Meet Cara Delaporta

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

Hi Cara, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
Never shy away from taking that risk.
I see taking a risk as an opportunity to challenge, to grow and to change.
Everything you want in life is on the other side of fear.

Leaving my small town in Missouri at 18, and moving to LA was a huge risk. I knew no one, and even though teenage Cara would try to disagree, I really knew nothing of the world. But every choice I’ve made that felt absolutely terrifying, always ended up being exactly what I needed.
I started my journey in LA alone, but now it’s my home. My community. And it’s filled with my incredible chosen family and an amazing career.

Taking a risk can be hard. There’s a shit ton of vulnerability in it. And I notice as humans we often try to avoid vulnerability….
Because what if we fail? What if we hurt?
But..
What if we succeed? What if we find our joy?

If you showed teenage Cara where she is now, she would be in awe of herself. She wouldn’t believe it.
But it’s truly is because of every good, somewhat questionable and yes, bad decision I’ve made.

I find myself reflecting a lot with my therapist. (No pressure, but you should have one too)
What if I never got on that plane all those years ago with a suitcase, a snapback and a dream? What if I never got on stage to try stand up for the first time? What if I never said hi to that one guy at work I wanted to be my friend?
What if I listened to fear?

But here I am. Better for every risk I’ve taken.
I go to bed most nights journaling about the gratitude I have for just that.

So I say fuck the ‘what if’. Take the risk. Because even if it feels like failure in the moment, it isn’t. It’s really just a chance to learn, re-adjust and try again.
You are worth taking a chance on. Your dreams are worth taking a chance on.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Over 10 years ago, yikes, I threw myself into an acting conservatory. The American Academy of Dramatic Arts.
It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Looking back on that time, it was the start of the life I always wanted for myself.
My time in school taught me so much about myself, but to this day, I feel like the most important thing I learned was to embrace vulnerability.
Because art of any kind, takes vulnerability.

After school finished, I felt prepared to take on the real world. I was wrong and quite unprepared, like most 20 year old’s. But I didn’t care. I was here and I was going to do and be everything I’ve ever wanted.
And I think it’s that kind of fearlessness that makes what may seem like the impossible, possible.

The acting & comedy world is never easy and I was starting from scratch. No connections, no nepotism (damn), no idea where to even start.
But I knew what I wanted and nothing was going to stop me. So I asked for some help and started small. Broke, but confident.
And no matter how small something starts, it can only grow.

A friend with a camera took some headshots and I just started submitting to roles. Then one day I was auditioning. Then booking. Then filming.
But this is a hard, slow, industry.
So I found myself in these other incredible avenues to stay afloat. I got to costume on set and at Universal for many years. I’ve served in every type of restaurant imaginable. I was even the GM of a fitness studio at one point.

In the midst of all of this, I decided to pick up a pen and start writing. I never thought I could write. It terrified me.
But I did it anyway. Because what the hell. I mean, so what if no one laughs at first, no one starts out an expert.
And all of a sudden I was standing on stage at comedy clubs I only thought I would ever be sitting in the audience at…

Then I booked my first pilot. A dream role. With a dream cast and crew. It is one of the things I am most proud of still today. Though it has yet to be sold (someone buy it right now, it’s hilarious), it sits in the back of my mind reminding me every day that art is important at every level. That anything and everything you want is possible.
And I think most importantly, that only you get to define what success in your life is to you.

It’s never easy to feel so close to the things you’ve always wanted. This career path is draining, confusing and frustrating.
It takes years of hearing ‘no’. And then tack on forever, because the ‘no’ never goes away. Hopefully is just starts to happen less.
I’m often working two, three, four practical jobs at a time.
And the honest truth is, there are still days where it’s felt hard to keep going. To stay confident. To feel like anything I have to say is important.
But my work is not about how many people it touches, but that it touches anyone at all. It’s about making even just one person feel less alone or smile when they need it most.

I am lucky that I’ve known since I was young what I am meant to do. And I have an incredibly successful artist career. Other people may define my success different than me because I still have my more practical, money making job right now, and that’s okay. But I know what success is to me.
All the odd jobs I’ve had led me to where I am now and I love what I do. I work for an arts non-profit as an Event Coordinator. Shout out to my Music Center and Gloria Molina Grand Park team. I am surrounded by creatives and get to be creative every day. I am so grateful.
And, I will never stop writing jokes. Or auditioning. Or getting on stage.

I wouldn’t change a single moment of the most painful, tearful, and sleepless nights. Because the laughter always follows.
And my friends are always there to pick me right back up.

