Meet Nahyr Galaz Ruiz | Actress/Writer/Director/Producer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nahyr Galaz Ruiz and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nahyr, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
Uff… We’re diving right in with a really layered question.

As a mother of three and a woman forging a career in film; a Latina no less, I have struggled with this for a long time.

As an immigrant and first-generation college and graduate school-educated Latina, the importance of hard work and a strong work ethic is engrained in me. The hustle is in our bones. To such a degree that we often feel guilty if we’re not being “productive.” Rest is hard for us.

As a mother, I often feel that all-too-familiar guilt about whether I’m spending enough time with my children, whether I volunteer enough at their school, whether I’m present enough, etc.

For a while, especially when my eldest was a toddler, I struggled with the concept of work-life balance. It felt as if the world told us we should be doing it all but I constantly felt like I couldn’t juggle it all; I couldn’t keep all the balls in the air.

Then one day I read about how at a Q&A with author Nora Roberts someone asked Roberts about work-life balance to which she responded, “The key to juggling is to know that some of the balls you have in the air are made of plastic & some are made of glass. And if you drop a plastic ball, it bounces, no harm done. If you drop a glass ball, it shatters, so you have to know which balls are glass and which are plastic and prioritize catching the glass ones.”

That analogy stayed with me and now when I think about juggling work and life, I prioritize the glass balls. At any given moment, I still juggle a lot and I still get overwhelmed; but it’s easier to take a step back when you can identify which balls are plastic and which are glass. For example, for me personally, my kids; their emotional, physical, and mental well-being is a glass ball. I want to them to know I’m present and always prioritize them; missing a recital is a glass ball but missing a PTA meeting; that’s a plastic ball. My marriage is a glass ball and my career is a glass ball but not everything within my career has the same priority. What’s glass and what’s plastic looks different to each of us, no one else can identify them for you.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m a multi-hyphenate Latina filmmaker. I write, I direct, sometimes act, and I produce. I interweave my dual cultural identity as a naturalized immigrant into the perspectives in my storytelling and by doing so expand the types of stories we see representing Latines in the industry. As a white-passing Latina who doesn’t “sound Mexican,” (a comment I don’t love but that’s a conversation for a different day), speaks fluent Spanish, and grew up rooted in Mexican culture but also American influence; I have come to learn that my stories reside in the “no soy de aqui ni soy de allá” (I’m not from here nor am I from there) in-between space of Latino and American identity.

Therefore, the stories I write and the films I make are about characters who experience life, love, loss, difficulty, victory, parenthood, and more in ways that look familiar and relatable but just so happen to speak Spanish to each other and drink champurrado and café de olla.

It’s been a long and unconventional road to where I am now and yet in many ways I feel like I’m just getting started. I started as a dancer and choreographer first and foremost, I acted and wrote in college but didn’t consider myself an actor or writer in the same way my friends in theatre did. Some part of me was afraid to accept that part of myself. I took a pause from actively pursuing anything when I became pregnant with my firstborn. However, when she was born I felt this overwhelming responsibility. I remember holding this perfect, tiny person in my arms one night and asking myself, “How am I supposed to tell her that she can be anything she dreams, that she can accomplish anything she puts her mind to if I don’t have the courage to do so myself?” It was then that I decided to launch a non-profit dance company. Almost four years later, when it closed; I turned to writing and slowly began dipping my toes into film again. Eventually, this led to the opportunity to pursue a graduate degree in film. The decision wasn’t an easy one as this meant starting graduate school when my son was only eighteen months old versus waiting for him to start daycare at two years old. But with my husband’s and community’s support I earned my M.F.A. in screenwriting and directing and directed/produced two student films as soon as production resumed post-Covid.

There have definitely been plenty of challenges over the course of my career. Navigating studying and school while raising a toddler and two kids; feeling guilty but reminding myself that they’re watching and learning. Then a pandemic shut down production and pivoted all our courses over Zoom and restricted our access to internships and set experience while we were still in school, a death in my family, an unprecedented industry-wide strike… And that’s just focusing on the last five years. I’m used to going against the odds though, call me stubborn.

