Meet Jordan Delgado | Actress

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

Hi Jordan, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
Growing up in LA, my dad always dreamed of being an actor. With time, he was unable to pursue this career path. So naturally, when he had his first daughter, he decided to put her into acting (me!). People always ask me why I chose to be an actor. Being in this industry since I was three months old, however, doesn’t make me feel like it was a choice at all. Being an actor has always been a part of who I am—and I don’t plan on ever changing that.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Over the course of 21 years, my relationship with acting has had it’s ebbs and flows. I started off doing print work and some small commercials as a kid, appearing every now and then on the cover of dress-up box in Costco or a billboard in T.J.Maxx. By the time I was in middle school, I told my dad that I wanted to take my career to the next level. This opened up the door to bigger opportunities for my career in film and television. However, this also meant putting in more time and work towards it—a big ask for any girl going through the awkward social years of middle school. It wasn’t until my mid-to-late-teen years that I realized how important acting was to me; how it was the only thing I wanted to do for the rest of my life. In case it’s not already widely known, acting is a tough industry to break into—even for someone who started out as a child actor. Just watch “La La Land” to see the pov of someone like me who’s been waiting all their life for that big “break.” You may hear that being ethnically ambiguous is a great quality to have when pursuing acting— but what if you’re no longer able to fit into any of the boxes? Being Filipino, Native American, Mexican, and White, I struggled to feel like I “belonged” to a group in both acting and my personal life. Vin Diesel’s short drama film, “Multi-facial,” encapsulated the feelings brought forth from this dilemma so perfectly. I would show up to auditions casting Asian actors, and I’d find that I looked nothing like anybody in the room. We still have a long way to go with Southeast Asian representation in the film industry. And while I am so grateful to have my family’s support, I had been told from an early age that I would “make it” before I even needed to go to college. I had gotten—what seemed to be—so close to booking the lead role in a couple of projects, that even I started to give in to these grandiose predictions. A prominent moment in my career was being interviewed for a “behind the scenes” at one of these close calls, and I remember being asked, “What would it mean to you to land this role?” I poured my heart out on how it would change my life forever, tears rolling down my cheeks. I didn’t get it—as I’m sure this story echoes one of many from actors in L.A.. By the time my junior year came around, I didn’t even have a “dream college” picked out like most of my peers had. Although I loved my college education (and I’m proud to have completed my bachelors in psychology at California State University, Fullerton!), it was frustrating not being able to prioritize my “plan A” while devoting all of my time to my “plan B.” Once I was out of college, I promised myself that enough was enough. I was done putting my dreams on the back burner; I could no longer hide behind the excuse that I was a full-time student or a minor. You see, for me acting isn’t about the money or becoming a household name (although, being able to afford a stylist would be nice). To me, acting is about being able to share the gift of empathy. Conveying an emotion, a character, so well that the audience is moved by just watching you; understanding a character so deeply that the viewer can understand them from your portrayal. I am so in love with the whole process of putting a project together. On set, I love to watch the making of every scene I can get a glimpse of. Once you get a taste of the set life, you never want to know life without it (as melodramatic as that sounds, it’s true). And that is why I continue to pursue acting—even when it’s not practical. Even when I know I’ll lose more money than I’ll make in the beginning from the headshots, union dues, and casting platform fees, Even when I know there’s no guarantee that I’ll ever see my dreams through… People always tell me I’m so young and that I don’t need to worry about having it all figured out right now. While this is true, from my perspective, I’ve been doing this for a lifetime— waiting for it to be my turn. So far, I’ve had amazing opportunities to lead short films by Rosario Dawson and Angela Cohen, giving a platform for important topics such as women in S.T.E.M. and mental health awareness. But there’s a famous saying that keeps me hopeful for what’s next and motivated to keep pushing through: when you love what you do for work, you never have to work a day in your life. Each “no” is one step closer to a “yes,” and even if I choose to stop before that “yes” ever arrives, I’ll at least know I made some beautiful things along the way!

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.
Although I’m an L.A. native, I’m pretty stuck in my ways and tend to be a repeat customer at places I love. I may not be up to date on the “in” places, at the moment, but I can list a few of my go-to places in the area! For a nice breakfast (or brunch, if you are a late-riser like me) I love Bea Bea’s restaurant in Burbank. The portion sizes will definitely leave you with some leftovers, and I particularly am a fan of their French-toast selection. I’d also suggest Lady Byrd Cafe in Echo park for an aesthetic location and some yummy food and drinks—I’m obsessed with their Chai Latte! For a quick coffee or snack stop, I’d recommend both Romancing the Bean and Açaí Jungle in Burbank (I’m a Burbank local if you couldn’t tell). After everyone’s been fed, there’s many things to do and see in the city depending on how active you want to be! For the more active folks, I love roller skating at Moonlight Rollerway in Glendale, mini-golfing at Sherman Oaks Castle Park, or hiking one of the many trails at Griffith park or in the Hollywood hills (take the Wisdom Tree hike for lots of elevation and a beautiful view!). For those who prefer a bit of looking around, there are so many great museums in L.A. I frequent the Broad Museum, then take the Angels Flight Railway (which makes a Cameo in “La La Land”) down to Grand Central Market for some more yummy bites! Magnolia Blvd. in Burbank also has my go-to vintage and thrift stores, as well as The Mystic Museum for a more eccentric and horror-filled shopping experience. To end the night in a fun way, I’d suggest Break Room 86: an 80’s themed karaoke bar with live entertainment that’s sure to get you on your feet dancing! Not to mention, you get to enter through a vending machine in the back! For a more formal dining experience, I prefer dinner at Verse LA. I would gatekeep this place because of how much I love it, but they truly have such an underrated ambiance and quality of food and customer service that I would be rude not to share. They also have live performances—sometimes from celebrity singers now and then if you check their schedule!

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?
It takes a village to support an actor. I credit my success— and even having the privilege to pursue a career as financially and emotionally-taxing as acting— to my family, my agents and acting coaches throughout the years, and the directors who’ve believed in me enough to give me a chance thus far. My mom, Lani Delgado, and my dad, Bryan Delgado, for their constant belief in me. My grandparents for driving me to auditions while my parents worked to support me. My former agent, manager, and coach, Thadeus, at Real2Reel acting studio, and my current agent, Rebecca Ek at Exclusive Artists Agency, for all of the opportunities. Brian Cutler, at Brian Cutler Actor’s Studio, for the training. And the directors, such as Rosario Dawson and Angela Cohen, for believing in me and allowing me the chance to lead their short films.

Website: https://app.castingnetworks.com/talent/public-profile/c57161a6-c4f9-11ec-92d5-4fab65b43f87

Instagram: @jordandeltaco

Image Credits
Jeff Smith
Jonathon Marlow