We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Oliver Ocampo a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Oliver thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

What could never make me grow tired of life is the mindset that there is always more to discover. After I graduated from theatre school, I realized I was unhappy with my acting, because I wasn’t satisfied with how I was playing. I thank my curiosity, because it was through curiosity that I found the Meisner technique + LB acting studios, that taught me that the best way to be authentic is to give yourself to the character and the story. You need to care about something/someone other than yourself. I learned to do that by recognizing my insecurities, and healing them on my own (but, not being afraid to ask help from someone EMOTIONALLY SECURE, when I didn’t know what to do):

Setting boundaries,
Not indulging in things I can’t control (negativity, rejection etc.)
Wanting to correct my behaviour when I messed up,
Being kind with myself,
Not expecting anything from others,
Leading with my heart,
Seeing things optimistically,
Talking through my emotions without judging them,
Etc.

It’s important for me to note that these are things that work specifically for me. You need to recognize your own insecurities then find the tools you need to make yourself heal without hurting others.

Good people make good actors,

You can’t rush healing nor clarity, because my traumas were brought onto me when I was a child so I couldn’t have possibly known nor understood at that age, that’s life. I think virtues are more essential in acting than skill. Kindness and open-mindedness go a long way in this career and once you’ve healed, nothing can stand in your way. You might not be prepared for everything, but a genuine person will always find a way through, because they’re secure with themselves.

Oliver, 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 Oliver Ocampo, and I’m an actor born and raised in Montreal. I’m half Peruvian and half Colombian. Growing up, I often struggled to find my identity. I was born into an English-speaking community, went to a French school, and was raised by my Latin parents, so I was always trying to find my place in this world between different cultures. I didn’t always feel like I belonged anywhere, and I don’t look stereotypically Latino, which made it harder to connect with others who shared my heritage.
For a long time, I thought acting was the perfect way to explore who I was and finally “become” someone. But as I got older, I realized that acting is not about becoming someone else. It’s about telling the truth, allowing audiences to experience a slice of life as if it were happening for the first time.
What I love most about acting is that it allows me to share stories that bring people together. I believe that the most powerful performances come from being true to who you are, not trying to be something you’re not. I want to offer a space where we can truly see and understand each other. Whether it’s through storytelling or simply having a conversation with someone. It’s all about removing judgment and fear to foster deeper connections.
My goal is to expand my audience and inspire people to believe in their ability to be the best version of themselves. I want to help them find the confidence to improve their lives, without being negative or hurtful to others. The power to change is already within us, we just need to trust ourselves. You can only truly help others once you’ve taken the time to explore and grow within. When you believe in your own potential, you unlock the ability to create change for yourself and for those around you.
As a white-passing Latino, I’ve had privileges I didn’t ask for, which have opened doors for me but also brought their own challenges. People sometimes assume that, because I look white, I can’t understand struggles. I get why they feel that way, but I also believe we all experience racism and prejudice differently. While it’s painful, we don’t have to let it define us. We don’t need to fight fire with fire, staying true to our values, even when it’s tough, is the way to create real change.
Slowly and surely, I started laughing at my ‘’pain’’ through Comedy, whether stand-up or sketch. It has become a way for me to look at my story and say, “This can’t hurt me anymore.” I’m interested in exploring identity, privilege, and the human experience in a way that invites others to laugh with me, to find healing and connection through humor. We all get stuck in cycles, feeding into stereotypes, generational traumas, insecurities or expecting others to make the change, but I believe it starts with us. If we want to see progress, we have to be that change authentically and without fear. Life’s too short and we always have the choice to treat others with kindness. I am someone who is deeply committed to making the world a little bit more compassionate, understanding, and real.
At the moment, I’m taking some time for myself and diving into the world of fitness. I’m not going to lie, discovering and working through my insecurities isn’t easy, and it shouldn’t be something that’s expected to be resolved on a 24/7 basis. I’m stepping away from the grind this year to focus on getting into shape, something I’ve always wanted to do but never really committed to. This is my way of listening to myself and honoring my current needs. Once I’ve accomplished that, I’ll happily return to a more creative space. I’m looking forward to projects such as creating content for social media, writing plays and short films, doing more stand-up comedy, and exploring opportunities to travel and grow with the craft. For now, I’m still auditioning and networking occasionally, but mostly, I’m focusing on fostering my pre-existing relationships and taking care of myself. Life isn’t just about pushing forward; sometimes it’s about taking a step back and honoring where you’re at. Taking breaks is important, and right now, this is mine.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

I think non-creatives often approach life with a more straightforward, short-term mindset. For many, mental health is still seen as a taboo subject, something that’s weak or unnecessary. People feel like they can’t afford to stop and focus on their own well-being because it doesn’t fit into the traditional role of what it means to be a provider. Especially for men, there’s this pressure to always be strong and never show vulnerability, even to ourselves.

I ask that non-creatives try not to judge the art they see, especially if it’s something they don’t fully understand. Instead of dismissing something, maybe question your own judgment: Why don’t you like it? Why does it make you feel uncomfortable? Those answers might actually reveal more about you than the art itself. I believe you don’t have to like everything, but closing yourself off to something simply because you don’t understand it or because it challenges you isn’t about dislike. It’s about fear. Fear of what? For me, it was the fear of not being good enough, but here’s the thing, I am good enough. I’m smart, proactive, and though I don’t have all the answers, my curiosity is what will help me grow and get through it. I think if more people took the time to explore their own fears and insecurities, they’d find that those very things can lead to growth.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

Society can best support artists by fostering curiosity and generosity. Take the time to explore, donate to projects (Short films, Fringe Plays, etc.) or simply buy a ticket and support art that resonates with you, and get curious about stories that challenge you or make you uncomfortable. Art is for the artist, opinions don’t change the essence of it. What matters is that it gets people talking, and society can help by engaging with it, not judging it, you just might lead it towards massive positive change.

Be open and befriend artists. As for creatives, we need to let go of the fear of judgment—our art is ours, and people will say what they will, but that doesn’t define us. More often than not, we find ourselves offended by an unwarranted remark, not necessarily because of the words themselves, but because of the power we give them. At least, speaking for myself, it’s often tied to my insecurities. I remember in theatre school, there was a strong focus on creating a safe space for people like me to express ourselves, but we also need to remember that we can’t tell others how to be. As artists, we are sensitive beings, but I believe it’s still our responsibility to start conversations with non-creatives and help them understand, rather than shutting them out for not ‘getting it’, making space for a deeper appreciation of creativity. The creative ecosystem thrives when we support and learn to understand each other.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: oliverxocampo
• Other: Agency page: https://www.martinezmanagement.com/oliver-ocampo

  imdb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm13600422/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_0_nm_8_in_0_q_oliver%2520oca

  Tiktok: @oliverxocampo

Image Credits

Personal photo: Karin Benedict