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

Michelle, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

My very first solo commercial gig; Nordstrom Rack! All of 2022 I had plenty of callbacks but no booking, I felt so desperate to book my first solo project, I needed to know that I was a good enough actor on my own. In Dec of that year I received the audition, it was for their 2023 summer/fall campaigns. I was so excited for this one, I LOVE fashion and the role I was auditioning for was a very stylish person, so I did what I do, and I PUT IT ON! My outfit reflected my personal style so well, and I was able to showcase my big personality. I sent it out and within a couple of days what do you know? I went straight to AVAIL without having had the callback yet! I had tickets to go home to NY that month already but thank God the callback was through Zoom, so I brought everything I wore for the audition, did the callback from my siblings living room with a makeshift backdrop and a $10 ring light from Amazon.

The director, B.monet and I hit it off right away! it was the longest callback I had ever done, and soon as it was over I felt soo good! after so many “almost” that year I chose to let it go, and just be proud of the work I had done. I come back to LA and get the email from my agent that I had booked the job. That moment was pivotal in my career, It gave me the boost of confidence I needed. Impostor syndrome had haunted me for almost an entire year, and at last the Universe showed me I was right, I am the talented artist I’ve always believed myself to be.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am Michelle Ovalles a Dominican/American actor and model born in Queens NY, raised in the Dominican Republic. I moved back to NYC at 12 yrs old in ’05, and by then I already knew I’d be in the entertainment industry.

Growing with mami in the DR I’d watch all the Telenovelas from the tender age of 5! Some I had no business watching if I’m honest, however every time I watched a telenovela where kids would act, I knew I could do what they did!

I did my first play when I was 10yrs old and fell madly in love. My love for the arts soon expanded into poetry and dance.

In 2013 I decided to finally enroll into college to major in Arts and Theatre, my plans were soon derailed, as at the end of that year my mother was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer. Life happened, and after her passing I said it was time to get back on track. I enrolled in a Summer Intensive Conservatory at the Acting Studio in NYC with the incredible James Price, focusing on Meisner technique. I absolutely loved it! In 2015 it seemed like a good networking strategy to do a beauty pageant so I started my training to represent my province of Espallait at the MISS RDUS making it to the top 10. An mazing experience! one that brought some wonderful opportunities into my life, along with some amazing people.

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

I moved to LA at the end of 2017 in hopes of pursuing my dreams, but at the end of 2019 was when I FINALLY was in the right space mentally and emotionally to be able to fully go after them.

At the end of 2019 I found myself starting over, yet again. Which has always been part of my story, but this time I had to do so in a foreign city, with no family, no money, and all while coping with the trauma my past relationship had left me with. Thankfully, I had already built a strong community of friends, who have now turned into my chosen family.

It was then when I was faced with the decision of going back home to NYC, or continue to chase this dream I’ve always known would come true. And so I chose to stay, the universe blessed me with the most incredible roommates anyone could possibly ask for. I slept on an air mattress for sometime but slowly I was able to build my life again. I never stopped believing in myself, and all the things I soon came to accomplish proved to me just how right I was!

My boyfriend David Rio who is a fellow creative (and a big motivator in my life) took some simple headshots of me, we created a Casting Networks account for myself and within a month or so I was scouted by an agency. I went on to book my first ever audition which happened to be with David for a HBO MAX promo shoot for a documentary called “There’s no “I” In Threesome” this was peak pandemic so we had to shoot everything from our own homes. Such odds times, but I was thrilled! I stayed with that agency for a year but chose not sign for another as I felt they weren’t the right fit for me.

In the beginning of 2022 I signed with my agency Evolve Artist Agency, an all woman ran boutique agency that I now have the honor to call my family. Since then, I’ve booked several projects such as Sonos, OPENDOOR, Pepsi, a Nordstrom Rack double campaign and most recently Metro by T-Mobile and Chispa for a latinx dating app.

I continued to chase my dreams and now I am managed by Menace Management owned by Kate Flook who is THE DREAM manager! I had the fortune to be introduced to her by a fellow Menace, shout out to Brighton Asher for showing Kate my Instagram. She wanted to take a meeting with me, we clicked from the very first few minutes. She signed me after sending her a self-tape, and helped me get signed to a theatrical agency, which as actors is one of the hardest things to accomplish.

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

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://Instagram.com/Michelleovallles

Image Credits
Stephanie Girard Photography David Harmony Chispa