We were lucky to catch up with Yuliana Sleme Zetina recently and have shared our conversation below.

Yuliana , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

Once you’ve been in the artist/acting path for a while, many, MANY projects come to mind. I could name “Gleam”, the very first short film I did after graduation and where I made lifelong friends and professional relationships. Or “The Little Shop of Horrors”, a production I did back in Mexico, where I got my first lead musical theatre role. Maybe I should mention “La Santera”, since it got me my first award for “Best actress in a short”, which was the reassurance I needed for the choice I made when I started this path. I could talk about my first feature length film “Death on The Border” where I worked with idols like Danny Trejo! Or, I probably should mention the wonderful new play “Abandon All Hope”, and how the message of the story reflects hilariously and heart warmly on religion and society, how the people behind it poured their hearts for it, and how it’s professional importance for my career excels any expectation or dream I had for myself before, culminating in my very first off-Broadway performance.

There are many many projects in the life of an artist. Some old, but mostly we remember the fresh and newest ones. They all feel like a blip when you look back. But my absolute favorite project in this time, which I dream of re-living and wish to keep telling is “Oh Sweet New York”. It is a pilot/short film about to be released on Film Festivals! Nessa’s story in this film is both fun, light, joyful and bold, painful. I can’t wait to fill in her shoes again if possible. Janise Valentin, the director, created a story that resonates with many women pursuing any dream in NY. She shone a light on adventure, dreams, abuse, family/friendship, trauma and hope. And in a world full of Latin influences!!! Which is still much needed in the industry today. Playing Nessa felt like two parts of me were made to co-exist: the me who is loudly joyful and excitingly brave, and a more scared and anxious version of me. I can’t wait to share her story with the world in festivals really soon!

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?

My name is Yuliana Sleme and I am a Mexican actress. And to put it simply, I believe I am a a better person because of my career. I have been acting almost my whole life. And something I’ve learned is that working for something you believe in and means something to you, makes a whole difference in one’s life and drive to work. The compassion and discipline I’ve learned over time, and am still learning, is my biggest, strongest tool in both the performance and the business side of acting.

I have won awards in the best, either me personally or the films I star in. But even though I am proud about the them and my professional accomplishments (I feel that they do matter in the industry and provide the credibility and platform to keep growing from there), I’m mostly proud of the ability that acting innately gives you when you’re really listening: having an open heart and an adventurous body and soul. And to achieve both of those, you just have to be brave. I am proud of doing that. And for allowing change and evolution into my performances and perspectives.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The community! Being able to have deep and meaningful conversations and explorations about life, work, people… artists who support, encourage and lift other artists. Having like-minded and reliable friends and collaboratives is most important for any artist. No artist can do EVERYTHING by themselves. Certainly no filmmaker. Most of the time I think people believe the artistic world is purely competitive and rivalrous, but most of us artists see how that’s not true anymore.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

I read a lot. That might be the one habit I actually do every day! And from the things I’ve read, here are a few that changed something in me: “The Invisible Actor” by Yoshi Oida, “The Mastery of Love” by Don Miguel Ruiz and Jay Shetty’s Podcast and books.      

Contact Info:

• Website: https://yulianasleme.wixsite.com/website
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yulianazsz/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yulianazahia
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl8K8Ehm4C_1q9HKTqN1AHQ
• Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm10882598/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk

Image Credits
“Oh sweet New York” bts pictures by Mapi BG “Abandon all Hope” theatre pictures by Brendan Buchman