Meet Maria Albiñana | Actor, Writer, Producer

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

Hi Maria, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Starting your own project as an actor is not easy but, what is easy in the film industry? My first personal project, the series “Cancelled”, was a chain of events – most of them pretty unfortunate – that lead into a huge internet success.

My partner at the time, filmmaker Luke Eve, and I had just arrived to Spain to get married thinking that in 3 weeks time we would be back to our life in LA. Little did we know that the pandemic was about to hit just 2 days before our wedding. Of course, no wedding and no going back to LA. We got trapped in Spain with my mother-in-law. This huge life shock that was also affecting the entire world gave us a chance, an opportunity. We had a story, a personal story and we had the talent. Luke and I created an amazing and powerful team and created one of the world´s first international lockdown series that went viral.

My thought process at the time? We just looked at each other and knew that our whole careers (our lives!) were about to change, and we were scared. But we also knew we had a good and unique story that was worth telling because that is what I do: I am a storyteller. And we took the risk. We didn´t know if someone would even watch it. But 10 million views later told us that we struck a chord in people´s hearts.

And after the success of “Cancelled”, it all became like a huge washing machine of events. We made the follow up series “ReCancelled”. And after that, the feature film “UnCancelled” that was released theatrically last March and is about to start it´s international distribution with a massive online release in September 12th (stay tuned!).

And just like that, I have come to realize that I love creating my own stories and being able to have the power and leadership in my own career/business.

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.
I was listening to this podcast where they were saying: “find your talent, not your passion”. It made me think about so many decisions I have made since I decided to become an actor.

I studied classical ballet. Went into MA Acting Degree. Then did my MA Journalism. MA in teaching. I have choreographed, taught acting to kids, to adults, been a dance teacher, directed a musical, an opera, a play, founded a series section at Valencia International Film Festival. I have produced 2 series and a feature film. Won awards as a playwright and as a screenwriter. I have worked in cultural events, organized international theater festivals. I just recently got selected into a prestigious writer´s room … I took every opportunity along the way that sometimes was not straight to do with acting but art-related.

Diversification has been the key to keep my talent and my Art crispy, healthy and sharp. I guess any person in the business world would be using this same word, and many people in the industry might disagree with me, but unfortunately our industry has over a 99% unemployment and, unless you are in that lucky 1%, you have to find ways to keep up.

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.
I left LA 4 years ago and just recently returned to screen my movie “UnCancelled” at Harmony Gold on Sunset (just go and watch a movie there as soon as you get to LA!)

I loved returning to what still feels like home. Went back to Venice Beach, sat down at sunset with a cocktail and some oysters. A stroll around The Grove, where it always feels like Christmas all year long. Have a great street taco late at night in one of those food trucks from a gas station. Have a great dinner at “El Compadre”, go and listen to some jazz at the Beverly Hotel… And after a week in LA, drive down to Palm Springs and stay at Ace Hotel.

But the one thing I would have loved to do and didn´t get a chance to do is sit around with my spanish gang in LA in someone’s backyard and talk all night.

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?
My husband and filmmaker Luke Eve has been an incredibly source of support. The last three years have been a turmoil where we have teamed -up, grown and challenged each other.

But there is someone that I always think about in every single project I work in, Antonio Díaz-Zamora, my acting mentor from whom I learnt the most solid acting base ever.

Website: https://www.mariaalbinana.com

Instagram: @albinanamaria

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariaalbiñana/

Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5097485/