And yet when I look back at the last few years, I’m also grateful and amazed at how far I’ve come and the relationships I’ve built, both personal and professional. Though in many ways I feel like I’m just getting started, I also look back and realize that I’ve made significant strides and I’ve been fortunate. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that the industry is fickle by nature, you never know what will happen, and so every time I’m on set, every time I win an award or receive a recognition, I’m grateful. I try not to be so busy chasing the future that I don’t appreciate where I am now. For someone who is innately goal-driven, that’s been the biggest lesson I’ve learned.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Oooo this is a hard one. I live in Orange County but because of my work often work and play in Los Angeles so I’ll do a little of both, because hey, it’s all SoCal.

In Orange County I like to recommend whale watching in Newport Beach, the Davey Jones tours are great. In that same area I like to recommend the Newport Landing restaurant. With an all-day oyster bar, excellent cocktails, delicious seafood entrees, and great non-seafood options; you really can’t go wrong. I also love recommending the dinner show at Pirate Adventures in Buena Park, it’s always a fun time. For my Disney-loving friends I recommend Downtown Disney and of course the Disney parks. For my fellow tea aficionados, I recommend the Tea House on Los Rios in San Juan Capistrano. their high-tea experience is delightful. For my friends who enjoy supporting local business and enjoy a small town feel, I take them to the Orange Circle which is full of cute shops, antiquing, vintage thrift shops, great dining, coffee shops, and more.

In Los Angeles I make recommendations based on my friends’ and family’s personalities and what I know they like to do. I have friends who love doing the Star Tour buses and checking out famous LA homes and locations on the tour, and other friends who would cringe at that. I have fun either way! I love recommending MoMa and the Getty for my museum lovers. As a filmmaker I of course recommend the Academy Museum; it’s a wonderful walk through cinematic history. For those who are visiting for the first time, a visit to Rodeo drive, Santa Monica Pier, Griffith Park Observatory, and Hollywood Boulevard is an absolute must. If they’re near Burbank, I like to take my coffee-addict pals to the Ugly Mug Coffeehouse; their blueberry lavender latte is delicious. And if you’re looking for a delectable, fancier and memorable experience I recommend dinner on The Dining Car paired with a performance at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. (It’s worth noting that The Dining Car also offers an excellent afternoon high tea menu.)

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Absolutely; the age-old adage “it takes a village,” doesn’t just apply to raising children. It also applies to reaching your dreams. It’s a long, bumpy, windy, road uphill to pursuing your dreams. You need people in your corner. I have been blessed with truly amazing people in my life who’ve continued to support me whether I’m up or down in my career.

First and foremost, I want to shout-out to my husband who’s been my unwavering support and always believed in me; even when my imposter syndrome rears its ugly head. So often when it looks like I’m “doing it all” it’s only because he’s taking on more of the child-rearing duties; the drop-offs and pickups, the bedtime routine, the activities chauffering, and more so that I can shine. I don’t do it alone; we’re a team.

I also want to give a shout-out to Robert and Dawn who have encouraged, supported, and guided me throughout various stages of my life including motherhood. Along with Emily, they long ago became the family I chose. From my graduation from modeling school, to every university dance performance, when I launched my dance company, my wedding, and the birth of each of my children; they’ve been there for it all and hold a very special place in my heart.

And I want to shout- out to my bestie, my comadre, Karla who’s been my ride or die and believed in every hair-brained idea that pops into my head. The countless times when I have called to bounce ideas, to vent, to share thoughts on a book we’re both reading; hanging out with her and chatting heals my soul. She’s the sister I never had.
The only rival cheerleaders to Karla in my corner and in their faith in me are my kiddos. Their unconditional love and their faith in me teaches me daily and simultaneously uplifts me as well as reminds me of the responsibility I have toward them.

There are many more people who’ve had an impact on my success along the way; my Tía Cindy who deeply understands my artist heart and exchanges ideas with me, my compadre, Josh, who has shown me profound kindness, care, belief and support in my pursuits, my long time dear friend and collaborator, Wade, and incredibly friends I’ve made along the way in my career who’ve become more than colleagues.

I’ve been blessed with wonderful people who surround me with love and encouragement and remind me of the baddie that I am when I get down on myself.

Website: https://www.nahyrgalazruiz.com/

Instagram: @nahyrgalazruiz

Image Credits
My photo and the first four photos credit goes to Zak Lara. The photo with the camera goes to Matthew Alexander. The last two; one is credit unknown and the last one in front of the green screen was taken on my phone.