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

Hi Ulisses, thanks for joining us today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

My parents weren’t perfect. My father had anger issues, and my mother struggles to keep track of things. But a key factor they both had was they believed a person should always try to be a good-hearted person. Character. Character defined who a person was, and being someone of character would make a difference in this world.

My parents named me Ulisses, because they wanted me to have a strong name to begin my journey with. My father passed away when I was 18, but he taught me so much, a lot of which kicked in after he died. He used to always go on about remembering where I came from, and how to focus on where I was going. He taught me to that actions have consequences and when to be responsible and when to have fun. My mother always demonstrated kindness. When I was growing up, she would often open our doors to friends who found themselves lost or without a place to stay, even when times were hard for us. She believed that even when someone was struggling, it didn’t mean they couldn’t help ease the struggle of another.

When I delved into acting, I learned my life experiences helped me portray character on the screen. But more importantly, the way I treated people behind the scenes, the way I bonded with those who where trying their best even if life wasn’t doing the same for them, and how I wanted to always make the best experience in crafting something wonderful, all linked back to my parents value of being someone of character.

Acting is art. And to make the most beautiful art, you need a beautiful soul. You need character.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I discovered acting back when I was in college in Upstate New York. I had just gone through a bad break up, and did the old “I have to change something about myself, try something new.” So acting was the answer to that. Little did I know it was gonna sink its hooks into me and that would be that.

I was a shy kid growing up, and acting became the backbone to my confidence. After college, I dove into community theater, playing the lead in a 2 man play, followed up by Shakespeare. I pretty much had no time to feel shy during that, so I just got rid of the trait. Theater was a fantastic experience for me, mostly due to all the amazing actors that I bonded with and who left such a deep impression on me.

But Film and Television was my future. I got into Indie work, meeting some fantastic talent, and one particular film maker, who to this day is still a huge influence on my work. But Upstate NY wasn’t the place I felt I could flourish, so I moved to Boston with my now Wife, and tried my luck there for a couple of years. Ultimately, Atlanta was calling my name.

Moving to Atlanta was the best decision for my career. Once here, I signed with my wonderful agency, Houghton Talent. I studied under the monumental Mornell Studios, where I learned I knew nothing at all, and had a revamp into truly being an Actor, and finally made my way onto TV.

My journey so far may be like others, and it may not be. But I’ve definitely learned that each obstacle, each set back, each turn, is just leading to something new. The more I embrace that fact, the more exciting each new chapter becomes, the more special each new achievement will be.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

Acting (and really any creative work) can be therapy. It can be a discovery of who you are. It can be educational. It can be a dessert. It can be a get away. But it will always be work. Whether you’re enjoying it or not. Whether you’re getting paid for it or not. Creating something, bringing life to something… is work. It can be fulfilling, it can be draining, it can be clear, it can be confusing.

But its still work. Its a business. Even if its bells and whistles don’t look the same. So if you know someone who is a creative, if you are thinking of stepping into it yourself, don’t think its “not a real job” because if I’m not on set, I’m in class, or prepping an audition, or studying film/tv, or writing, or helping a fellow actor with lines, or buying new self-tape equipment, etc etc etc.

Its a business at heart. But one that can change your world.

: Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I’m a sensitive guy. I wear my emotions on my sleeve, and enjoy experiencing most my emotions. And nothing does this for me as amazingly as a good story. Acting is all about storytelling, And most of my life has been as well. My father used to tell me stories that he learned growing up in Cape Verde, Africa. My wife and I tell stories about our journey together over the years. And Im excited to tell my daughter stories as she grows up.

Storytelling is experiencing life. And through acting I’m able to tell other’s stories. But ultimately I want to tell my stories. I would love to get to that point where I can be trusted to bring the emotional tales that live in my head to the big screen. Because nothing hits me more than an emotional beat that moves you. When the narrative is on point, when the musical score kicks in, when the build up pays off. You walk away from that film/show like you just lived another life for a moment.

And I wanna create those moments.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://resumes.actorsaccess.com/ulisses
• Instagram: @the_ulisses_gon
• Twitter: @the_ulisses_gon

Image Credits
Chase Anderson