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

Hi Silvia, what is the most important factor behind your success?
I think the most important factor in the success of my career has been having a clear idea of what my purpose is. This might change with time, as I grow and as I my career grows. But at the moment my purpose is to represent immigrants, the queer community, and just the folks that society sees as underdogs.

For me personally, an actor, understanding that me and my art are a vessel for representation, is what has pushed me to take risks, to seek something bigger and to truly reach peoples hearts and minds.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I think I am where I am in my career because I valued education and learning from a very young age. So back in the Dominican republic I was determined to get a scholarship to come study acting in NYC! And trust me, this would not be an easy task. Along with my mother we made repeated trips, months and months and months to our government to make that a possibility which eventually became a reality.

Now I am in NYC, working, with a degree and an incredible team of reps. It’s the people for me, the people who believe in me, who gave me a chance even when the odds were against me.

What I want the world to know about my work/my Art is that I am an IMMIGRANT, and I am here to support and inspire other IMMIGRANTS. I want immigrants to feel seen thru my work, to feel represented, to know that their stories matter.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Absolutely some of Joe’s pizza! then we need to go see an off broadway show, maybe something at La MaMa or the Cherry Lane theater, and finish it with some Ice cream from Davey’s Ice cream Shop

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 mentor Ruth Nerken, who leads the Entertainment Community Fund, which is an organization that supports all people in the Entertainment industry with any kind of need they might have. From her I learned that we do the work to help and guide others.

Website: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8115265/

Instagram: @silviadionicio

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