We recently connected with Isabel Soto and have shared our conversation below.

Isabel , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

I never dreamed of living in the US. When I came to Los Angeles for the first time in 2016, it was love at first sight, and I assumed LA was going to be my home. I came to LA to study acting at Stella Adler Academy, one of the best acting schools in the world. Then, I went back to Spain in 2018 and decided to go through the process for my O1 visa, which is an artistic visa with extraordinary capabilities. The real move happened in 2019 when my visa was approved. I left everything behind in my home country, Spain, with only a luggage full of dreams. I was a woman over 35 years old when I moved to California in 2019. Actually, I wasn’t a young girl with the “right” to dream in the way I did, but the reality is that I knew Los Angeles is the place for me.

Isabel , 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?

I started my career when I finished high school, in a small town near Madrid, in my beloved “village” Villalba, with very different vibes than a big city. After, I studied Dramatic Art in Madrid, at “Cristina Rota School”, where Penelope Cruz attend years prior me. I never did a professional casting before going to that school but I had the courage to do the exams to admit in the school and I was accepted and earned the big chance to attend. After years working on theater, tv, radio and films in Spain ,the fact was I wasn’t feeling the big role was for me, a lot of roles but most of them were like the young lady or sexy woman… Besides that, I felt grateful to work in an industry so complicated in my country, Spain. I had the opportunity to work with David Trueba, who has several Goya’s awards and one Academy’s nomination. He is a genius and I’m so glad to be in his projects. The big move to LA was, initially, I have to admit, to refresh my career. Passionate about my new purpose, I came to LA to study at Stella Adler Academy for the Spanish Program with the incredible director Elia K. Schneider. Elia was the one of the most important directors in Latin America, she was a passionate woman with numerous awards, but her humility gave me a lot of confidence as an artist. As Stella Adler said: “Your Talent is in your choices”, and I had the big chance to learn the Adler technique with one of the best teachers in Acting. Los Angeles brings me the opportunity to work with worldwide stars such as Glenn Danzig, Damian Chapa, Dani Trejo. I feel when I came to LA it was my own “Hero Journey”.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

For me, being an actress is one of the most beautiful experiences, it was my dream since I was a child, I choose to live this way and I love it. Although there are some dark things along the way, but always see the light and trust in myself, in the ability to create characters, to have these qualities in me took me a long time, I believe in my talent. This in an industry where people want immediate success, I remain firm in my commitment and believe in my heart and true feelings to create my art.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I think that time is NOW. I choose to be a mother, I am a single mother of a beautiful two-month-old baby and I am aware that he is the most perfect purpose I have ever made. Creating life is wonderful, creating another human being is a miracle, give birth is a experience that changed my mind, my feelings, to become more compassionate towards others and of course it is a power to become a better human being and that includes to my artistic life.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.isabelsoto.com
• Instagram: @isabelsotod
• Twitter: @isabelsotod

Image Credits
Photo 4 and 5 : David Pires