Meet Jenni Ruiza | Actress & Writer

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

Hi Jenni, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
There was never a doubt that I wanted to do something artistic. When I was a kid, I would lock my parents out of our shared bedroom and throw concerts with my hairbrush, a fan that would blow my hair in the wind, and perform in front of the mirror. I would convince my friends to join talent shows in middle school, and by high school, I was writing full-on plays with musical breaks in between. Whether they were good or not, I’ll never know but being a performer has always been my calling and I never ignored that. As an actor, you are given the gift of creating an entire person based on descriptions and lines someone writes for you–there’s magic in that when you can make a whole entity outside of yourself come to life, and for me, there’s simply no better feeling. Except for that first cup of coffee in the morning….but even better if it’s on my way to set.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
There’s no such thing as an “overnight success” when you choose entertainment as your career path. I’ve been fortunate to work alongside so many talented people in my tenure as an artist and am proudly watching so many of those people shine on screen and on the red carpet. I’ve been at this for a little over a decade and while the constant rejection the industry brings can be exhausting, it certainly helped me get some thick skin. I’ve made some great projects over the year and have accomplished many goals of mine, but in a lot of ways, I feel like I’m still just getting started and paying my dues. But, one thing about me is I’ll never give up–even if it takes me another 10 years, I’ll keep on auditioning, I’ll keep writing roles for myself, and I’ll keep producing work to not only feature my own skills but that of the talented people I’ve come to know along the years. When I say we will rise to the top together, I truly mean that.

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?
I try to make sure I’m hitting up small, local businesses and if you’re meeting up with me, chances are it’s for coffee so it would only make sense that I include some of my favorite coffee shops in LA like Hilltop, and Tierra Mia Coffee, And if this is your first time visiting LA, you better make sure you hit up Sugarfish.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Without a doubt, my soul sister, Jesenia, is the one who I’ve met along this journey, who allowed me to write for her off-Broadway sketch show, “Ay Que Funny!” That opportunity not only propelled a lucrative career, but a lifelong friendship that transcends space and time. We’ve seen each other through so many corners of life and the industry and both haven’t been short of wild or crazy. I couldn’t think of anyone else I’d rather have by my side. Watching her creative journey flourish over the years has been a gift. From appearing in “The Affair” to now starring in “Power Book: Raising Kanan”, I am so proud of this woman and I cannot wait for the world to see her limitless talent as she keeps booking. I’m especially excited to star alongside her in “All That Really Matters”, a forthcoming feature film that we co-wrote. You’ll really get to see her comedy skillset shine.

Website: www.jenniruiza.com

Instagram: instagram.com/ruizajenni

Facebook: www.facebook.com/jenniruiza

Image Credits
Images are by Burton Lewis while on the set of “Playing Sam” and the still of me in pink is from Jay Bailey from the film “Honey”.