Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Yanella Suarez. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Yanella, appreciate you joining us today. What’s the kindest thing anyone has ever done for you?
The kindest thing people have done for me is believe in me when I do not believe in myself. This has started since I was in high school, mainly from certain teachers. During high school is when I started my acting journey and I was a very good scholar, top of my class and eager to learn. There was a period where my personal life outside of school was stressful and I was struggling and the most beautiful thing happened. My teachers were extra patient with me and showed me they truly cared for me more than their paycheck required. They wouldn’t look at me, they would truly see me. Since then I have that same tenderness from friends and even strangers I meet randomly. It really ignites in me confidence that as an artist is always wavering.
Yanella, 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?
For folks who don’t know me, thank you for taking the time to read about me. I started acting in high school at a small classical black box theatre. The material I started with was so rich, beautiful and poetic. I moved from Miami to New York City as soon as I graduated and attended the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts. It has now been nearly a decade and I am still here clawing my way up the ladder. I love to create, I love to be a part of every stage of the process of creating. I am both a theatre and film/television actress, which both are distinctly different but fulfilling. From the writers room to being in front of the camera, to behind the camera, to taking a directors notes, to being a director giving notes; every aspect I am drawn to. I hope to meet like minded creatives who fully immerse themselves in projects they are passionate about simply for the pleasure of it. I believe community in this industry is a crucial part of succeeding. Having a set of people who constantly love working together and recommend each other for projects, or call me when they have ideas in mind they want to collaborate with is such a blessing. I am always looking for ways to exercise my creative juices and have fun while doing it !
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
A lesson that I had to unlearn during my journey is that this industry wants a certain look. Being a Cuban Afro-Latina who craves all the roles played by people who do not look like me at all was very discouraging. But I have come to realize that there as so many stories that I can tell and represent, that other people can’t! There is plenty of work for everyone. My best friend Ty Ravenel, a fellow actor, constantly reminds me that there are projects that are looking specifically for me, they just have not found me. I was limiting myself , I was not giving people the opportunity to reject me because I was rejecting myself first. It is a lesson that I am constantly working on but I have come to be more confident in taking up space in this world.
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
Anyone who has worked with me can agree on one thing, I work hard. I am not one of those people who believes “I am not doing that, it is not my job.” I am as hands on as I am allowed to be. If I am a director on a project I will still make staff meals, go on an errand run, help with costumes and props, hold a boom mic, etc. I will do what needs to be done for the betterment of a project always. I am this way again, because I am simply happy to be there. I believe that aspect of myself, which is who I am to my core, earns me respect from everyone who works with me.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yanella.ss/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXcCBLtAyqeJ6MYTbMK67Ww
- Other: Tik Tok :
https://www.tiktok.com/@yanellass
Image Credits
J. Demetrie Photography