Daily Inspiration: Meet Juliette Ortega

Today we’d like to introduce you to Juliette Ortega.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My story definitely begins with a love for cinema. One of my most treasured memories from my childhood was going to the movies, walking inside and smelling the fresh popcorn, looking at all the movie posters for current and upcoming releases, anxiously waiting for the previews to begin because, for some reason, my family had to be seated thirty minutes before they started. This was something I did almost every Tuesday, and it became a sacred tradition. I actually remember getting upset on Tuesday evenings when my mom and I wouldn’t get off at the bus stop in front of the theater. My dad is an animator, so at home I was exposed to a different side of filmmaking, which gave me a lot of insight into how much work is put into ‘movie magic’, as they say. Ironically, I didn’t actually think about becoming an actor until I was in the 8th grade. Up until then, my passion was figureskating, but that changed soon after I’d moved to Houston from Calgary, Alberta, where I was born. I’ll never forget the play that made me fall in love with acting, Wit, by Margaret Edson, a play that, to this day, remains very dear to me. In the 8th grade, I played the role of Vivian Bearing, and during that process, I had completely immersed myself in the words, the character, and the story. I remember thinking, “How can I do this for the rest of my life?” and from then on, I did whatever I could to make my dream into a reality. After I graduated from high school, I attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York, where I trained under Burke Pearson, who was a phenomenal acting teacher, by the way. After I left the Academy, I moved to Toronto. I was 18 and very determined to start my career. I didn’t have any professional experience yet, no headshots, no demo reel, no referrals, but somehow I was still convinced that I could find an agent who would sign me. After dozens and dozens of emails sent out to every franchised agency in the province, I signed with my first agency, Star Talent. Even though that partnership was short-lived, I got the ropes on what it was like to audition in the industry. After a year in Toronto, I moved back to Houston. Still eager to begin my career, I started looking for another agent. This time around, I reached out to every agency in the Los Angeles area that I could submit to, and that’s how I began my journey with AEFH in 2022. It took almost two years, but after what felt like hundreds of auditions, I’d finally booked my first role, playing Melanie in Marvel’s Wonder Man. I’ll never forget that feeling. I had so many dreams about what it would be like to work on my first film set; never did I think Marvel would be the start. From then on, I’ve had the opportunity to play Elsa in Edwin Lee Gibson’s (FX’s ‘The Bear’) A pink and red dress made of satin… covered in flowers, mostly roses, an artistic piece that was a joy and a privilege to be a part of. My newest project is a feature film called The Monster Within, where I’m playing the role of Paige. This film tells a compelling story about a group of high schoolers who become trapped in an abandoned building and must navigate their way to freedom with the guidance of other teenagers who have been trapped there for several years. It has been such a fun and incredibly rewarding experience to work with our fantastic director, Erika Waldorf, and the amazing cast she’s put together to bring this story to life. These are two projects I couldn’t be more excited for people to experience, and I’m elated at what’s to come.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
A smooth road… boy, I wish. They say you can’t experience true happiness until you’ve experienced true sadness, and I certainly agree. I would say that a majority of my struggles along this journey have come from trying to start life a little too early. Around my sophomore year of high school, I’d made the decision that I wanted to graduate a year ahead. I wasn’t concerned about how I was going to get by, or if I was even going to graduate college (which I didn’t); all I cared about was trying to start my acting career as soon as possible. Needless to say, this put me in a really rough spot months into my attending the Academy in New York. I was 17 at the time, I had absolutely no savings, and as I was a foreign student, my scholarship options were limited. The jobs at the Academy, unfortunately, were also limited. When I’d first moved to New York, I lived in Flushing, Queens. My commute to Manhattan was heavily reliant on public transportation, and there were times I couldn’t even afford my train tickets into town. I remember missing a lot of class, so much that I was at risk of being kicked out of the Academy. Since money remained a grave issue, I decided to withdraw after my first year. By this point, I had to move back to Canada as I was no longer a student, which is what brought me to Toronto in 2020. Even though my heart was still set on pursuing my career, my desperation to make ends meet led me into a lot of terrible situations. It felt hopeless for a long time, but I was determined to keep pushing, and I’m so glad that I did. My current challenge has been navigating my career while being a mother. Motherhood hasn’t been easy by any means, but it is the most rewarding thing that I’ve ever done and will ever do. I wouldn’t give it up for the world, just seeing my son smile makes every difficult moment worth it. Over time, I have become surrounded by people both in and out of the industry who continue to support me whilst I pursue my career, one person in particular being my good friend, Jonette. This world is so blessed to have a soul like hers. I could spend the rest of my life trying to repay her, and it still wouldn’t be enough. Never forget who was there with you at your lowest. If there’s anything I can pass on to someone with a dream, it’s to believe in yourself. Don’t give up on yourself, no matter how impossible your dreams may seem. You will get where you want to be, even if the journey doesn’t unfold exactly how you’d imagined.

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?
For the time being, I’m solely an Actress. One day, I would love to produce, perhaps direct. I’m interested in trying every area of expertise in the film industry.

We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
To be entirely honest, I don’t believe in luck. I truly believe that everything happens for a reason, and everything has purpose. We have more control over our lives than we think, but this doesn’t guarantee that we won’t struggle or make mistakes. The most important lessons I’ve gained in my life have come from my mistakes and choosing to be better. Being wary of the company I keep, because you can very easily become the kind of person you surround yourself with.

Contact Info:

• Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm18096576/?ref_=ttfc_fcr_3_41

Image Credits
Chris Jon Photography (featured image)