Meet Milena Cataño | Co-Funder The Bravas Theare and Film Company

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

Hi Milena, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
When I moved to New York, I knew I wanted to train among the best artists in the world to improve my craft, but also to create opportunities not just for myself, but for others who, like me, come from abroad with a different artistic perspective to share. As a Peruvian immigrant, I wanted to bring more Peruvian stories to international audiences and help create space for artists who look like me on stages and screens around the world. Having worked as a director, producer, screenwriter, and actress, I knew I wanted to use all those tools to create meaningful impact.

I met my co-founder, Daniela Cusi, during our acting training at Stella Adler in New York. We discovered that we both came from the audiovisual industry in Peru and had built careers as actresses, producers, and filmmakers before moving to the United States. While Latin American representation in theatre was growing in New York, we felt that Peruvian artists still lacked a dedicated space. We shared the goal of putting Peru in the eye of the world and creating opportunities for our community.

So we combined our experience and founded a company dedicated to producing stories from Peru and across Latin America: The Bravas Theater and Film Company, a Latina-led collective dedicated to sharing our culture, opening space for diverse traditions, and creating a home where artists from around the world can explore, collaborate, and tell powerful stories. We believe these stories are rich, powerful, and deeply universal, and that they deserve to be seen and heard by wider audiences. Through this work, we hope not only to bring visibility to Peru, but also to highlight the talented artists behind these stories.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
If there is one thing this journey has taught me, it is that growth often requires letting go of what is familiar and having the courage to open space for something new. My path has changed many times. I started my career in Perú as a filmmaker and worked in advertising and TV production. I was able to build a space for myself as a producer and director in a male-dominated field, but I always knew that was not the end goal. Acting had always been my lifelong passion. I started my acting career back home doing theatre and some TV roles, but after the pandemic, I decided I wanted to build a career abroad, to grow, learn from a big industry, and be able to give back to the place that shaped who I am today.

Making the decision to leave everything behind was not easy, but I’ve never let fear stop me from discovering what the next step can be. I chose to start over in New York, putting my whole life into building the career I dreamed of as a performer. There, I was able to open space for myself as an actress in theatre and film, while continuing to deepen my desire to create my own projects.

“Bravas” in Spanish means something like “the fierce ones,” and that is something that characterizes Peruvian culture. We never give up. Even when we have nothing, we manage to create something beautiful, and that feeling is exactly what brought Daniela, my co-founder, and me together in this project. Creating our own company felt like the natural next step, but also a great risk we were willing to take to fulfill that mission. That’s how The Bravas Theatre and Film Company was born.

We started from the ground up. We knew it would be challenging as immigrants bringing stories from a distant country, but we decided to open a space for ourselves. Our first project, a staged reading of Three Sea Stories by Mariana de Althaus, changed everything. It was received with more success than we expected and sold out. That moment confirmed we were on the right path, and we decided to take the leap and apply for the HB Studio Residency, where we became the first Peruvian theatre company selected for a full production hosted by HB. That experience reaffirmed our mission and pushed us forward.

The company has expanded and is now based in both New York and Los Angeles. We opened a door through theatre, and now we want these stories to reach international cinema and the world’s top festivals. We are also growing as a team. Julissa Roman, also Peruvian, who directed our first two productions, is now an official part of The Bravas family.

I chose to start over here in Los Angeles, with the goal of building the film side of the company while continuing to grow my own career. Since arriving, I’ve had the opportunity to work as an actress on a television production that will be released later this year and several short films, as well as in production on Three Months Later, a musical starring Kristen Bell, alongside some of the industry’s top theatre talent. I am absorbing everything I can from these experiences and hope to continue growing both as an artist and as a producer. As an actress, I hope to become a new Latin American voice in Hollywood, someone coming from a less internationally visible country like Peru, but with rich stories and nuance to bring a unique perspective. Through my work and through Bravas, I want those stories to continue finding their place in the world.

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 would start the day with matcha at Lalaland, one of my favorite coffee shops in the city. Then I’d definitely spend a full day at Disneyland or Universal, or both. I’m a huge fan of the parks and I think that’s honestly one of the best things about living close to them.
I’d also have to take her to Erewhon to get one of their famous smoothies. Then we’d walk the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She hates hiking, but it’s impossible not to do the Hollywood Sign hike. If we’re not too tired, I’d add Griffith Observatory that same day. For lunch, an In-N-Out burger, of course.
We’d definitely spend a day between Venice Beach and Santa Monica Pier, walking around, taking in the views, and eating good beach food. In Venice, there’s a Peruvian restaurant called Huarike that I know she would absolutely love. Then for dinner we’d head to Guisados for proper LA tacos.
She loves fashion, so of course we would spend a day walking around Beverly Hills, and we’d grab a coffee at Sweet Beverly, which is tucked inside a beautiful garden and perfect for pictures.
I would definitely drive all the way to Pasadena for my favorite Korean BBQ I’ve ever had at Road to Seoul.
Of course, I would take her to The Comedy Store on Sunset for a stand-up show. That is a must. And we would definitely need a night out dancing salsa. I would take her to The Victorian, where I usually go.
I’d also love to take a drive up to Malibu, which I haven’t been to yet myself, so I’d genuinely be exploring it for the first time with her. I’ve heard the beaches are beautiful and much less crowded, so that’s something I’d love to do.
And last but not least, I’d walk her around UCLA’s campus. My partner works there as a researcher, and I find the university absolutely beautiful. We’d end the day at the botanical garden, which feels like the perfect quiet ending to a packed week.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My family, who have supported me in every decision throughout this journey, and all the mentors who helped me build the foundation of my craft.

A special thanks to Julissa Roman, actress and director, who started collaborating with us, believed in us from the beginning, and is now an essential part of our team.

Website: https://www.instagram.com/thebravas.co/

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

Image Credits
Alina Helen Timmerbeil
Horacio Rojas
Lilia Le Dieu