Meet Renée Santos | Actress/Stand-Up Comic/ Journalist

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

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
It’s been hard to pinpoint exactly what I am or what I do. I believe art is my ministry and most of my creative work feels like my way of elevating other people’s journey in this crazy world. Here’s my weird list so far…I have been acting for 20 years and I love bringing another artist’s vision to life, I have done it on Stage, TV, and in Film. I have created and written my own Stand-Up Comedy content many times, culminating in a 1 Hour TV Special. I am in Pre-Production now for my Sophomore special. I have also written a full-length dramatic Screenplay called “In the Absence of You” that has competed in Screenwriting Film festivals. I am a Freelance Reporter for The Hollywood Times, and the newest endeavor I am embarking on is my very first Theatrical Solo Show slated to hit the stage in the summer of 2023. I am eclectic and strange and find a spiritual pull to do it all.

I think what separates me from others, is the fact that I don’t need to categorize or easily reference what it is I do definitively. I wake up each morning and say to my higher power…”Use me God, so I may know the joy of being used by you.” Then I get out of my own way and allow the universe to inspire me into action.

I am beyond grateful that I have been able to consistently work, even when life has really come at me. I think the thing I am most proud of is my endurance. My endurance to do the work because it is my purpose. It’s not been an easy journey at all and I am still in the work every day. I’ve overcome the challenges by remaining persistently patient and reminding myself that my job is to simply honor my call in life and leave the results up to the universe. I would love to manifest recognition for what I have put into the world because I believe I could make a larger difference with a larger platform, but I am proud that I truly feel happy, joyous, and free in my journey to my becoming. I am not attached to the evidence. One of my favorite quotes that I live by was said by American humorist Erma Bombeck. “My hope is that at the end of my life, I would stand before God and say ‘I used everything you gave me.’”

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.
Hands down I would say, Griffith Park! LA is known for the beaches and if they were here for a week I would definitely venture west to the beach before they left but I’d start at Griffith Park because its magical. It’s got a bit of a New England vibe which is where I am from so the reminder of home while in this tropical paradise is a huge sell! There are deciduous trees and conifers lining the park and a plethora of hiking trails, one that leads to the Hollywood Sign, and hiking is my happy place! I would eat at Little Doms in Los Feliz and then head over to Lassens and pack a picnic lunch with their yummy Vegan Hero sandwich and a Kombucha. I would avoid Hollywood Blvd at all cost. It is so touristy and the beauty of living here for 16 years is I know all the fun “backstage pass” places where you can avoid the masses of humanity.

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’s hard to narrow it down to one because I have what I call my ‘Front Row’ of people that have been my biggest champions. When I first moved to LA in 2002 to finish up my Bachelor’s program at Emerson College, I had a mentor Brad Lemack, who wrote “The Business of Acting.” He taught the business side of the Entertainment industry at Emerson for the interning exchange program of which I was a part, but his class was an elective and not required to graduate. I found that problematic because the students were about to enter the workforce and the business side of our career education wasn’t obligatory and I thought, “Maybe this is why so many of us fail?” We are taught to perform, but never how to pursue it as a profession. With Brad’s collaboration, we were able to create a program that was integrated into the curriculum at Emerson 20 years ago and remains a graduating requirement today. I couldn’t have created that program without his assistance. He was the first person who inspired me to believe in my call to action and taught me to be a professional artist. I have also been very supported by my reps, who have continued to advocate for me even when I am a harder sell to the industry. My talent management company EYC Management, has championed my work and been the umbrella to all my artistic endeavors, Scott Talarico @ Neon Entertainment, my Comedy agent, Shawn Brogan @ The Brogan Agency who reps me Theatrically and Commercially, and Sheryl Drozen of UPROAR Entertainment, my comedy record label.

Website: Website: www.reneesantos.com

Instagram: Instagram: @reneesantoscomedy

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ren%C3%A9e-santos-63630912b/

Twitter: Twitter: @ReneeSantosNYC

Facebook: Facebook: www.facebook.com/ReneeSantosComedy

Youtube: Youtube: @MsReneeSantos

Other: Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@reneesantoscomedy?lang=en