We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Katherine Bahena-Benitez a few weeks ago. Please read below.

For readers who may not have read about you before, can you please tell us about yourself. What creative works do you provide? What main things would you want people to know about you/your work?
Hola, my name is Katherine Bahena-Benitez. I am a multidisciplinary, bicoastal artist living between New York City and California. I am an actor, writer, filmmaker, director, performance artist, and model. My artistic practice is versatile, expansive, and dynamic. I use my mind, body, and voice as a tool for creative expression and liberation. As a queer, first-generation child of immigrant and Indigenous peoples, I feel a responsibility to make our communities visible and well represented in the arts. Our stories form and inform my practice. 

 

When was the first time you knew you wanted to pursue a career in acting? Give us the backstory so we can understand the context and the circumstances and re-experience that moment with you.
I was twelve years old when my life changed. I was sitting in my parents’ living room, flipping through channels when I stumbled upon a film that caught my eye. Immediately, I sat on the tile floor, just two feet away from the television screen. I remember hearing my mother yell out, “sientate patras, te vas a quedar ciega/sit back, you’re going to turn blind.” I paid that no mind. My eyes were glued to the television screen. The film I watched was Resident Evil starring Milla Jovovich, Ali Larter, Michelle Rodriguez, and others. Rodriguez’s performance captivated me. For the first time, I saw the media portraying a woman as powerful, independent, edgy, and badass. If she could do it, so could I. And I desired to do the same for others. I’ve been on the path of storytelling ever since. 

 

You were recently part of a short film titled Quinceañera, can you tell us more about the film? How did the opportunity present itself? What role did you play? How did you prepare for the role? What was the process like?
Quinceañera is a coming-of -age short film filled with romance and comedy, centering the story of Dani. She’s a raging teenager who is pressured into having a quinceañera and is later met with joy and confusion when she meets a shy girl at dance practice. The short film was written and directed by Jessica Garcia, a queer Latina filmmaker based in Los Angeles. 

When I was offered the role, I started building the character’s persona based on the script and my own recollection of myself as a teen. I soon realized, Dani and I had a lot in common. To start, Dani did not want a quince. I did not have a quince. Dani played softball. I played basketball. Dani was a tomboy. I was a tomboy. We were both raised in Catholic households with the pressures of conforming to religious beliefs, femininity, and heteronormativity. Dani and I were free at heart, escaping social constructs of gender norms. Breathing life into Dani healed my inner child. I did my best to honor her truth while bringing my truth to the character.

Once Quinceañera began filming, the process of diving into Dani’s world felt seamless. The production team curated a safe space for curiosity, experimentation, discovery, and play, and I’m grateful to them. It’s a process I’d be happy to do again. 

What inspires you to act? Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey? What’s the most rewarding part of being an actor?
My upbringing inspired me to act. Being a queer, first-generation child of farmworkers, immigrants, and Indigenous people is a unique lived experience. No one is telling our stories. My mission as a theater and film artist corrects that lack of representation. The stage and camera

have now become my sacred platform for sharing truth. After each performance, I can see how people’s lives have been changed. That’s my reward. We are building the future we’ve always dreamed about. 

Do you have any advice for people in pursuit of a career such as yours?
Absolutely. 

You might be the first person in your family to pursue acting, but you can find answers to your questions by approaching others who have trained in the field and advanced in their careers. When I first began acting, I reached out to professors, coaches and artists I admired and respected. By doing so, I was able to receive mentorship, guidance, and support. Reach out. You’ll be surprised to find how many people will respond to you. 

If you’re the first of your identity in the room–or one of the few–don’t be discouraged. Keep showing up. You might feel isolated at first but, in time, you will find your community. When I first moved to New York, I found it hard, but I stepped outside my comfort zone and actively sought connections through residencies, workshops, and master classes. Get out and around and meet the people who are right for you.

Be patient with the process. When I first started acting, I was in a rush to learn everything I could. In time, I came to understand the beauty of acting is living in the process of learning. There’s beauty in patience and discipline. Enjoy that, and everything else will follow.

Contact information:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_imjstlivin/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katherine.benitez.167527
• X: https://x.com/i/flow/login?redirect_after_login=%2F_imjstlivin

 

Photography Credits: 

Creative Direction: Katherine Bahena-Benitez 

Director: Jessica Garcia 

Set Design and Photography: Jenessa Hernandez 

Production Assist: Laura Rios and Madelyn Celeste Rodriguez 

Makeup Artist: @Sayitpayasita 

Hair: Katherine Bahena-Benitez

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