Meet Dayana Espinoza | Entrepreneur & Actor

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

Hi Dayana, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
It is always scary to start your own business, especially when you know the risks involved. I graduated from college as an Industrial Engineer and decided to leave everything behind in my country, Peru, to pursue an acting career. The road was challenging at the beginning and continues to do so, but the satisfaction of knowing that you’re working toward something you always wanted is indescribable. The thoughts process behind it is always scary, a roller coaster of emotions, but once you start seeing results and how close you can get to your dreams, you realize that nothing would have happened if you would have not decided to jump into the uncertainty. That’s the main reason why I keep working towards it. Being an actor and being your own business is not easy, but the only way of starting is by acknowledging those thoughts and still trying since the only way to start seeing opportunities is by consistency, perseverance, and having a community with you, who keeps pushing you to be better as a person and a professional.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m about to turn three years old since I started working as an actor professionally, and even though it continues to be a challenging road, it has given me many wonderful opportunities. The pandemic was one of my biggest challenges since the business was closed back in Peru and pretty slow here in the US. Fortunately, once I had the chance to come back to LA, I had the opportunity to be part of projects that have been recognized in the film industry. “Written Words”, directed and written by my dear friend Chelsea Nwasike, is one of them. It’s a psychological thriller that has won Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Narrative Short awards. I had the opportunity to work with Chelsea several times, and being part of this project was a beautiful opportunity for my career. You can find more about her work here: www.chelseanwasike.com (IG: @imthechelsea).
Likewise, “The Golden Teacher”, an American psychodrama written and produced by Aryka Productions (IG: @arykapprod), was officially selected and projected on the big screen at the Regal Cinemas LA for The Micheaux Film Festival, which was a huge opportunity to showcase the short film next to other incredible filmmakers and recognized jury.
As for my work on TV, last year I worked on one commercial for a huge supermarket brand and a national campaign for First5 California, which are currently airing on TV and online. With the chance of getting them renewed, you’ll see me on the short and big screen for quite a while.

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?
This is a tricky question since I think I have so many places to explore in LA yet. I’ve had friends visiting the area a couple of times, and the first thing we do is go for a walk on the most tourist places, such as the Hollywood Sign, The Walk of Fame, or the Urban Lights. Then we’d go to visit the coast, I have a “secret” spot in Mariana del Rey, where you can take beautiful pictures and the beach is not crowded, which gives you a chance to enjoy the ocean and the sunset almost privately.
In my view, the most fun and exciting places are the ones you share with important and special people, such as friends, family, or your significant other. It makes a huge difference if you enjoy it with the person you’re with.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
So many people, but I’d start with my family. Regardless of their conservative side, they always wanted me to be happy and never hesitated to give me their support. I’d not be here and doing what I’m doing if it wasn’t for them. Being an actor is not only about having talent but the necessary tools to pursue it in such a hard/big business, and I think my parents raised me in a way that allowed me to have them. I’d also like to recognize the places where I had the chance to develop my acting skills, Diez Talentos in Lima-Peru and the NYFA here in Los Angeles. That’s where everything started, and I met incredible people who are my friends today and whose work has inspired me along the way.
Last but no less important, I’d recognize the artists, writers, directors, producers, actors, crew, etc, who gave me my first opportunities on TV and Film; and who also gave me beautiful experiences on set that I keep with me as special memories.

Website: imdb.me/dayanaespinoza

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dayanaespinozav/

Image Credits
Steph Girard