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

Alright, Milagros thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What were some of the most unexpected problems you’ve faced in your career and how did you resolve those issues?

One of the most unexpected issues I faced when arriving in the United States was dealing with casting stereotypes. However, rejection is redirection, and the frustration motivated me to pursue another career path that allowed me to reclaim my identity and create space for others to do the same.

In 2021, I joined the performance track of Fordham’s Theatre Program. During my freshman year, there was only one show casting a Latina female role. The play included Spanish dialogue, and as one of only two international Spanish-speaking actresses in the program—my friend and I—I thought one of us might naturally get the part. We both made it to callbacks, but neither of us was cast. When I asked for feedback, the response was, “You don’t look Latina enough.” It became clear they were envisioning a stereotype, they were looking for Sofia Vergara, while I am pale, short, and have an accent that is hard to place.

That experience gave me a deeper understanding of the acting industry in the United States, and honestly I’m glad it happened early in my career because it allowed me to be more strategic about how I shaped it. I asked myself: What do I want my career to look like, and how can I make the most of these four years in college? I realized that as an actor, I would often depend on others’ vision and willingness to embrace diversity. In my case, that meant someone wanting to produce a Latina play with a female role for someone pale, short, and with a strong, ambiguous accent. I knew opportunities like that wouldn’t be common in the industry, so I decided to explore another of my interests: directing.

Shortly after being rejected for that role, I set up a meeting with the head of the directing program to express my interest. His response wasn’t very positive—he told me I couldn’t double major. But I was committed to not letting others shape my career, so I started taking all the directing classes as electives. While most students use electives to pursue minors or explore other interests, I decided mine would be dedicated to directing.

So now, although I didn’t have a role, I had a plan. But the plan would take years to accomplish, as there were many classes I needed to complete. My immediate solution was to pitch my interest in directing to classmates and faculty so I could direct any of our group assignments. That was my door to directing! For a final assignment, I directed a play I wrote. The feedback was so overwhelmingly positive that the professors in that class spoke to the head of the directing program on my behalf.

With the support of faculty and peers rooting for my directing career, I was able to direct for three consecutive years. Although I wasn’t allowed to double major, the head of the directing program and the program director recognized my hard work and resilience by granting me a repertory show as a reward.

This major, unexpected issue may have rocked my boat, but my commitment to being an artist allowed me to emerge stronger and better. Today, I have acting, directing, and choreographing credits under my name. Fortunately, I’ve witnessed the industry become more inclusive as I’ve received more roles and callbacks. But perhaps more importantly, I’ve also been an agent of this change by directing shows and pitching ideas that create opportunities for others to reclaim their identities.

Milagros, 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?

My name is Milagros Luis, I am from Argentina, and I am about to graduate from Fordham’s Theatre Program—thanks to TikTok.

Yes, TikTok.

A little background about me: I grew up in a small town in the suburbs of Buenos Aires. Since the age of seven, I drove two hours daily to downtown Buenos Aires to take classes at renowned acting studios such as Timbre 4, Julio Chávez, and Fundación Julio Bocca. Until 2020, I had no plan to take my skills beyond my country—I didn’t even know it was possible! Growing up in a small town, my social circle was very “normal.” Many people didn’t even finish high school. Naturally, studying abroad was never on my radar; I didn’t know it was an option. Not until I downloaded TikTok.

During the pandemic, an Argentinian girl kept appearing on my “For You” page. She started her videos by saying, “I’m from Argentina and going to study in the United States, and here’s how I did it.” At first, I thought it was impossible. I figured she was clickbaiting, so I skipped her videos countless times. Eventually, tired of all the trendy dances, I gave her a chance. She was explaining how to create a profile on Common App. Curious and bored, I decided to try it. To my surprise, she wasn’t scamming anyone—the website was real, and the possibility of applying became tangible. But there was one key issue: I didn’t know English.

I casually mentioned the idea to my parents. They didn’t understand much about it, but when I told them I wanted to take English lessons, they were happy to support me since it’s a useful skill regardless of my plans.

