Andre Melgacio’s Stories, Lessons & Insights

We recently had the chance to connect with Andre Melgacio and have shared our conversation below.

Andre, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
I’m proud of the foundation I’ve built behind the scenes. Some people think being an actor is all just playing make-believe and hitting red carpets—and that’s the fun side of it! But what most people don’t see is the mountain of work it takes to get there.
Being an actor requires a lot of study, constant trial and error, and the resilience to handle every ‘no’—and believe me, there will be a lot of them—just to get a foot in the door. You have to keep going, keep learning, and keep improving, constantly sharpening your tools until you get where you want to be. I look at the career I’m building today and I feel a deep sense of pride, because I know it was earned through genuine hard work and dedication.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My acting career began in Brazil in 2018, where I gained experience across short films, theater, commercials, and soap opera. Moving to Atlanta in 2022 marked the beginning of a new chapter, presenting the challenge of adapting to a new industry and language—an opportunity I embraced to grow my career.
The journey has been incredibly rewarding. I’ve been fortunate to secure roles in a variety of productions, including films and TV series. I currently star as a lead in the series The Dirty A, now streaming on Peacock and Tubi.
I’ve always been drawn to the challenge of immersing myself in different worlds. For me, acting is about capturing the essence of a person, understanding their deepest motivations, and sharing their story with genuine authenticity. I’m a storyteller at heart, and I remain constantly eager to learn, grow, and push the boundaries of my craft.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who taught you the most about work?
Some people think you don’t need to study to become an actor, and maybe that works for a lucky few. But I’ve always believed that if you master the craft, the tools, and the techniques, you build a much more solid foundation for your career. I’m incredibly grateful to the teachers who passed their knowledge down to me. Learning the Meisner and Strasberg techniques, in particular, really helped me understand how this profession works from the inside out.
But I’ve also learned that knowing how to act isn’t enough; you have to understand how the industry itself works. I’ve learned from professionals in the industry that you need to know how to land the job, how to build genuine connections, how to cut a strong reel, and how to format a professional résumé. You have to be able to navigate the business side of things so you can effectively build your career and achieve your goals.

What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
When you start out as an actor, you have to go through a long road of auditions to get a job. You’re going to hear a lot of ‘no’s,’ and it hurts. But it’s part of the process. I’ve learned that a ‘no’ isn’t necessarily a sign that you aren’t good; often, it’s simply a matter of the specific profile they need. Maybe that role wasn’t meant for you, which means something better might be right around the corner!
As you keep going, learning, and improving, you get used to hearing the ‘no,’ letting it go, and focusing on the next opportunity until you get that ‘yes.’ As you build your career and your résumé, you learn to be more strategic—targeting the roles that truly match your profile and the characters you’re passionate about portraying. Healing those ‘wounds’ comes from realizing that every rejection is simply redirecting you toward the right door.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes and no. My public version is a part of who I am, but it isn’t the whole story. I think everyone has different versions of themselves for different social settings—that doesn’t mean you have multiple personalities; it just means you adapt. You naturally act differently with your family or closest friends, for example, than you do when you’re surrounded by co-workers.
You’re always yourself, but you carry different ‘personas’ based on what the situation requires. When I’m at work, for instance, I focus on being highly professional and punctual, staying locked in on the task at hand. That doesn’t mean I’m cold or overly formal; I still show my goofiness, my spontaneity, and my genuine care for people. It’s just about adapting my personality to the environment. My public version is centered on my work as an actor, so it’s naturally more professional, but it’s still peppered with genuine hints of who I am.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I’m following my dream. I’ve wanted to be an actor since I was a child, but my family was naturally worried about me being financially stable—especially in Brazil, where there are fewer opportunities in this industry than here. Because of that, I actually graduated in Social Communication and started a corporate career before I finally decided to pivot and commit to acting.
It wasn’t an easy transition; my quality of life changed significantly at the beginning. But as I kept working, growing my career, and finding my footing, I was able to find a balance. Sometimes I catch myself wondering where I would be if I hadn’t switched professions, but I know for a fact I wouldn’t be as happy. I’m doing what I love now, and I wouldn’t trade being an actor for anything.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andremelgacio
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@andremelgacio

Image Credits
Photo Andre Melgacio – @blueone.media
The Dirty A – Screenshot – Tubi
The Dirty A – BTS – personal file
Mafia_BTS_1 – @kybostudio
Mafia_BTS_2 – @kybostudio
Tim Shoot – @elihu_films