We were lucky to catch up with Laura Fuino recently and have shared our conversation below.

Laura, 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?

I knew I wanted to work in entertainment when I was a child. probably around 10 years old. That was what made me happy. I was extremely shy when I was little but when I began to sing in middle school for show at the school, I came alive. I would then organize variety shows in my backyard with the neighbor kids and charge a nickel to see it.
It was very organized. There was even a clown giving out candies. It was so much fun and I knew that would be my life. I would write songs snd poems to fit different situations. It was and still is great therapy. Those who knew me knew that it was normal for me to suddenly start singing a song.

Laura, 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?

When I was 15 years old I won Miss Empire State. I loved beauty pageants. This was special because I not only won for my beauty but mainly for my speech that touched the audience. it was called “The Power of Words,” I knew then how important our words could be used to uplift one another. A deep subject for a teenager.

From the pageant I won a scholarship to the New York Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City. I, myself was born in a small city called Utica, New York which is a 5 hour drive to the Big City so this was a big deal. It changed the trajectory of my creative journey.

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

I was fortunate to do a small part in Scarface when I was in my last year of High School. When I was in New York I met a magical person, Angel Salazar, who was one of the kindest people I know. He landed a great role in Scarface so he brought me on set to meet everyone in Santa Barbara. As a result, Al Pacino and Brian DePalma decided to give me a featured role as Angel’s girlfriend in the wedding and tiger scene. I was just finishing high school in Utica , New York doing the musical Grease. All my dreams were coming true so my mother and I decided to move together to Hollywood where I attended the Lee Strasberg Institute.

I thought things would easy from there. I went on audition after audition for years but not much happened. I was doing theater and studying but couldn’t get cast in a movie., just very small things. I just kept working on myself and enjoyed the process. Certain family members told me to give up. I worked so many jobs to support myself but I didn’t lose hope well maybe almost. Something inside me said to keep going. So I did.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is seeing that my acting, my song or vocal interpretation has moved someone emotionally to another plane. When I did Solomon and Sheba in Morocco some years ago my co-actors applauded and hugged me saying that I made them cry . I never expected it being so immersed in my role. That experience was so rewarding.

The world of art and creativity is a world within itself so different from any other career.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @lfuino.official
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laura.fuino/
• Youtube: @laurafuino6196
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/4okay_okay

Image Credits

Tony Zecchinelli
Valentina Kamenov