Actor Juan Pablo Espinosa On The Five Things You Need To Shine In The Entertainment Industry
An Interview With Edward Sylvan
Say YES more: Opportunities will manifest and sometimes we are too much in our heads thinking how this will bring us to the future, but it’s about saying YES to the present!
As a part of our series about pop culture’s rising stars, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Juan Pablo Espinosa.
Juan Pablo is a Colombian actor who can be seen as Tomás in Netflix’s top series “Keep Breathing.” Prior to that he was in Focus Features comedy film “Half Brothers” and in the Apple TV+ comedy series “Acapulco.” He also co-starred with Catherine Zeta-Jones in Lifetime’s biographical crime drama film “Cocaine Godmother” about the life of Griselda Blanco.
Juan Pablo pursued his passion for acting at a very early age. After several years of theater training in Colombia, he attended Emerson College in Boston where he graduated with a BA in Theatre Studies. Since then, he’s had great success both in the US and Latin America having memorable roles in Netflix’s “Narcos”, “El Secretario”, “A Corazon Abierto” and “La Fan” with NBC/Telemundo.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Can you tell us the story of how you grew up?
I grew up in Bogotá, Colombia, in a wonderful big, loving family. I attended an all-boys catholic school, where I always explored the arts, whether it was painting, photography, ceramics or acting, I knew I was gonna dedicate my life to the arts one way or another.
Can you share a story with us about what brought you to this specific career path?
I remember the first time I saw a Broadway show, it was CATS. I was 10 years old. My parents would take us to the theater in Colombia, but Broadway struck a chord, it was the oversized scenery, the live orchestra, costumes and the lights that really gave me (and still do) that sensation of being on the verge of something WONDERFUL! I wanted to be an Actor ever since.
Later, as I graduated high school in Bogotá, I decided to venture and go to acting school at Emerson College in Boston.
Can you tell us the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?
Growing up in Colombia and loving Broadway, the musical CHICAGO had a very special place in my heart. Chita Rivera originated the role of Velma Kelly in 1975. I got to see it in NY with Bianca Marroquin, one of the most fantastic Latina actresses on Broadway, and soon after I fell in love with the movie where Catherine Zeta Jones won an Oscar for her FANTASTIC portail.
The magic soon began…I got to be in the Colombian version of the musical, then when I moved to LA I got to perform with Chita in a couple of concerts, then got to work with Bianca in the movie “Half Brothers” and then I finally got to work with Catherine Zeta-Jones playing her husband in the movie “Cocaine Godmother”. Dreams do come true, and I’m so grateful for these incredible women in my life!
It has been said that mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
Still to this day mistakes are some of my greatest teachers! Back in Colombia, I got to host “Idol Colombia”. I was the “Ryan Seacrest” of our version of the show. TV in Latin America is usually in a daily format, so I was hosting hour-long LIVE shows Monday through Friday, it was nerve-racking!
I had never worked with a teleprompter or an earpiece before, so naturally, the mistakes started happening, from having no sound, to having no access to the teleprompter, confusing names … it was overwhelming! I wanted to be perfect. But then one by one these “opportunities” helped me realize that my job is not to be perfect, that I’m here to do my best, learn and have fun. The more compassionate I was with myself the more I started enjoying the adrenaline of being in the moment. So I learned that my best work comes from being compassionate with myself.
What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now?
I play Tomás in Netflix’s “Keep Breathing.” This show comes at a beautiful time, it has a pace that we don’t often see on TV. We are on our phones, consuming content at a very fast pace, everything is immediate and to the point. “Keep Breathing” is literally that, a breath, a moment to take in nature, life, our demons, our hurt. I was very excited when I read the first script and got to audition for it! I was so excited for the way my character got to be thrown into a situation where he has to be a single father, to learn how to be an unconditional support for his daughter and finally to learn how to let go.
You have been blessed with success in a career path that can be challenging. Do you have any words of advice for others who may want to embark on this career path, but seem daunted by the prospect of failure?
Personally, it’s all about how you perceive or “measure” success. I am grateful to get to dedicate my life to trying to be the best actor I can be. Every audition, every show I didn’t get, every struggle, for me the success is loving what we do, the support we get from our loved ones and our audience. I’m grateful I get to call this my life. There is no failure when everything that goes in the process is to make you a better person, a better actor. Everything we endure is another great experience we can use for our work! The heartbreak, the unknown, the happy, the sad, that’s where we draw as artists, so go out, live it all, embrace it all!
We are very interested in diversity in the entertainment industry. Can you share three reasons with our readers about why you think it’s important to have diversity represented in film and television? How can that potentially affect our culture?
When you can turn to media and see references and positive representation that make you proud of your culture, your race, your sexual orientation you grow up with a better self esteem, confidence and pride.
Representation is so important. Content can no longer deny reality. Only a handful of people have had the privilege of feeling represented. Stories should be universal. If our job is to communicate, portray and share stories that reflect our world, we must represent it in all its wonderful diversity!
When we share an experience that resonates with others, we feel seen, we feel heard and this builds a sense of belonging. It’s our responsibility to create and fight for dignified spaces in theater, TV and film where this happens.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why? Please share a story or example for each.
Don’t care what others think: Following our instincts always leads to the best experiences.
Be patient: Careers are not built in a day.
Take more risks: For better or worse it’s always a growing opportunity to step out of one’s comfort zone.
Take tap classes: It’s a little different in your 40s lol.
Say YES more: Opportunities will manifest and sometimes we are too much in our heads thinking how this will bring us to the future, but it’s about saying YES to the present!
Which tips would you recommend to your colleagues in your industry to help them to thrive and not “burn out”?
Be curious, learn about other things constantly and find inspiration! Especially when we are “in between projects’’ really take this time to inspire yourself, cook, read, take a class, meditate, take long walks, spend as much time with family and loved ones, because once you book that amazing project that’s coming to you, you won’t have the luxury of having that valuable time.
You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)
In the words of the great philosopher Ru Paul “If you can’t love yourself, how the hell you gonna love somebody else.” These words inspire me so much, and my movement would be one of self-love, self-worth and self-acceptance. When we have respect, love and compassion for ourselves, we can see the world and everyone around us with that same feeling. It’s empowering and it builds community!
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
My parents, sister, and grandma have all been such pillars for me to stand on to keep going. I find such strength in my partner David. He centers me, elevates me and grounds me on a daily basis! Everyday I am so grateful for everyone I interact with, everyone has a place in my life that I hold so dear, from my family and friends, to the person behind the register at the supermarket, literally not one day in my life would be the same without everyone in it.
In my career, I’d single out my dear friend and teacher Antonio Ocampo Guzmán! He was the first to show me what a talented, passionate dedicated Colombian actor could do and be. Talk about representation! I love him.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
“Become who you needed growing up.” This inspires me to always strive to be the best Juan Pablo I can be and how I can have an impact on those around me. It’s about representation, visibility, and love!
How can our readers follow you online?
On Instagram and Twitter: @espinosajuanpa
This was very meaningful, thank you so much! We wish you continued success!
