I officially secured commercial representation with the Happen Agency.
One thing about me, I’m going to get it done! My tenacity and resilience are what sets me apart! In this industry, you get told “NO” more than anything. It is so easy to give up and throw in the towel but that’s not how I was raised. My determination can be traced back to my larger than life Abuela we called Noni. Growing up she would always say “Si tu puedes!” or “Yes you can” whenever I doubted my ability. Now I have her in my ear pushing me forward. I know I will land where I’m meant to be because I am passionate and dedicated to my craft. So be on the look out, I’ll be on your screen soon enough!

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

Something I have had to work hard to unlearn is comparing myself to other actors and just people in general. I am a naturally competitive person and in my younger years I would measure myself against everyone who came into my orbit. Ranking us all in my own mind and in the process being very hard on myself, causing me to doubt my abilities. The constant comparison always left me feeling like I wasn’t good enough or convinced that I would never get cast in any roles. The ongoing competition of my own creation left me feeling like it was me against the world. The reality is, that each of us has something so unique that no one else in the world has. That special combination that makes you, you. Trying to find what you think you lack in others is a fruitless road that doesn’t get you any closer where you want to be. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve experienced the beauty of community and having a support system of likeminded individuals with a common goal. Cultivating a supportive network of creatives has been one of the most fulfilling aspect of my artistic life. I find it most evident when I finally made the decision to move to LA. For so long I didn’t want to be “another actor in LA” and that kept me from moving out here. It wasn’t until 2021 when I came to visit with the intention of relocating that I realized the beauty of it all. To be in a city that is full of talented individuals that are like you and understand this crazy life we’ve chosen is such a wonderful gift! Granted, it’s not all roses but there is room for us all and everyone’s path is different. It is true that comparison is the thief of joy, so just be yourself and ride your own wave!

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an actor is doing the dang thing! Whether I book a project or I’m fine tuning my skills in a class, I am always on cloud 9 when I have the opportunity to be immersed in my craft. Nothing compares to slipping into a new character and playing in another world. Then when you get to share that character you’ve worked so hard on with an audience, the energy is tangible; I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. I’ve worked very hard to cultivate a life where I’m able to support myself and pursue my dreams. In doing so, I’m able to live an authentic life on my terms, doing what I feel most aligned with.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: nicokay23

Image Credits

Angella Choe
Cymere Lasean Nobles
Halen D. Horner