We recently had the chance to connect with Maria Fontanals and have shared our conversation below.
Good morning Maria, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What is a normal day like for you right now?
Right now, my days revolve around rehearsals for a new project, The Nun Lieutenant, by Juan Ruiz de Alarcon which premieres in October 17th and runs until November 2nd at Teatro Círculo, directed by the Spanish director Daniel Alonso de Santos. I feel fortunate to be part of Teatro Circulo, a company that tours its productions throughout Spain, allowing me to return to my hometown country and share our work with audiences across the country. The play is based on the extraordinary true story of Catalina de Erauso, a 17th-century Spanish woman who escaped a convent, disguised herself as a man, and became a soldier in the Americas rising to the rank of lieutenant. It’s a story full of adventure, identity, and courage.
We rehearse Monday through Friday, starting at 11 a.m., so my mornings begin gently usually with an hour of a work out and or meditation, followed by a filling breakfast (I love breakfast!). Then it’s off to the theater for rehearsals, and in the evenings I keep working, exploring and shaping the character of Catalina de Erauso. Weekends are my time to recharge in Connecticut, where we have a house surrounded by nature.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I was born and raised in Barcelona, where I first built a successful corporate career. While working, I nurtured my acting avocation by earning a BFA from Conservatory of Dramatic Arts Eolia in Barcelona. But in 2009, I felt a pull I could not ignore. I left that life behind, packed my bags, and moved to New York on my own to study acting, searching for a deeper connection with art and with myself. The journey was not easy I faced many obstacles, and perhaps the hardest was that my parents did not understand my decision at the time. Still, I trusted my passion more than certainty. Today, they are very proud of what I achieved and their support means the world to me. What began as a leap into the unknown became the foundation of my true path. I found a home in the vibrant artistic community of this city. Today I am an actress and an acting teacher at HB Studio (where I studied), creating and sharing stories that cross cultures and languages. My journey is one of resilience and transformation yet it is always accompanied by joy. I remember a teacher at HB Studio telling me, ‘Maria, don’t forget to always have fun in what you do’, and I carry that with me always, making sure to find joy in everything I do.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
I love this question. Looking back, I can see with great clarity the crucial moments when I made each of those choices, moments that defined the path of my life. As a child, I was always drawn to art. I studied classical dance for six years, loved putting on plays with my brothers, our parents were always our first audience, and I wrote little plays of my own. I loved dressing up, transforming, and playing different characters. I also studied piano. But around the age of twelve, I came to believe that none of this “counted,” that what was expected of me was to focus on academics. So I gave it all up to dedicate myself fully to my studies.
In college, I reconnected with theater and acting. I joined the theater group, and it awakened something I thought I had lost. In my twenties, I became aware of that decision I had made at twelve and how deeply it had taken me away from who I truly was. That realization pushed me to try to resume the path I had left behind, the path of art, of what I really wanted to be. Step by step, that reconnection with dance, piano, and theater led me to leave the corporate world behind and follow the journey that has shaped who I am today.
Do you remember a time someone truly listened to you?
When I first came to study at HB Studio for the Summer Intensive, that summer completely changed my life. For the first time, I felt that my teachers truly understood me. They not only guided me, they supported me, and I felt seen in a way I had been longing for. It was exactly what I had been searching for: the motivation, the encouragement, and the strength to keep following my path as an artist. I remember clearly the day I left my corporate job, the last day, packing my things, walking out the door full of doubts, unsure of what direction to take after having had such a stable life, and with little understanding from those around me. Coming to the United States, to New York, gave me that freedom and understanding I so needed. That experience became a turning point. It gave me the certainty that I was not alone on this journey, and that I had found a community where my passion for the craft could truly grow, a community that has since become my artistic home. Today, I am proud to be part of HB Studio as a teacher and as a member of the Artistic Council, continuing the same spirit of guidance and support that first welcomed me here.
That Summer made me feel truly seen and heard as an artist. My work has been recognized with various awards over the years, and now, it’s especially meaningful to share that I’ve recently been honored with a nomination by the Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors as Outstanding Performance by a Lead Actor for my role in El espacio entremedias by Fernando Travesí. This year they’re celebrating their 50th anniversary, and it’s such an honor for me to be recognized alongside so many great Broadway artists in the Latin world.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My closest friends would probably say that what really matters to me is following my passion and living authentically. They know how much I value growth and self-discovery, and how deeply I cherish meaningful connections with my students, colleagues, and loved ones. They’d say that sharing what I’ve learned and supporting others in their own journeys is part of who I am, just as much as contributing to a community where art and creativity can truly flourish. Most of all, they’d see that I hold close the values of family, integrity, friendship, joy, love,professionalism, dedication, and honesty.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace when I’m doing what I truly love: acting and teaching acting. I also find peace in simple and joyful moments, for instance, taking ballroom lessons with my life partner, spending time with my friends, being with my family, traveling to new cultures, always exploring with curiosity and wonder. And, on a deeper level, I feel at peace knowing that my life is aligned with the values that matter most to me: love, family, friends, joy, integrity, and professionalism.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mariafontanals.com/
- Instagram: @mariafontanals
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mfontanals
- Twitter: @MariaFontanals1
- Facebook: Maria Fontanals
Image Credits
Xanthe Elbrick
Michael Palma
Tane Martínez
The pictures are from the following projects:
La monja alférez
El espacio entremedias
Fuente Ovejuna
La dama boba
Radojka
City Girls and Desperados
Balm in Gilead
Distant Interiors
Fuente Ovejuna
La dama boba
