Meet Paola Salvador | Actress

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

Hi Paola, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Art has always been something I’ve felt connected with since I was young. When I think about where it all started, I instantly travel back to when I was 5 years old and I was the lead in a school play “Little Red Riding Hood”. It was such a fun experience. I was so little and yet I found such a joy in acting.
During my life I’ve dived into different forms of art, like dancing. I took Flamenco lessons for around 8 years. Or jazz for a year. And some hip hop classes for a couple months.
Drawing and writing were also other hobbies I had. Specially writing, I’ve been writing probably since I was 14 years old.
But during middle school, I was curious about acting again. So I started with theatre, where I did some plays like “Hairspray”, “Hercules” or “The Greatest Showman”.
Eventually I realized it was not only a hobby, it was what I saw myself doing for life. I wanted to dedicate my future to this beautiful form of art that is acting. So during 2023 I moved to Los Angeles tu pursue an acting for film career.
It’s so fulfilling for me. Because in my personal process I feel acting is very deep. I have to be so connected with my emotions, mind and body. Dig deep into even the most vulnerable parts that bring up such beautiful emotions. And I have to transmit that to the camera while making it real. The more I studied acting, performed, learnt more, the more passionate I become about it.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m not someone who gives up easily. I set my goals and I won’t stop until I achieve them. That determination drives me everyday to stay focused and work hard. Just imagining achieving what I’ve dreamed of, it’s exciting. I believe each actor has different goals. Mine? I want to be in the movies, to travel around the world and country to different sets and places. I want to create different characters and personas, that are so different from who I am. So one day, when I look back, I can smile and feel proud of all I’ve achieved and the hard work it took to get there.

It hasn’t been easy. Back in high school, the environment I grew up in pushed people towards careers like medicine, marketing, business, etc. So studying “acting” was definitely uncommon. I can’t count how many times I heard people say I was not taking my future seriously, that I’d regret it, or how I was clueless about how difficult it actually is. It wasn’t exactly encouraging. At first I was originally going to study communication, because it was the “closest” to acting. But knew that wasn’t truly what I wanted.

After graduating I took a year to research about schools, places, costs, alumni. It was a long process where I even applied to different colleges. But now I’m in LA, starting my acting career, I’ve been here for almost 2 years and I can say it’s been totally worth it.

What kept me going was not only the support of a lot of people in my life, but also my goals. Picturing what it will feel like when I achieve them. The truth is you have to ignore the negativity, which isn’t always easy.

Another big challenge for me has been comparison. That’s something I still struggle with today. I make the mistake of comparing my journey with other actors, people, friends, etc. Or their acting, the way they look, etc. But I remind myself we all have different experiences and possibilities. We all have our own journey and that something that I tell myself whenever I get those thoughts. To not focus on what’s not working or who is better. I try to shift my mindset; what else can I do? How can I improve? How can use time in my favor?

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
It’s funny thinking about where would I take a friend if they visited, because a friend already did and I realized I’m not the best at giving tours or knowing the best spots.
But personally, if it was their first time being to LA, I’d take them to the beach. Malibu preferably.
For clubbing, Hollywood is the place. Because it’s full of bars and clubs so you can always hop between them if it’s not your vibe. They’re all blocks away from each other. “Dirty Laundry” and “No Vacancy” are very popular. But depending the DJ, I really like “Bar Lis”.
A walk around Beverly Hills is also a must, the street lights and places is very enjoyable.
Of course they cannot miss the beauty for going to “The Griffith observatory” around the time when the sun sets. To live the “La La Land” fantasy.
I love hiking so a hike from The wisdom Tree to the Hollywood Sign is not only great cardio but the views are insane. You can practically see all LA from there.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to dedicate this shoutout to the people that believed in me, supported me and push me til today to pursue my dream.
My dad, Francisco Salvador, who’s a role model for me. He’s taught me so much about hard work and how far it can get you. He never gives up and is someone I really admire.
My mom, Mary Loly Saro. She’s a very strong woman. Who’s given me so much love and support. And my #1 cheerleader since I was a baby.
My group of friends, Avril, Perla, Janah, Nahomy, Fernanda, Felipe, that have always been there whenever I feel like giving up. That push me to pursue my goals even when they seem impossible. That are always there for the pretty and the ugly.
My best friend, Montserrat Contreras, who has been the for almost half my life. She supports me every single day and is always there for me. I’m so thankful for having her as someone I can always rely on.
My first acting teacher, Jimena Merodio. She’s another role model. I see how much she’s achieved and it’s very inspiring. I still remember the day I told her I wanted to pursue an acting career and what she said. It was encouraging but also real, not feeding me with false hope but to keep pushing forward. I’ll always remember her telling me “it’s a career full of no’s, you have to be very strong. You have to resist and endure. Because it is possible”. That has been stuck in my head for years, and it’s what keeps me moving forward and not getting stuck on a “No” or a rejection. Because it is true that it’s not easy, but not impossible.

Instagram: paoosalvador

Image Credits
Nigel Suarez
Martin Thompson