My art is here to remind each person that your story is important. That you deserve to be exactly who you want to be. Fuck what society tells you that you should be. You are my favorite, exactly the way you are and exactly the way you want to be.

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.
Hey best friend!

So glad you were able to come for this week long trip. I can’t wait to show you all my favorite things. (and of course some things you put on your list as well I guess)

Because it’s helpful for my ADHD brain to schedule things out, the itinerary is as follows!

See you Wednesday at 2p. LAX.

Wednesday:
You flew into LAX (so busy), but we are lucky because my place is only 10 minutes away. (Westside!)
Let’s get you home and get you settled. I know you are tired from your journey. That’s fine, tonight will be chill!
I have reservations for us at 6p at one of my favorite wine bars by the beach. Let’s get you that glass of red and some of that cool ocean breeze.
There is nothing like a nighttime walk on the beach.

Thursday:
Ok, you’ve gotten your rest so now so get ready because we are doing a lot of running around today! Even though the tourist destinations are not where I find myself going anymore, you still need to see them. If you haven’t been harassed by Elvis on Hollywood Blvd, then you haven’t lived. Don’t you worry, we can do most of the spots in one day. Plus we will be drinking our way through it, always helps.
We are starting on Hollywood Blvd. Fill your camera with all the photos. The Hollywood sign is cute so make sure to grab that.
Then we are headed downtown to Little Tokyo. (sake and sushi provided)
But on the way, we are doing a quick stop in Beverly Hills. I want you to see all the things you can’t afford. We’ll take Mullholland Dive so you can see the entire city from the mountain top. I don’t want you to be to tired because we have another busy day tomorrow so we will head home, turn on our favorite movie, eat snacks and curl into bed early.

Friday:
Yes, you heard right. You can’t miss Disneyland. So here we go. Bring your walking shoes, sunscreen and wallet. You’ll want to grab ears.

Saturday:
Sleep in! I know your legs are tired but I hope your heart is full. Tonight we are headed to The Comedy Store. I can’t wait for you to see some incredible comedians. After the show we will wonder down Sunset to Saddle Ranch. Yes, you are riding the mechanical bull. It reminds me of home.

Sunday:
It’s beach day! Ill let you think you are have a choice in where we go, but most likely push you to pick Malibu. I want us to take a long ride down the PCH and I love to sit on the rocks that cover the beaches in Malibu. Bring your sunscreen, your big hat and your suit. The water is cold but you’re strong.

Monday:
Since I made us both re-apply so we are not to sunburnt (surprising). Which means today is Universal day. You are tired of my dad jokes but I know you’ll love the ones on the back lot studio tour. Then we will finish out the day wondering through CityWalk to shop and grab dinner.

Tuesday:
It’s your last day. NOOO! I’m going to miss you so much but now I am finally going to give you an opportunity to tell me if you are dying to do anything or go anywhere! I let you make decisions…….sometimes.
But at the end of the night, we are headed to West Hollywood for drinks and dancing. I want you to spend your last night screaming with the gays.

Wednesday:
LA and I will miss you. Get home safe friend.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Well crap, I am grateful for a lot of people in my journey and I truly believe no one does anything alone. We are creatures of connection.
And I have a fucking army behind me. I am who I am and because of them.

My mom and my brother are definitely my first ever fans. They believe in me when I sometimes don’t believe in myself. They are my support. My inspiration.

My friend group, which let’s be honest, is really just extended family. They are the most incredible group of people in the world. Unmatched. They are my home, my safe spaces and most importantly my laugher. You know who you are. I promise to list all your names one day soon.

My teacher, turned friend, but still always my best teacher, Corinne. She told me years ago that I was a comedian. I thought she was wrong but a decade later she still continues to prove to me that she’s always right.

My stand up community. Holy shit how they have all have changed my life. Taken me in. They remind me daily how important every individual’s story really is. How different and important each voice is. But even in our differences, how similar we all actually feel.
Jenn, thank you. I hope you know how loaded with gratitude those two words are.

If I keep going I’ll start crying by myself in my bed as I’m writing this. Which is actually a pretty typical evening for me….

The people not closely connected in my journey as much anymore, thank you for shaping me. And still cheering me on.
Shit, even those who wanted me to fail, thank you.

To anyone one else I didn’t throw in because I didn’t want to make this 10 pages long. Thank you.

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cara-delaporta/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61583137767002

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@caradelaporta

Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aregothsfunny

Youtube (reaction channel with comedy writing partner): https://www.youtube.com/@whitewatched

Image Credits
@communitycollage1
@eh_dotcom
@camriceproductions