Today we’d like to introduce you to Marisol Robles
Hi Marisol, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’d have to take you back to where I’m originally from— the Island of Enchantment— Puerto Rico. This is where I grew up, where I first fell in love with performing; where I did my studies; and where I stumbled upon production work. I’m a military brat who did not do the military brat thing most do… which was JROTC. Instead, I was the news anchor for my high school and pranced around with the “Pink Ladies”, did more of the French choir, show choir, musical theater thing since I was 12 years old. I was even one of the members to revive the CasAbierta Theater Association at the university I attended.
While pursuing my B.F.A. in Theater and a B.A. in Journalism at the Universidad del Sagrado Corazón, one of my side jobs was for an independent film company by the name of BlueFace Productions. There I also learned to shoot photos and videos for clients, edit, did some light voiceover work, acting, casting, production assistant to producing a feature film we didn’t get to finish BUT it had zombies with gnarly make-up and that was still very cool. I got my hands on everything and anything; the more I absorbed, the more I appreciated and fell in love with the entertainment industry and made it my mission to make myself a highly valuable asset.
It was actually also while I was in my last semester, I was enrolled in a news production for television course, doing the “harder” work (recording with those big cameras, editing the footage, producing, all that good stuff), I told myself, “Oh yea, in front or in back of the camera, this is where I’m meant to be”. And I have stayed true to my path ever since. Well, with the exception of journalism; I quickly found out after working at the only English newspaper on the island, Caribbean Business, that the focus and drive wasn’t there for me.
Press fast forward, I moved to Central Florida early 2017 as a stepping stone and tried to figure out my next move. In the meantime, I got back to my theater roots at the Osceola Arts Center hopping on stage with an amazing ensemble for “Love, Loss and What I Wore”, competed in the Winter Haven regional theater conference, and won a few awards, including “All Star Cast Member”. I fell into retail for a moment but I knew I had to get out of there, so I submitted to casting directors around the area, not knowing if my limited casting experience on the island would qualify. Lo and behold, I was hit up by Casting Director Heather Heinz from 247Cast (now Heinz Productions) to work on OWN’s David Makes Man. Dropped my retail job in a heartbeat, hopped on board this intense but oh-so fun casting journey, and worked on not only two seasons of this wonderful scripted television series, but over a hundred commercials, industrials and print work.
Somewhere in 2019 during all of that, I said to myself, “Wait a minute, wait a minute… how are you only doing casting right now and you’re not in front of the camera?”. To remedy that, I got myself an agent, started training (still do!), switched back over to doing indie films and kept it going. To this date, I’ve booked non union and union commercials and industrials with brands such as USAA, Secret, Checkers, AdventHealth, Dr. Scholl’s, a Tropicana campaign, Sling TV with former pro football player, Desmond Howard, just to name a few. Recently, I worked opposite Jessie T Usher for an upcoming Netflix series.
Come 2024, alongside my business partner and coach, Chris Greene, we felt there was a lack of diversity and representation in the characters and visual content being produced in the southeast. So, we took it upon ourselves to help change that by opening up the doors to Detour Casting Company, and then came Detours International Film festival with a mission to showcase underrepresented stories and filmmakers around the globe. And now here I am providing my services in beautiful Georgia.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Nothing worth while is going to have a smooth journey. I think this is even truer for artists; if we don’t already fall victim to our inner demons criticizing and doubting our looks and skills, it’s the outside world doing that for us. I’d be lying if I said the occasional self doubt and self deprecation didn’t contribute to my struggles.
I’ve fallen into the trap of not feeling Latina enough based on what is predominantly seen on screen, the comments I’ve received regarding my ethnically ambiguous appearance and at one point, the fluency of my Spanish while growing up was in question. As if we didn’t already have a scarcity of Latin representation in the entertainment industry, there appears to be a preference or a stereotype that is indicative of what a Latin woman “should” look like in order to be accepted, celebrated and adored; one that seems to favor straight hair over curly, sun-kissed skin, and hyper-sexualization, if not playing the frumpy maid or best friend. I’ve had to adapt to these trends by straightening my hair, adding an accent, dressing up or down, any detail worth noting that would help boost my image as a more credible Latina for any given project, even when my heart yearned to present myself just as I am.
Financial insecurity in my day-to-day life and funding projects has been another obstacle I’ve faced. And like many other actors wanting to step up their game, the lack of notable credits were also a hindrance for me when trying to expand my team with a manager or an agent in a different market.
They say you need to have thick skin if you want to thrive in show business, but I’d like to add that while you should try not taking things personally, allowing for vulnerability is a beautiful thing, and you should practice self compassion and have an innovative spirit if you want to stay relevant. BIG also, find your tribe, they will help keep you accountable and motivated.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Despite my head full of bouncy curls, I wear several hats– I’m an actress, singer, filmmaker, casting professional, co-founder of a film festival, dog mom. But I’m mostly known for my casting and acting background on stage and on screen. I’m also known to be a passionate advocate for my fellow actors, providing knowledge and advice wherever I can, and creating positive spaces for artists to collaborate.
Though being a workaholic can take a toll on me, I’m certainly proud of all of my accomplishments throughout my life thus far, and through my work, I also aim to represent and lift up the Puerto Rican community. I’ve written, executive-produced and was lead actress in my award-winning short film, Am I?; won Best Lead Actress for my work in the faith-based short film, The Lost Son; co-founded a casting company and film festival; travelled from the west coast to the east coast performing in medical conferences; I even originated the role of the HBIC, Rosemary, in Jeremiah Gibbon’s Ophelia, The Musical, and recorded an album with select songs from said musical. Being honest with myself, I’ve done a lot, and I’m excited for what’s next.
You know, aside from the dimples, the big curls and the feisty yet vibrant personality that most people notice off the gate, I’d say what sets me apart from others would be my grounded optimism and resilience; the adaptability and endless curiosity I possess; my humor and I am one strong, well-rounded storyteller. I’d say from a casting standpoint, I believe that being a trained professional actress gives me an advantage with the ability to be specific about what a role or project needs, what a talent can bring to the table, and how to be proficient in reaching an actor in order to get the best results. Adding to that, I firmly believe all directors should either have been an actor, taken various acting classes or watch performances on the regular so that they may effectively direct actors in the fullest and safest capacity possible.
How do you think about happiness?
Well, this question just made me smile. There are so many things that fill me with joy and enrich my life: from the little things like enjoying a good cafecito or being greeted by my senior fur baby, Paprika, to greater things like traveling the world, indulging in different cuisines, getting my adrenaline fix, learning new skills and languages– I just started learning a 5th language, Arabic. Boredom kills my soul and if I’m not in action, I feel like I’m wasting away unnecessarily and not fulfilling my purpose as a human being on this planet. That being said, having a positive impact on people I meet and those near and dear to me is equally important and fulfilling, as I’m also very nurturing and love to offer people I care about a sense of feeling valued, celebrated and supported. Maybe it’s the Sagittarius in me when I say this but I love living life, connecting with different personalities and making the most out of the time I’m being given. If I leave sooner than expected, I want to at least be content with what I’ve done.
And of course, being able to tell meaningful stories and create memorable characters is the cherry on top. This where I feel most at home.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Personal – https://www.instagram.com/mardetornasol/ ; Casting – https://www.instagram.com/detourcastingcompany/
- Facebook: Personal – https://www.facebook.com/mardetornasol/ ; Casting – https://www.facebook.com/DetourCastingCo
- Other: https://www.imdb.me/MarisolRobles
Image Credits
Jerry Price, Haleigh Nicole Photography, Michele Hocking, Marisol Robles
