Meet Dalma Llinas | Actress, singer & digital creator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dalma Llinas and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dalma, what’s one piece of conventional advice that you disagree with?
“Only do one thing – people won’t respect you if you do multiple things, have several passions, or work in different industries simultaneously.”

That might be the most outdated piece of advice I’ve heard and received over and over. And I get it makes sense that most people feel this way. Why they do, though, it’s what’s interesting. Few people know that in the renaissance, humans had to do and know many, many different things; this was called a “Rennaissance Person,” nowadays known as a “multipotentialite.” But with the advent of the industrial age, cultural norms shifted in favor of specialization; the more narrow, the better; the aphorism “Jack of all trades, master of none” emphasizes this.

But the reality is that you only get the whole picture if you understand every bit of the composition.

Because I was an English teacher and had to learn how to hold the attention of small and large groups of people, I can now explain digital strategies to corporate executives or host a cultural event at a Museum. Because I was an events organizer, I get why following a shooting schedule precisely can make or break a budget. Because I’m passionate about psychology, I can build more truthful characters when I act.

There’s an enormous value to being well-rounded. And in this era of technological convergence, well-educated generalists will become most valuable.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I started my artistic career as an acoustic rock singer in Barranquilla. I wanted to sing, partly because acting couldn’t be a choice to make a living there. I didn’t come from a wealthy family, so I had to put myself through college by teaching English and being a simultaneous interpreter from a very young age. So, while I made ends meet during the day, I decided I wanted to rock and roll at night.

I started a cultural project named “Acustico Barranquilla,” a space where local bands and artists could perform their songs or any covers acoustically, regardless of genre: reggae, jazz, pop, rock, salsa, etc. After a year of partnering up with local bars and venues, I got in touch with Barranquilla’s Museum of Modern Art to show them the project. They liked it and offered me to lead a cultural/musical space they hadn’t been able to get to fruition called “Entre Notas y Arte”; I said yes, and my project had a home there every last Friday of the month for seven years, from 2013 to 2021. This is definitely one of the projects I’m most proud of, and I will forever be grateful to the Museum for trusting a tiny 22-year-old with a passion for rock and American pop culture – which I think was one of the things that set me apart from others, at least where I’m from. I learned English by myself, watching TV and listening to music; this passion was enhanced by my high-school English teacher, who loved Queen and bewitched me with Freddie’s showmanship, braveness, and overall legend. That’s the genesis of my Barranquilla career, to be honest.

But getting to where I am today hasn’t been easy. When I was 17, I participated in Colombia’s version of the X Factor and got rejected on National Television, and trust me, that will mold you. After that, I spent five years without singing until a good friend encouraged me to do it again; I’m glad I listened. As cliche as it sounds, yes, sometimes you only need one person in the room who believes you, and no one will if you don’t believe in yourself first. My whole career has been a pure act of faith and rebelliousness; it still is.

Moving to Los Angeles in April 2021 was my ultimate act of honoring myself, little Daniela, who’s always wanted to act and be part of the idyllic world of movies, where you educate, inspire, entertain, and change lives one frame at a time. After working in a musical and doing some commercial work in late 2021, I worked in two feature films as a supporting and lead actress in 2022, and I’m currently working as the lead, co-writer, and producer of the slice of life independent film “Lime & Vinegar” where I’ll play “Daniela.” The director, Evan Snyder, wanted her to be based on my experiences being from Colombia and an immigrant in the States, so I’m very excited to bring her to life and break some stereotypes along the way.

What I want the world to know about my story is that everything is possible if you have discipline and structure and if you’re open to failing and getting back up; I know it’s uncomfortable AF, but successes don’t give you as much feedback as failures do, take it from a reality show reject 🙂

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Tough one because there’s SO much to do in LA. But a potential one-week itinerary would be:

Monday in DTLA: Powerwalk around Walt Disney Concert Hall, The Broad, Grand Park, and then take Angels Flight to grab a bite at Grand Central Market; then we’ll wrap up the day watching a cool movie and having dinner at The Alamo, which to me, is one of the best ways to experience a film in LA!

Green Tuesday: Breakfast at Echo Park Lake and some cardio pedaling on the Swan Boats, then grab some more caffeine at Silverlake’s La Colombe, hike on Griffith park, and have a mini picnic (and photo session) at the Griffith Observatory. Then dinner in Los Feliz.

Glendale Wednesday: I personally LOVE Glendale. I have many good memories in Atwater Village, so we’d have brunch at Bon Vivant Market & Cafe, then explore the thrift stores right across from it! Then, sushi lunch and a beer on Brand. Then, depending on the mood, we’ll finish the day with another movie at my favorite Glendale Dine-In Theatre or Korean BBQ spot.

WeHo + Santa Monica Thursday: We’d start the morning with a spinning class, then have an American breakfast at Mel’s Drive-in, then drive to Santa Monica to sunbath for a bit and spend the rest of the day doing some bar/restaurant hopping close to the beach.

Hollywood Night Friday: I’m a 70’s rock lover, so we’d spend a cool, funky, retro night at Good Times at Davey Wayne’s.

Chill Saturday in Venice: We’d spend the day in Venice, sunbathing and working out with elastic bands. Then treat ourselves at the White Elephant or any cool restaurant that takes walk-ins without making you wait for an hour, lol.

San Diego Sunday: I always like to try and book a hotel in San Diego in advance to finish my friend’s LA trip on a high note. We’d chill at the hotel for a bit, then explore Downtown San Diego and go to a famous beach like Mission Bay or Pacific Beach.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to dedicate this shoutout to the city of Barranquilla—my hometown, which molded me from scratch with its tough and sandy love.

Website: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm12559836/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dalma.llinas/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dalma-llin%C3%A1s-5851b549/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dalmallinasconde/

Image Credits
All headshots by Michael Tari Photography