Meet Anthony L Fernandez | Actor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Anthony L Fernandez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Anthony L, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I am a natural born risk taker. I have been my entire life. Whether by nature or condition, the common denominator has been the ability to take life risking leaps of faith from the cliff, hoping that my wings would spread and I would soar like an eagle, or at the very least, I wouldn’t “die” from the fall. I grew up poor. Sometimes stable other times, not so much. We always had friends and family that would open up their homes, but that never lasted long. Constantly on the road, starting over, traveling to different places, I saw a lot. I know what it’s like to feast, however. . . I know what it feels like to starve as well. That being said, I grew up tough and fast. I believe I’ve always been a kind good hearted person. But even as a child I had an urge to disregard fear, intimidation, or consequence. Feelings of inadequacy, inferiority, shame, rage, desperation, fear, all gone with every act of societal rebellion. My kind heart would be protected by a warrior’s shell. Using brain and braun to prove to everyone I would never give up nor back down. Which sounds great, but got me into quite a bit of trouble. Eventually running the streets, I was always getting myself into something. What started out as the occasional call to my mom from school for a fight, turned into calls from the police station. As a teenager on through young adulthood, I risked my freedom, my health, my loved ones, and my very life. Money, alcohol, drugs, guns, sex, good times, no reason at all… Even after gang life, I risked my life bouncing at nightclubs, all for the money and lifestyle. Every day of my life was a new risk and challenge. What came next would be two of the biggest risks I’d ever taken. A baby on the way and a new career in Hollywood. When under pressure and knowing I have responsibilities to uphold, I will go to any length to make something happen and win. I’m a Hustler baby. So with the nightclub that provided my racks closed, dwindling resources, and a new family to support, I took a risk and went back to school. Then took another risk and went to acting classes. and yet another risk, when I decided I would establish a successful acting career. Step by step, line by line. I worked my ass off, took the hits, and played the hand I was dealt, over and over again. My life lives and breathes risk. I emanate risk. I am risk. And even this interview doesn’t give risk the justice it deserves for the part it has played in my life and my career. Chance, fate, timing. . . We only hit small strides, micro doses, scratched the surface. Every performance, every outspoken word due to a platform I am so gracious and humble to utilize. Every opportunity for every project which I have been given, was a risk that someone else took on me. I’m thankful and I’m humbled. In my 10+ years of professional acting, I have continuously had to stretch myself and grow. Facing challenges and setbacks. But I have earned so many amazing opportunities, worked with some of Hollywood’s finest and my heart is filled with joy, knowing I now inspire others to follow their dreams. Sometimes it’s best to play it safe, but the risks get us where we need to go and hopefully remind us all, just how miraculous life can be. A person can change their entire life, their destiny with a calculated gamble, one decision, at any given moment. Don’t look back on life with regrets of what could’ve have been, but wasn’t worth the risk.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
The craft of acting is my passion. I have relationships, hobbies, joys in life, but nothing moves me, nothing quite stirs my soul like experiencing and living my characters truth, feeling, telling their story. My reality, captured by the camera and shared with the world, to connect us all. I am honored to have been given a gift of understanding humanity and being able to recreate reality, combing all states of emotion, circumstance, and introspection to use as catalysts for stories and performances, which pull us in, change our lives, and stay with us long after the credits roll. I transformed myself from a tattooed Chicano gangster into a 10 year professional actor. I did it step by step, mile after mile, audition after audition, no after no, yes after yes. I learned by trial and error, never making the same mistake twice. I secured roles and advanced with hard work, dedication, and preparation. Scene study, script analysis, emotionals, psychologicals, improv, showcases. Dedicated to breaking boundaries and sterotypes. And that what I did, role after role for the last decade. Once typecast, now offered characters far beyond what few could see, so I thank those with vision. It was not and will not ever be easy. I was shown favor which aligned with my work. I had good days and bad. I worked graveyard jobs. Dangerous jobs. I know the struggle is real. But I found my way. I never gave up, never lost focus, and always showed up, prepared and ready for battle. I’m most proud to have made it into the Happy Madison family, working on Home Team on Netflix. Pat on the back. I don’t think one ever fully overcomes challenges, we just get better at facing them. I would say the greatest asset a person can have is consistency and adaptability. I’m a survivor. always have been. You need to be if you want to make it to the top. There are a lot of human beings in the world and they all want to be number one. So find balance in life and become the best version of yourself possible. When you strive for that, you will find joy in everything you do in life. I want to inspire. I want the world to know that I was here, came from nothing, against all odds and underestimated at every turn. I never gave up. I want people to watch my work and to be stirred emotionally, to help people, to give my gift to the world. To tell stories of us. I want them to know that my story is one of redemption, beauty, and art. #ALF

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
That all depends on how much time they have and how adventurous they are. When my friends come to visit, they want to experience Los Angeles in all it diverse glory! Gotta go to Olvera street, El Rancho Grande, La Luz del Dia, or Juanitas. Small jump to China town from there to Mr. Chow, delicious. Hollywood classic? Mels Drive in. Breakfast? The Sunset Grill. But if were talking upscale, Im thinking Craig’s or SUR. Two of my favs in DTLA are Nickel Diner and Urth Caffe. Brunch in Seal Beach at Spaghettini’s is the bomb. If you’re into seafood I always love the Lighthouse in Long Beach or shoot up the coast to San Pedro Fish Market, Barrique Venice, or Malibu Farm in Malibu. Maybe you want soul food? Roscoes Chicken and Waffles, Willie Mae’s, and M&M’s. My favorite spot in East Los is the famous El Tepeyac. Those are my restaurant takes. But that’s only the food, so many more places for dance, drinks, art, and culture from House of Blues to El Cid. I love L.A.!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I thank God first. I thank my family and friends for putting up with, loving, and supporting me. Thank you to everyone who ever gave me a good word or “opened a door” of opportunity to further my career. Thank you to my small inner circle for propping me up. Shoutout and love to my fans who love, support, and watch my work, following my journey in film and television. Thank you to my Managers Sean Dubrevac, Matt Ilczuk and the entire Entertainment Lab fam, my Agent Kevin Turner and Daniel Hoff Agency, as well as my Commercial Agents, Rick and Alex at Ferrari Talent Agency, for their vision, commitment, dedication and hard work. Shoutout to SAG/AFTRA. Shoutout to all of my colleagues in the entertainment industry, even the opps. Thank you and Shoutout Sonia Balcazar for recommending me for this interview and being a positive encouraging testimony of a person dreaming big, turning those dreams into reality, and inspiring others to love and believe in themselves. Shoutout to me, good work, keep it up. And, to anyone I’ve missed I am thankful, grateful, love, and respect.

Instagram: @actoranthonylfernandez 

Twitter: www.twitter.com/actoranthony

Facebook: Anthony L. Fernandez

Image Credits
Image credit to main profile headshot photo only – Shandon Youngclaus