I started following this TikToker’s step-by-step series on how to apply to U.S. colleges. It quickly became clear how difficult it would be. I didn’t know what an essay was, what GPA meant, or how to fill out a financial aid profile. But it was the pandemic—I had nothing else to do but sit in front of a computer, so I committed myself to figuring out what these things meant. Luckily, many schools had waived SAT requirements and application fees due to COVID, which I took as a sign to learn English and apply.

With a lot of effort and little knowledge of America’s education system, I managed to complete applications to universities from Niche’s “Best Universities in the United States” list. After interviews and financial aid offers, I chose Fordham.

Like many freshmen, I struggled with imposter syndrome. I would wake up in my dorm room on the 20th floor, overlooking Lincoln Center, and wonder, “What am I doing here?” All my peers were bilingual and had planned for this moment for years. For me and my family, this was a life-changing event that came out of nowhere. I had never expected to apply, let alone get accepted with a scholarship. Yet, there I was.

The anxiety hit hardest at night when my dog wasn’t by my feet and my parents weren’t there to kiss me goodbye. Adjusting to a new language, culture, and food was difficult. During those moments, I leaned heavily on my faith in the universe. This sudden turn in my life felt like a sign, even if I couldn’t yet answer, “What am I doing here?” I knew I had four years ahead of me to find out.

I’m so glad I didn’t give up, even during the times I wanted to, because now I know. I know what I’m doing here:

I’m here because I’ve worked hard all my life. While this opportunity involved some luck—the circumstances of applying aligned perfectly—I wouldn’t have been accepted into these universities if I weren’t talented, if they didn’t see potential in me. With time, I’ve come to realize that’s what life is about: working on yourself and your craft so that when opportunity knocks, you’re ready.

Now, I have many answers to “What am I doing here?”. I’m here to meet incredible artists, like my friends, to whom I owe so much of my personal growth. We’ve become a family, supporting one another through good and bad times. I’m here to make my family proud and carry the name of my country. I’m here because I needed to step away from everything I knew to discover who I am. I’m here to see what I am capable of.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

The goal for me is to be seen. I know this is a controversial topic, given the ongoing dilemma about artists who seek fame versus those who focus solely on the art—and who truly gets to call themselves an artist. But for me, I want to be seen and recognized for all the hard work I’ve put in over the years. I want my story to inspire others and prove that it’s possible. Maybe, in part, I want to prove it to myself. But most of all, I want my story to be heard and to motivate everyone who has shaped their life in pursuit of becoming the best version of themselves.

I dream of a life where my full-time job is to act, direct, and produce. I want to surround myself with other artists because, over the years, I’ve learned that great ideas develop when you collaborate with like-minded people. I would love to work with industry professionals I admire, engage with them, learn from them, and collaborate to tell stories that offer new perspectives or create innovative projects.

My goal is to always work on myself and my craft, and to be part of projects that excite me and feel relevant to society.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I think an artist has to find pleasure not only in the product but, more importantly, in the process. There are many rewards in a project. First, getting to put myself in someone else’s shoes, analyzing a story in a critical way—not from a judgmental perspective, but with sympathy—uncovering all the layers of a character or a story, and thinking about how I can communicate them with all the creative elements available to me, is one of the first rewards. This is fun for me!

Secondly, it’s about collaborating with other creatives. I love meeting artists, learning how they work, how they understand the story, and the relationships that form when you work together.

Finally, I find great satisfaction in seeing how the audience interacts with the material. How everyone’s point of view reveals new layers, how they understand it, what they see, and what makes them reflect.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://milagrosluiscast.wixsite.com/milagros-luis
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/milagrosxluis/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/milagros-luis-1644a5231/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@milagrosluis8997
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@muli_luis?_t=8bM1nZpAULt&_r=1

Image Credits

https://www.instagram.com/casondoyle/
https://www.instagram.com/helen_hylton/