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

Fernando, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Who is your hero and why? What lessons have you learned from them and how have they influenced your journey?

If I had to talk about my heroes, I would have to talk specifically about Paul McCartney and Robin Williams. As an entertainer/artist, these two work for me as a guiding light.

Paul McCartney’s music, with its blend of melody, emotion, and lyrical depth, often serves as a beacon of hope and inspiration. His songs, whether from his time with The Beatles or his solo work, carry themes of love, resilience, and the pursuit of a better world. For someone who looks to music for motivation and encouragement, McCartney’s work has always been powerful reminder to stay optimistic and strive for personal growth.

Robin Williams, on the other hand, brought a unique blend of humor and vulnerability to his performances. As an actor, his ability to move between comedy and drama exemplifies the profound impact of embracing both light and dark aspects of human experience. For me, as an actor, Williams’ career serves as a blueprint for integrating humor with more serious themes, helping find balance in my art. His ability to connect with audiences on a personal level has always encouraged me to infuse my work with similar empathy and authenticity.

In essence, both McCartney and Williams contribute to my creative spirit and personal growth, shaping my approach to acting and your perspective on life.

Fernando, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Since I was a child, I always found company and comfort in art; figures like Robin Williams, Mel Brooks, Paul McCartney, Gene Kelly, just to mention a few. In them I found something that I could bring to others. Laughter, entertainment, comfort, happiness. And at (a too young) 10 years old, after watching the Mexico City production of Mel Brooks’ “The Producers”, I said “Oh, that’s what I’m gonna do.”

Thankfully I have always had a great team behind me. My parents have always supported me in everything and anything I wanted to do. And alongside them, an aunt, Chata, who taught me how to really love art, how art gives you a chosen family, and how art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.

The performing arts have always been my true love. I started formally acting at the age of 20 in Queretaro, Mexico with a wonderful company (Obertura) and director, one of my closest and best friends, Paco Davila. There is where I found my true calling. Acting, the stage, getting into roles and finding myself in them. Always looking for a laugh, or to touch people through the craft, and through drama/comedy.

Since them I have been living my dream. Afterwards I moved to NYC to study acting. At the American Academy of Dramatic Arts I found a group of supporting teachers, actors, faculty, and friends/peers.

There is where MAD MAD MAD was born. During the third year company program, Michael Toomey, artistic director of The Humanist Project, cast a group of 9 actors to devise a play based on Stanislav Petrov and the cold war, specifically during the 1980s. Alongside with our Production Stage Manager, Meg Meschino, we have been working hard to bring it back to audiences. We are currently rehearsing it and bringing it to life to perform at Brooklyn’s Target Margin Theatre on September 6,7,8 and 13,14,15

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

As an actor, sometimes you have to understand that you are there to fulfil a role, to fill in a space that needs you and your specific set of skills.

I was very much conviced that I did NOT want to be a comedic actor anymore, I only wanted to do “serious” roles. Whatever that meant. I did not want a single laugh coming out of people. But everything I did came out weird and not in the funny way.

And while acting in a production of Anton Chekhov’s “Three Sisters”, our director, Jessica Holt said (and I am paraphrasing) “You gotta understand this is a funny character. He was written there to be funny, to be a clown.” And I was SO against it. But these magic words CHANGED my perspective forever, “You know how in The Muppets movies, they always have very serious actors act seriously with the Muppets? Well here, we have a Muppet needing to be a Muppet in a serious world.” Everything changed, every role is serious, you just have to approach it with an open heart and mentality.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Between the ages of 9 and 28, I’ve had 14 surgeries perfomed on me. Between both my femurs, my left hip, and my spine and stomach.

I have never seen this as a set back. Until I was at a certain school where my the teachers there said to me “You should sit down and I’ll see how I can grade you.” In a tap class. “Oh you’ll never make it in this business.” After I wanted to sit down after an intense ballet audition. “You should consider maybe being backstage.” Because I limped a bit while performing. This was probably one of the most heart breaking and disenchanting moments of my life. I was in NEW YORK CITY studying to be a musical theatre actor, and this is how I was being received?

The pandemic comes, I go back to Mexico with my parents. Did NOT want to come back to New York. But I knew I had to, I knew I was destined to be in the city. Who cares about my physical abilities? I need to show I am an actor, and I am proud of myself and my work. So instead of that being “Oh they are right,” it became “No, my body does not dictate if I am a good dancer, actor, or person.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.fernandozermenog.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fazg1996?igsh=MmluODV6eWp2YjZr&utm_source=qr
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/fazg1996

Image Credits

Bronwen Sharp, David Arciga