Meet Jackson Mercado | Actor

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

Hi Jackson, what’s one piece of conventional advice that you disagree with?
If you can do anything else well besides the thing that you love, like acting, you should do that instead, because the career path is too difficult.

I think a lot of people say the right thing in the wrong way. 
Although I understand the intention behind it, I think it’s more nuanced than that. We live in a hustle culture where if you’re not going a hundred percent all the time towards your goals, then it’s viewed that you’re slacking or that you don’t care. The reality of it is, especially something like acting, you grow into the emotions and into your point of view, which will often be challenging and in flux. You grow into what life is, and the more life experience you have, the more you’re able to give back into your art.

I recently watched an interview with Coleman Domingo, which I found incredibly moving. He discussed how he never perceived himself as a struggling actor. During his bartending and multiple job work, he used those experiences as a creative outlet. His passion wasn’t divided; it was a means of survival, and he fully embraced life. This mindset allowed him to infuse his life into his art, enabling him to fully embrace his current success. I believe that when you pursue an idea relentlessly, you may find yourself at the top of that mountain alone, staring at the foot of another. It’s wonderful to have goals, but it’s also why I firmly believe that the journey itself is the destination. The life you live becomes the essence you can bring back into your art, and they will always feed each other.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I was raised in Alabama and, as a kid, was completely in love with soccer. I played on a club team from the age of 11, made the varsity team at 12, and was Captain of the Varsity team by 14. I was utterly convinced that soccer was my destined path and had planned my entire life around it. However, movies and television had always held a profound place in my heart, and despite the seemingly impossible challenge of pursuing it as a career, they constantly seemed to resonate with me.

During my junior year of high school, I impulsively enrolled in choir, believing it would be an easy way to earn an A. It was that year we were fortunate enough to have a teacher who was the mother of an All-State choir superstar. In a moment of honesty, she bluntly told us, “If you’re here for an easy A, leave now because I won’t make it simple for you.”

That choir class ignited a passion for singing within me, giving me the courage to audition for my first play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream. From the moment I stepped onto that stage, I knew I was “home”. This led to playing Skye Masterson in Guys and Dolls, which in turn led me to pursue a degree in musical theater.

I attended college in Tampa, completely alone and entering an industry I knew virtually nothing about, yet I somehow felt a deep sense of belonging. And there’s a learning curve to that. I struggled with imposter syndrome but I never let it deter me from consuming as much information as possible. There’s a great fear in the unknown, but taking these risks is the only way to make the unknown familiar. If I hadn’t taken that chance, I wouldn’t have met these incredible people and discovered that my soul thrives in this environment.

When I first came to New York and had to figure it out on my own, I faced countless reasons not to keep going. But when you take a risk, your life opens up. Your capacity for empathy expands, and from that you can create beautiful things. Every time I would walk through Broadway or an active television or movie set, I would dream of the day I would get my chance, even when it felt impossible or I couldn’t see the way to it. But I knew if I kept going, it would find its way to me.

Although I’m truly grateful for my time and opportunities gained at my college, a lot of universities tend to fail you in regard to what it’s like in the real world. Once you get out and you’re on your own, you truly are on your own. You suddenly have to make a living and provide for yourself, and there’s no real blueprint on how to do that.

Many of the lessons we learn come from trial and error, and from doing it ourselves. However, if something is meant for us, it only grows stronger within us. I believe that actors often become so engrossed in their craft that they lose sight of the reason they started in the first place.


You’re telling stories of people, and I learned early on from traveling and from living my life as fully as possible that the more I did those things, the more I had to bring back to my craft— it was a cup that filled itself.

Now, I believe I’ve struck a healthy balance. I continue to diligently study and practice my craft, but I also dedicate as much space to my own life as possible, because that is what truly keeps my cup full. It’s similar to a concert pianist: through rigorous training, they become so proficient that when they perform in front of a live audience, they don’t have to overthink every note. They don’t stare down at their hands, meticulously instructing their fingers, because eventually, it becomes an integral part of their being. Acting, in particular, thrives when I immerse myself in my life, allowing my emotions and authenticity to shine through. The craft itself, in combination with allowing myself space to experience my life and grow, is what allows my fingers to dance on the keys and live in the moment.

As soon as I finally had the opportunity to work on film, everything fell into place. While this path may not be easy, it undeniably offers the greatest rewards. My unwavering love for this field has never waned, and I remain steadfast in my belief that it is my true calling. Every time I have the privilege of gracing a set or stage, I am filled with awe and gratitude for the incredible miracle that is the opportunity to perform.

I’ve worked on amazing television shows and movies, sung and performed at some unbelievable venues and theaters, and have been blessed with agents and managers that have championed me at every level of my career. Throughout my journey, I never lost sight of the movie trucks parked in New York City years ago, where I would often dream of emerging from one of them, even for a fleeting moment. Those dreams seemed impossible at the time, but now I am eternally grateful for the opportunities that have led me to this point in my career.

Everyone has a story, and they’re closer to you than you think. I’ve come to believe that everyone in the world genuinely wants to be seen and accepted, but most people are terrified of being truly seen. Instead, they settle for acceptance.

It’s easy to check boxes: I fit into this group, these people like me because I attend these events, do these things, and dress this way. But truly being seen is often terrifying. An actor’s job is not only to be seen but also to look and see the person they’re talking to, to take in the full picture. This skill extends into all aspects of life, because seeing and accepting someone is the only way to truly love them, and I genuinely believe it’s the most important thing.

Life feeds art, and art feeds life. But if you stay in your comfort zone, that becomes your existence. I am so thankful for diving headfirst out of my own.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Food: Cento, Pura Vita, Sonoratown, Brothers Cousins, Secret Pizza, Salaya, Rustic Canyon, Hatchet Hall, Wild Living Foods, Kettle Glazed, For the Win…

See/Hang Out: The Wiltern, Malibu Creek State Park, Venice, Hike to the Griffith Observatory, The Hollywood Bowl, The Chinese Theater, Magic Castle, Arts District, Sunset Horseback Ride at Topanga.

Drink: Normandie Club, Death and Co., Jumbo’s Clown Room, Tramp Stamp Granny’s, EP + LP, Furley’s, The Woods, Wolf & Crane, Good Time at Davey Wayne’s, Thunderbolt.

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?
I’ve always said that the best thing in my life are the people in it. I’ve been blessed with such a strong support system the entire way, be it my amazing parents, my loving and wonderful sister, my incredible friends, or my unbelievably supportive team that has never stopped believing in me.

The amount of love and kindness I’ve been shown by all of them has kept my light on in the darkest of days and I would owe each and every one their own personal shout out. Luckily, they know who they are, and I do my best to tell them every chance I get.

A special shout out goes to Noelle Rogers, my mentor, guardian angel, and friend, who picked me up when I had almost given up on myself and taught me how to sing. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t wish I could pick up the phone and hear her voice, and I will always be grateful for the light she shared with me.

Website: https://jacksonmercado.com

Instagram: @thejacksonmercado

Image Credits
Stephan Schacher