We recently connected with Julia and have shared our conversation below.

Julia, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

Leaving my home country, Spain, to pursue my dreams (acting and seeing the world), was a big risk for me. It was definitely not an easy choice. I left my family, my friends, my baby (my beautiful orange cat Simba) and I moved first to London and then to New York, where I am living now since 2019. It was truly life changing for me. The pandemic did not make things easier. I felt that I was risking everything, my life, my health, seeing my family again or not. Being an actor, just as it is, involves taking a big risk. You do not know if you are ever going to be successful or if you are ever going to make a living out of it. You close your eyes, make your wish, “jump into the pool”, work for it, and then… God will tell. You really feel like you are risking your wellbeing, your security, and many more things along the way. It is truly a path for the bravest. This does not mean you are not scared. You are, but still, you love this, it is your biggest passion, so you persevere and you do not give up.

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.

Of course! I am a Spanish actress and I started my acting journey in Spain before embarking on an exciting chapter in London back in 2017. Now firmly rooted in New York, where I studied a 2 year Conservatory program at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting, I combine my acting career with different jobs, like teaching and choreographing, among others, constantly seeking new adventures and challenges. I am passionate about owning my roles and bringing the characters I play to life. I strongly believe in using art as a tool for impacting the world positively and I hope to use my work to give a voice to underrepresented communities globally. My ultimate aim remains touching people’s lives with my art, passion and dedication. With my performances, my heart reaches out to my loved ones in New York, but most of all, to my family in Spain, who hold a special place in my heart, even across the distance.

I hold a BA in English Studies and 2 MA in Education and Teaching languages. I also studied several languages like German, Chinese, Italian, ASL, focusing especially on Japanese and French.

I have performed in several productions in New York, both in the city and in Long Island, from plays like Anna in the Tropics, References to Salvador Dali make me hot to musicals like Beauty and the Beast, Something Rotten, Guys and Dolls, Peter and the Starcatcher, and many others.
My next project is Anastasia the Musical, where I will be a triple threat (acting, singing, dancing) and I could not be more excited about it.

I have always been interested in acting and performing, ever since I was a little kid. I breathe it, it is in my heart. I think what sets me apart from others might be my perseverance. I am proud of myself for all the hard work I have done and I know I will still keep doing.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

In 2018, I was living in London and the Stella Adler Studio (from NY) came to London to do auditions. I did not feel prepared at all, I remember having an acute bronchitis, I was not feeling well and I felt like I wanted to prepare the audition with a coach but I did not have the money. I coached myself and thankfully the audition happened once I was getting out of that bronchitis. I did it and I was successful: I got invited to the Summer conservatory that year! It was in New York, and I was living in London at that moment. I did not have enough money to make it happen. I did not know how to do it, and some people did not believe I could make it happen. My parents supported me in some ways, but they were aware of how expensive New York is, and we have never been rich people, so I actually do not blame them at all. I was also an adult and I needed to take care of this myself. For a moment, it really seemed like it was not going to happen, but I never gave up and I kept searching for ways to do this.

I ended up learning about housesittings and that is what I did. I spent 3 months in New York not paying any accommodation. I stayed in several houses taking care of people’s pets (mostly cats and dogs) and it was amazing, since I am an animal lover. I also did something called couchsurfing just for some days in between housesittings. It was my very first time doing both things. Everything was new for me. It was a VERY exciting summer and I was living an awesome adventure.

I still do not know how I made it happen, but I did. I studied that summer at Stella Adler spending minimal money, I learned a lot about acting and I was able to experience New York City all at the same time. I am happy and proud about how resilient I was, how I did not listen to anyone when they said it was crazy and it could not be done, and I trusted and believed in myself, I searched for a way and I made it happen.

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

There are many things I find very rewarding about being an artist. It is hard to point out the most rewarding of all, but if I had to choose one, I would definitely choose the impact on the audience, leaving a mark on someone.

As an artist, you have the capacity to touch someone else’s heart with your performances, with your voice, with what you are conveying through your body language. You are like a vehicle of emotions. As an artist myself, there are some other artists who have inspired me profoundly, as well as some experiences which have impacted me and have been life changing. I want to be able to do that as well and it is my hope that I am achieving this in all my performances, with all the work I do. Inspiring someone, making someone feel something beautiful, getting someone closer to art, to the creative side of the human being, and also promoting empathy (we work with empathy and it is crucial), that is what fuels me as an artist, that is my ultimate goal.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @julita.navarro11
• Facebook: Julia Navarro

Image Credits

Lisa Schindlar

Eastline Theatre

Darnell Photography