Today we’d like to introduce you to Roxy Rivera.
Hi Roxy, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I am a Venezuelan immigrant living in the US, working actor, and founder of 501(c)(3) non-profit Sending Love Venezuela. For as long as I could remember, I always wanted to be an actor. My favorite thing in the world was to perform: sing, dance, act– anything I could do to entertain. I participated in as many theatrical productions as I could throughout high school– but as soon as I graduated had to pivot my focus to working and taking care of family. Additionally, during that time I identified I had the ability to connect incredible hearts in the USA who were eager to help Venezuelans in need. Long story short, I began shipping boxes of food and baby formula with the help of friends and family and eventually registered and created a 501(c)(3) non-profit called Sending Love Venezuela. Amazing huge partnerships began to develop and huge companies such as General Mills and Faribault Foods donated thousands of dollars and a huge amount of food to carry out our mission. To this day, I still continue to lead the effort in Sending Love Venezuela and pack boxes with the help of volunteers and donors to help the newborn babies in Venezuela.
At the same time, around the year of 2018, I decided I would not live a life of regret by ignoring my desire to pursue acting. I was a little bit more financially stable at the time and had the full support of my partner, so I decided to continue working but pursue acting on the side with as much dedication as I possibly could. And finally, it feels as if there is where my life actually began. I was finally happy and complete because I felt aligned with my passion and purpose. I made quick progress, left my full-time job, took multiple gigs to allow my schedule to juggle auditions and classes, and finally this year I am completely dedicated to the acting industry and nothing else.
Though I began acting only a few years ago, I have learned so much throughout my journey that I began to help new acting friends around me on how to succeed in the industry. It became so natural and normal to be the go-to girl for advice that I finally realized it was time to create something more structured and organized to help as many actors as possible. Supported by my friend and now business partner, Alexia Aldebol, we decided to create Actors Directory (@actorsdirectory) a place where actors can find tips, education, direction, entertainment and inspiration to fulfill their dream of being a full time working actor.
Right now, you can find me either in Orlando, FL teaching at the Maile Acting School or in Atlanta, GA assisting actors at Get Scene Studios. I am incredibly blessed to be able to work full-time in the industry either acting or helping actors, and I hope that I am an inspiration to every immigrant who comes to this beautiful country with a heart longing to chase their American Dream.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Of course, it has not been a smooth road– but I am thankful for those bumps and struggles because they’ve made me wiser and stronger. I’ve worked up to 3 jobs (2 full-time and 1 part-time) to pay the bills and almost worked myself to the ground, I wasn’t able to formally attend a 4-year college despite earning full-ride scholarships due to an immigration status problem. My early 20s were basically difficult times of surviving and making sure I could provide for my family.
But despite it all– I wouldn’t change a thing. Everything happened for a reason, everything has led me to a blessing, and I am thankful for each challenge.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am an actor in the Southeast, US.
I am a kids acting coach and adult acting instructor at the Maile Imagine Modeling and Acting School in Winter Park, FL.
I am the Talent Care Director for Get Scene Studios in Atlanta, GA.
I am the founder and director of Sending Love Venezuela (EIN: 83-0602756).
I am an immigrant from Caracas, Venezuela who came to the US with her parents at eight years old.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
That I am capable of achieving absolutely anything I want– as long as I believe in myself, am unforgivingly disciplined, and have consistency to see the result I want become true.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @theroxyrivera @actorsdirectory @sendinglovevenezuela @getscenestudios @maile_school
Image Credits:
Gary Hughes of Hughes Fioretti Photography Ira Carmichael Headshots in ATL
