Today we’d like to introduce you to Dani Hurtado.
Dani, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’ve had a fire for creating and expressing myself since I was a little girl. I grew up in a creative environment, with my mom being a fashion designer. I think that having this creative environment around me allowed me to nurture my passion of being an actor. I’m so grateful that I’ve been given permission to pursue my dreams relentlessly since day one.
When I was 14, I moved to Los Angeles with my talented friend and her mother to chase our dreams of being actors. At the time, I was a deeply insecure teenager who had a lot to learn about the industry. I didn’t last long in LA and I ended up moving back home. I had put my dreams on the back burner due to false beliefs of not being good enough. This was when I decided to take up photography and more behind-the-scenes roles in order to cope with abandoning my dreams. Though I’m incredibly proud of the work I’ve been able to do with photography, I always knew that I was using this medium as a creative crutch and I was quick to drop it once acting came back full-force into my life.
When the pandemic hit and everyone was in a state of re-evaluating their entire lives, it was here that I started to entertain the idea of taking acting more seriously. I slowly left jobs that were leaving me depleted, got myself a local talent agent, joined an incredible acting class at In The Moment Acting Studio, got new professional headshots, and started auditioning. Thankfully, I had unemployment money coming in from the job I lost at the start of the pandemic and this was able to be the fuel for pursuing acting again.
I now work between Texas and Los Angeles doing what I love. Most recently, a film that I starred in and co-produced called Three Headed Beast just had its world premiere and competed in the US Narrative Competition at Tribeca Film Festival in New York. I couldn’t be more proud about this film.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The industry I’ve chosen is highly competitive and actors are faced with constant rejection. This can definitely start taking a toll on you after a while but it’s part of the job. Auditioning on its can feel like a part-time job. I’ve learned to make peace with all of this and I understand that it’s just part of the process.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
As an actor, making bold decisions can really determine your success in the long run. I’m constantly having to push my boundaries and get uncomfortable. I’ve learned that playing small will get me nowhere. Taking risks is part of the job.
Contact Info:
- Website: danihurtado.com
- Instagram: @its.danihurtado
Image Credits
Professional headshots: Arthur Byran Marroquin
