We recently connected with Alex Camacho and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Alex, thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Do you wish you had started sooner?

This is such a great question because I think a lot of the artists I know ask themselves these questions: “Did I start too late? Should I have even started at all?” Some may even feel, “I wish I had more of my childhood back.” And I believe all of those feelings are valid.

For me, I’ve known I wanted to be an actor since I was six years old. My mother didn’t want to expose me to Hollywood at such a young age, so I spent much of my youth acting in plays, performing in dance groups, choirs, and musicals—always dreaming of the day I’d turn 18 and move to Hollywood. Just before I turned 18, someone very important to me said something that shook me and my confidence. We were discussing my future after high school, and they said, “I don’t know, you’re not really one in a million, Alex. And that’s what it takes to make it in that business. You’re pretty, but not THAT kind of pretty.”

It crushed me. Not many people could have swayed me from acting, but this person had all my respect. They told me I should do something good for the world, choose a less “selfish” career. So, I reflected on what I could contribute to the world, something I cared about–an area where the world could use my skill. That was the elderly. I’ve always had a soft-spot for that group of people, and other than loneliness, the greatest threat to them was Alzheimer’s and dementia. So I decided to pursue a degree in neuroscience to help find a cure.

I spent a couple of years working in that field, which was amazing. I worked for hospice care, experienced college, had relationships, took on a lot of odd jobs, traveled the world, fell in love, and even tried van life. But at some point, my life completely imploded (a story for another time)—and I had to start over. No friends, no job, just my car and a few boxes. Someone close to me asked, “What do you want to do now?” I didn’t know. Then they asked, “If you could wave a magic wand, what would you do? No pressure.” And I said, “Well, I’ve always wanted to be an actor.” They responded, “Well….Why can’t you do that?”

I’ve been on the journey ever since that moment. Sometimes, I’ve thought, “Man, I started over. All that ‘wasted’ time.” But then I remind myself, at least I started. And all of those experiences, they shaped me. They made me more well-rounded person and as an artist. For that, I am forever grateful for being exactly right where I am.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

When I decided to go back to acting after my, let’s call it a “hiatus,” I attended my first acting class in years. The coach passed out these goal sheets—everything from our 20-year goals down to our daily goals. Filling that out gave me a lot of perspective on how achievable these dreams were if I just broke them down into steps. Suddenly, everything felt attainable. It was like manifestation, but more tangible. I started asking God and the universe for exactly what I wanted and took steps toward it every day.

At the time, I was living in Arizona, and with the help of friends I made along the way, I started by breaking into the commercial market. I wanted to gain experience, get my footing, and prepare for the move to L.A. I ended up having a lot of success in commercials, got comfortable in that market, and eventually decided it was time to make the big move to Los Angeles. Of course, the timing couldn’t have been more perfect—the pandemic had just hit! The entire industry shifted to virtual and self-tape auditions, and without knowing what the industry was like pre-pandemic, I adapted, just like everyone else.

My goals shifted again. I focused on becoming SAG, finding an agent, booking a movie, and landing a TV show. One of my biggest hurdles was not having a reel. It wasn’t until my friends and I wrote something ourselves, starred in it, and put it out there that I finally got my first theatrical rep. From that point on, I started booking consistently. It was the small, intentional steps that got me there—every tiny victory built into something bigger.

I think I’m most proud of the time and effort I put into my work. I do as much research and prep as possible to help me prepare for the day. I hope that the choices I make on screen resonate with people, because they are my own. I want audiences to see themselves in my characters, to feel inspired by them, and to see someone that someone can win despite the odds. That’s my ultimate goal as an actor: to show people they can win, too.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

GO TO THE MOVIES

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Other creatives are not your competition, they are your community.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://imdb.me/alexcamacho
• Instagram: @alexcamachoiii
• Other: https://www.alexcamachoactor.com/

Image Credits

Alex Kline