Meet Sebastián Gálvez | Actor & Acting Coach

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

Hi Sebastián, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
It’s a calling! I have no choice but to follow it, otherwise I think I would go insane. I tried other paths, but I always ended up coming back to it. In hindsight my passion for telling stories and connecting with others through this art form has been a part of me since childhood. And like any other artist, I process life and find my own self expression through it. It has become my identity.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
What’s funny is that I started my work life at a bank. And after almost a decade into it and a breakthrough conversation with my father, I dropped everything to pursue my career as an Actor and Acting Coach.

Was it easy? No. I had to overcome many challenges, both internal and external. For one, I was going against my family’s will. There were no other artists in the family or at least not “out”. Until I met Susan Batson I felt pretty much alone in my artistic journey. I was so lost… And she helped me understand the craft.

I guess the biggest lesson I’ve learned is to embrace my uniqueness. I always say the biggest lesson I learned from Ms. Batson is to put my middle finger up.

One of my special characteristics is that I am very good with accents, both in English and Spanish. I was born and raised in Madrid (Spain) to a family of Chilean immigrants, going to a British speaking school, spending the summers in Extremadura (close to Portugal), and attending an American University, so I’ve been exposed to many accents since childhood.

As an actor, I can be very versatile because I look latino, but also European and I have no accent when speaking English, unless I choose to. Furthermore, I can play different accents in both languages. And as a coach I assist others in finding their truth, as Susan Batson did with me.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
This is gonna be all over the place, but here we go…

I would start with a casual breakfast at Dialog cafe, after an early morning hike at Runyon Canyon. I’d also take them hiking to Fryman and Griffith Park, probably just before sunset. Needles to say we would visit the Observatory too. Figaro Bistro is another one of my favorites for a morning coffee and croissant. Or brunch at the Alcove. Sundays is a good day to visit the Farmers Market on Larchmont and have brunch at Le Pain Quotidien.

If I’d take them to the beach I would probably take Sunset Boulevard all the way down to the Pacific Palisades. We would stop at the Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine. Then visit El Matador Beach and have lunch on one of those Fish Shacks off the highway. Another beach day could include visiting the Venice Canals, Venice Beach, Santa Monica Beach, and Will Rogers. Renting a bike would be the best option to get to see most of that coastline, muscle beach, the skate ring… you get the idea 🙂 Then choose a favorite spot to place our towel and just relax. We could grab a bite to go for lunch at Sunny Blue on Main, I love those omusubi, my favorite is the sunny blue curry. And for dinner I would take them to Gjelina’s after a walk around Abbot Kinney.

For shopping I would go to the Grove/Farmers Market on 3rd and Fairfax. I’m not a big fan of malls, but the Beverly Center is very convenient if you are in a rush and want to get something quick with all of the alternatives handy. Usually tourists like going for a walk on Rodeo Dr and there are some cute places to have a coffee, sit and people watch.

My go to museums are the Lacma, the Getty and the Getty Villa. Also the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures and the Petersen Automotive Museum (my brother would love that one. We both like classic cars). So sad they closed that Heritage store on Santa Monica Boulevard.

If they wanted to visit any of the studios and take their tour I’d probably send them off on their own. I’d seen them too many times already. Sorry! Hahahaha.

Favorite restaurants are: Madeo, Ysabel, Cecconi’s, Carlitos Gardel, Asanebo, Matsuhisa, Nobu. And on the less expensive side: the Great White, Bottega Louie, Fresh Corn Grill, Tender Greens, WeHo Bistro, Bossa Nova, Le Petit Four, Eveleigh, Tocaya… These last four make a nice walk around the Sunset Strip. For a casual burger I’d go to The Apple Pan or the Astro Burger.

Not a night-owl nor a bar kind of guy, but if they wanted to party I’d probably take them to the Abbey, which is close to home and I could bow out after the first drink, hehehe… However, whenever I’ve been invited to any of the SoHo Houses I’ve had a good time and stayed past my bed time (living on the edge). I love the restaurant on the top of 9000 Sunset SoHo.

Other things I enjoy taking my visitors too are the Grey Stone Mansion, the Virginia Robinson Gardens, the Public Libraries of Beverly Hills, West Hollywood and Downtown. I don’t usually go to downtown that much, but I’ve taken visitors to the Walt Disney Concert Hall, Little Tokyo and the like…

I’d drive them around Los Feliz, Silverlake and Echo Park and maybe lunch at Stella on Sunset and Sanborn Ave. Also drive them around Mulholland Dr. and the Mulholland Scenic at night. Ventura blvd and a bite at the Aroma cafe in the Valley.

And lastly a concert at the Hollywood Bowl and the Greek Theatre so they get the full LA experience.

Am I missing something? Probably a lot, but this pretty much represent me and where I would take a friend. There are so many options that in just one week I would probably wouldn’t be able to do it all. Not to mention taking them to other places outside LA on a road trip 🙂

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There’s so many people that had an impact in my life and my path as an artist, but if I have to name one, that would be Susan Batson and her book TRUTH. It’s kind of magical how I got to her. I was in someone’s bed with my “wife” in the story we were shooting. And while they were setting up the lights, she told me about Susan Batson, whom I wasn’t familiar with at the time. Cut to: A year later I was sitting across from Susan Batson when she told me: “You know what your problem is?” [me looking shocked and a bit defensive]. “You are more invested in being cute than being great!” [In other words, I was a people pleaser]. And that changed the course of my life and my career as an Actor. Finally, someone had told me the truth! Had hit the nail on the head. And that allowed to start making different choices and a journey to find my authenticity as a human being and as an artist. Thus, I was set free!

Instagram: @seb_galvez

Image Credits
Chris Violette: floral shirt over green backdrop and denim shirt next to window (3 studio photos)
Bernardo Doral: street background white shirt no tie. And leather jacket over white T (2 outdoor photos)
Paco Navarro: full body shot sitting (1 studio photo)