Meet Arabella Gonzaga

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

Hi Arabella, alright, let’s jump in with a deep one – what’s you’re definition for success?
Success. What a loaded concept nowadays. Ever allusive… When I was young, I thought success simply meant being the best. But then, there’s the dreaded adage of “There’s always someone prettier, smarter…someone ready to work harder…” yada yada. And what do you do with that? How do you overcome that and be the best all the time without burning yourself out?

Which I definitely did.

Then a very beloved teacher, Suzanne Esper, introduced me to the amazing Martha Graham who said, “There is … an energy … that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and will be lost.”

It struck me with the preciousness of artistry. The sacredness of life and complexity of humanity. Any sense of control is an illusion. I can’t control how someone responds to my art. And nor would I ever want to! But what if I can unblock that honest expression and fluidly, freely create art from the deep unfettered truth?

It’s part of the magic of collaborating. Over this past year, I’ve had the privilege to work with the director, Elizabeth Petersen, on a film titled The Great God Pan. She had an incredible clarity of vision for the project that allowed her to be decisive and focused. However, she met each day and each suggestion with such playful spontaneity and ingenuity. She was game for experimentation and play because she trusted the script she had written, and she trusted the people she had chosen to go on the journey of making it all come to life. It’s one of many reasons I’m so deeply proud and grateful to have been a part of it because as the director she made room for every person on that set to fully express themselves and find the shifting, complex human story at the heart of the film. And it became something more honest and robust and beautiful because of those risks.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I grew up in several strict religious communities. Some fundamentalist, some evangelical, and some just purely controlling. I never understood artistry as a viable career. And not because it was unstable, but because it was inherently “wicked.” However, no one can take away your imagination from you. I was still a child full of curiosity. I wrote endlessly, filling notebooks with stories and characters. I filled camera SD cards with movies that I acted out in costumes I had requested from my grandma. I got my friends involved. I wrote scripts.

Then, at 10 years old, I read The Tale of Two Cities for school. And I really honestly cannot tell you why, but I was determined to adapt it into a play. I had no idea that adaptations were something that already existed. I thought I was some brilliant prodigy hunkered down in my room for 3 days, gruelingly rereading the book and simplifying the dialogue. A friend and I tag teamed directing the play and doled out the roles to our classmates. We were in private school so everything was on a small scale. Our whole class totaled at 14 people. So, some would have to play two roles, aided by costume changes. Over 6 months we worked through every lunch break during school to rehearse. We went to the gym teacher and librarian for permission to use the spaces to practice during lunch period. There were so many ups and downs. Parents had fits about the content involving death and alcohol. The principal tried to stop us. Our own teacher tried to stop us. One classmate was struck with fierce stage fright moments before we performed. But somehow we still made it. We acted our hearts out. We took our final bows.

And a spark was kindled inside of me.

It wasn’t just the performance. It was the process. It was the focus and determination that it had required. It was the joy at seeing all of my classmates do things they never thought they’d be brave enough to do.

It took until I was 19 years old to understand that I could choose to be an artist. To create art in this life feels like the greatest privilege to me. I am grateful every day that I get to do it. In studying acting, I’ve learned the power of courage. Every time I act, I remind myself to be brave. And I think how brave and determined I was at 9. And how proud I am of little me. And I know she’s proud of me too.

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?
There’s nothing better than some tacos and ice cream on the beach during sunset. Period. Rinse and repeat.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
As sappy as it is, my partner, Victor. He is unflinchingly honest and endlessly patient. Two attributes I think are absolutely necessary when you are creating and collaborating. He’s taught me the power of asking a lot of questions. And if you get a self tape from me, he’s probably the one reading the scene with me and also acting his butt off.

Website: bellagonzaga.com

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