We were lucky to catch up with Cristina Glezoro recently and have shared our conversation below.

Cristina, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

From the moment I was born I was surrounded by art. On a stage is where I feel the most comfortable. I danced and sang for multiple years and theater caught me when I was 9 years old, that’s when I found my new favorite thing in the world. Of course when I was a kid I performed because it was what I had always known and it made me happy, but I didn’t truly see it as something I could pursuit as a profession even though I was already getting paid for some gigs. Once I entered high school I started to dream with the idea of actually make a living out of it, but people had planted a fear on me that “people can’t make a living by doing art”. However, on a trip to Disneyland with my friends I had the chance to sing for a little girl and I saw how, with a simple song, I could change peoples moods drastically. The girl was so happy, and the mom was even happier because her daughter was enjoying herself, she was filming us and people gathered around just to enjoy a song. That was the moment when I said “I don’t care if people don’t make a living out of this. I will, because this is what I want to do for the rest of my life”. To know I can make someones day more enjoyable, to help them create happy memories with a song, or have them see a play and reflect on their lives or the world, is the most wonderful feeling there is.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Performing was the thing I knew how to do since I was 2. Back in my hometown, Guadalajara, Mexico, I worked on over 70 performances and I loved every moment of it but I knew there was so much more out there. So, I applied to the Stella Adler, Art of Acting Studio here in LA and luckily I got a scholarship that allowed me to begin expanding my horizon. The following years I learned more of the craft and I’ve been able to perform in various plays and films. I’ve discovered that I enjoy so much every second of the process, not only the performance, but the rehearsals, the contemplation time, the investigation and creation of characters. Sometimes I can spend over 60 hours a week working on projects and I am nothing but grateful and happy for that.
Learning of every aspect that involves the creation of a show was also important for me; this last year I submerged myself in stage managing and I have found that this is only another way to perform, because the lights, the sound and everything else is just as much part of the story as the rest and all that relies on you to happen.
About the projects I’ve been working on, I aim to find stories that mean something. Stories that give you something to think about and that stay with you for some time after you’ve seen them. I believe that art should invite to reflection as much as it should entertain you.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I think that most of the time there has to be loss in order to gain new things. The losses that we have, of any kind, usually feel like the worst thing ever or like very rough patches that we might not be able to surpass. For me was living all of my comfort and my “fixed” life to follow my dreams. Back in Mexico I had all the stability I needed, a lovely house, a secure job, friends, family, my language, everything. I left all of that behind to go after the uncertainty of my dreams. It was a big shock coming here and find myself without anything but a roof over my head and a lot of thrust and desire to do what I knew was my calling. It has been a very scary, but satisfying ride. But if I hadn’t let go of all that and hadn’t been brave I wouldn’t have had all the amazing opportunities that presented in the following 3 years. I got to work in 15 theater and film projects and multiple film festivals.
I have learned so much about who I am and who I want to become thanks to that decision. I would give comfort and certainty away a million times if it means I get to do what I love.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

knowing that with every project there is a chance to affect someones life in a good way, mine included. I enjoy going into a rehearsal space and begin the dialog about visions for characters and inputs on the piece with my fellow colleagues and director. The creativity begins affecting everyone in the space. We discover new points of view, ideas, it’s like the world begins expanding and your reality begins taking new forms, what you thought to be the truth is no longer, and it blows my mind every single time. I have been very lucky to have worked among incredible artists that I admire profoundly, and they always make every project worthwhile. All our visions combined help create worlds and stories worth telling, that the audience can watch and for a moment in time they can immerse completely themselves in this new surrounding, ideas, and events. My hope always is that at least one person in the audience takes something new with them. And on my experience it happens every time.

Another very rewarding aspect is knowing I get to wake up and do what I love most.

Contact Info:

• Website: cristinaglezoro.com
• Instagram: Cristina.glezoro

Image Credits
Magali Espinosa Julian Barrera