Today, we’d like to introduce you to Nataly Gonzalez DeVous.
Hi Nataly, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Growing up, I was always drawn to acting. I loved movies, television, and plays, and I made up a lot of stories of my own. When I started middle school, it was only natural that I wanted to sign up for drama class, but then the unexpected happened; I was forbidden from doing theatre. It’s not an exaggeration; my parents used that exact word- forbidden.
I was a good kid, so I obeyed my mom and dad, and as much as it pained me to see my peers performing in plays and musicals that I didn’t get to be a part of, I settled for choir and didn’t make a fuss. By my last semester of high school, I was on the road to success (or, my parent’s version of it anyway); I was going to graduate with honors, had been accepted to UT Austin as a Biology major, and was a doctor-in-the-making. My mom and dad were happy, but I wasn’t. I felt like something was missing. By some miracle, I worked up the courage to audition for the fall play; my thought process was that I didn’t want to leave high school with regrets, and one of those regrets would be never even trying to do theatre. And, who knows, I thought, maybe I wouldn’t like it, anyway. Boy, was I wrong? I didn’t get cast in the fall play, but I did make it into the UIL class, and that first show changed my life forever, even if I didn’t know it then.
Fast-forward to 2020. I left UT and got my Associate of Arts at Lone Star College. In 2023, I graduated with a BA in Fine Arts with a concentration in Drama from the University of Houston Downtown. I got my first lead role in a play during my final semester at UHD, “The Book Club Play.” Shortly after graduating, I began acting professionally in Houston; my first paid gig was as an understudy at Main Street Theatre for Youth in “Carmela Full of Wishes,” and a few months after that, I was playing Lucy in “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.” This past weekend, I closed my most recent show, “Break,” at Haven Arts Theatre. In total, I’ve been to less than 20 auditions and have been in 3 professional shows; most recently, I had four auditions in a row that all led to rejections. The path I’ve chosen as an actor has not been easy, but it has been incredibly rewarding. I’ve met some amazing people, learned some incredible things, and I get paid doing what I love.
This story- how I got started and where I’m at today- none of it would be possible if it weren’t for my husband, Daniel. My story is, first and foremost, a love story because his love and support are what enabled me to act in the first place. Daniel was the first person I met who believed in my dream of being an actress; he’s the one who helped me take the leap and pursue acting as both a degree and a career. He went to auditions with me, and we’ve even gotten to be in two shows together now. I had given up on being an actress altogether until I met him, so I will always be incredibly grateful for his support.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Hell no. Some of the biggest struggles started before I even began acting professionally; my parents would always put down my dream, saying acting was nothing more than a hobby, not a stable career. They didn’t take pride in what I was doing until I started getting paychecks for it. Don’t get me wrong, I love my parents and have a good relationship with them, but I never did have their support when it came to acting. That was a challenge I was only able to overcome by having a good support system: my husband, my friends, and even those few family members (namely my sister and cousins) who did believe in my dream.
Another obstacle was money; acting does pay, but sometimes, it’s not enough to get by. It isn’t always ‘sustainable,’ as they say. For example, I’ve been paid a couple thousand for a gig, and I’ve also been paid so little that it didn’t even cover the amount of gas I spent on driving to rehearsals and shows. Money is definitely a challenge, which is why I work other jobs on the side. I’m sure that anyone who works multiple jobs, especially artists, can relate to that struggle.
Lastly, the biggest challenge has always been against my own self; my negative thoughts, to be specific. It’s easy to give into fear and insecurity, and to feel like giving up on a dream, especially after you face nothing but rejection. Self-love and a good support system are really important when it comes to fighting against those negative thoughts.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am an actress, and most recently, I’ve done a lot of work in children’s theatre. I was an understudy in “Carmela Full of Wishes,” I played Lucy Pevensie in “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe,” and I was Sonrisa Gutierez in “Break.” I’ve worked for Main St. Theatre for Youth and Haven Arts. I am definitely most proud of my work in “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe”; that’s the biggest show I’ve been in so far.
As you can see, I don’t have a lot of acting credits under my belt, and I’m fairly new to the professional acting world. Some might look at my resume and think of it as unimpressive. However, I take great pride and joy in the work I’ve done so far, and I hope to continue learning, growing, and doing good work in the Houston theatre community.
Alright, so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
When I am not “booked-and-busy” as an actress, I take on other projects, namely writing projects (scripts, stories, etc.) and my YouTube channel. People can support me by supporting the channel and by keeping an eye out for future projects. I’m hoping to create short films in the near future, so that would definitely be an opportunity to collaborate with other creatives. If anyone is a fellow actor, writer, or filmmaker, they can also reach out to me via email for help on their projects!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natalydevous/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nataly-gonzalez-717962229/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-o2VyYWTZtA4AwqKBoxMaA
