Meet Madelie Martinez | Actress & Artist

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

Hi Madelie, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
Taking risks is something that I’ve only recently started to really encourage for myself and others. Even though we do it all the time, subconsciously. I’ve actively tried to be braver, & I understand more now how fear takes a big part in our decision making. Fear of the unknown result of taking that risk in the first place. Like asking out your crush but have the fear of rejection, or quitting the mentally taxing job for one you actually enjoy but with fear you might not earn as much, or even the desire to create something but having the fear that others might not understand/like your creative vision. Taking risks is vital to having an eventful life & one full of experiences.

For me, I wouldn’t be where I am today had I not taken the risk of leaving home in Venezuela when I was 17 to come back to the US alone & finish my education, to ultimately pursue a career in Acting. It was an incredible risk that shaped me very quickly to be independent & full of ambition. I was determined every day to not have that risk be in vain. I risked moving to NY for college, and then I risked it again by moving to LA for my BFA. Every part of my journey has been filled with fear. But it has also been filled with love, from my friends and family that believe in me as much as I believe in myself.

Because the thing about taking risks is that after you take a good amount, there are few you feel like you can’t overcome.

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’m an American-Venezuelan Actress, Singer, Dancer, Painter, Model, etc! I love anything that has to do with creativity and telling a story. I went to college mainly for Musical Theatre and graduated with a BFA in Performing Arts. Although my main focus as a career is Acting for TV & Film. So, you’re probably wondering why I studied Musical Theatre 🙂 I wanted to be trained in all three: singing, acting & dancing. Because why not be a triple threat? I’ve also recently discovered my love for painting! I’ve been self-taught for a little over a year now & I’ve been so proud of my progress.
But just like most of LA, I am, of course, auditioning a lot in hopes of being the next new face bringing to life a story you’ve never heard before. It wasn’t easy to get here. Countless sleepless nights worrying about the future, days I felt too stressed to keep going, and lots of lonely moments. But I was never afraid to express that in my art, & I think that’s what would set me apart. I’m not afraid to be vulnerable. I encourage it. That’s why we go see a play or listen to a song, as a way of reminding ourselves that others have felt or lived what we have. That we’re not alone. That it’s ok to feel.

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.
Well, I have yet to explore more of the city! But I’d probably say: Grandmaster Records, Laurel Hardware, or Cara Cara for food. Desert 5 Spot, Normandie Club, Las Perlas, or Kiss Kiss Bang Bang for dancing and drinks! For hanging out, there’s so many options: DTLA Rooftop Cinema Club, Lake Hollywood Park, Santa Monica Pier, Griffith Observatory, Universal Studios CityWalk, & sure I’d take them to the Walk of Fame just to get it out of their system hahahaha.

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?
When I came back to the US from Venezuela at 17, my family had to stay behind. So, I didn’t have any family in the States with me. I was going through a tough time working two jobs in my senior year of high school to afford a rented room in a house with a Venezuelan family I had just met. During this time, it was the most unexpected group of people that made a world of difference in my life: my school counselor, my musical theatre teacher, and my school principal. They eventually found out that I was alone, and helped me not only with medical checkups but also with applying for college. I call them my Angels. They were my only friends. I was so caught up with working two jobs and dealing with being away from family that I felt I couldn’t relate to any of the kids my age. I more often found friendship and support with the adults. They are the reason I am where I am today. They believed in me from the start, and they saw that not only did I have talent but also enough discipline and determination to get to where I wanted in life. They most definitely have their places reserved on my “thank you speech” once I receive my first award.

Website: https://beacons.ai/madeliemartinez

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

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@MadelieMartinez