Meet Amalia González-Cidre | Actor & Poet

We had the good fortune of connecting with Amalia González-Cidre and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Amalia, have you ever found yourself in a spot where you had to decide whether to give up or keep going? How did you make the choice?

The hardest part about being a creative is pushing forward. For me, it’s the rush of happiness I get entering a rehearsal space, receiving a casting notice, that final curtain—those feelings are what make every “no” worth it. Once that passion dies, that’s when it may be best to pursue a different path, but for me I still feel that fire in my chest and that’s where I find the strength not to give up.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

I started acting after seeing Wicked on the West End when I was about 12. Seeing how that performance made me feel pulled a sense of longing from my heart: “I want to make people feel like this”. Since then, I’ve been doing theatre at summer camps, community centers, and public school. I was very fortunate to study Theatre & Performance at Emerson College; I wanted a program that would kick my butt and really teach me the commitment it takes to be an actor, and that’s what I was given. Being hispanic and queer has, of course, played it’s part in my career road blocks. I’ve told myself time and again that I will not sacrifice my identity to secure more roles—the story of my heritage is one of the main reasons I want my voice to be heard! I was very lucky to meet other non-white queer actors in my 20s and form strong connections that still exist today. This is the main element of my art that I want to amplify: marginalized voices exist en masse and deserve to be heard. With all the setbacks it’s given me, I wouldn’t change my identity for the world, and I believe that’s a message that we all need to support.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?

Oh man! Well, a lot of my friends live up north in walkable cities, so getting them to sit in a car for 20 minutes between places is always a trip but I do my best to make it worth it. Kudzu Antiques in Decatur is a great knickknack thrifting stop, it’s also huge so it’s a great spot to kill a few hours. It’s also not far from Buford Highway, where we can find some of the best food in Georgia. Specifically, Pho Dai Loi #2 and Matcha Cafe always hit the spot. My day job is downtown at the Fox Theatre, so if there’s time I always like to take friends to see a show there and enjoy the Marquee Club. There are plenty of fun things to explore in Midtown—Ponce City Market, Krog Street, Piedmont Park—but the traffic can make it a bit stressful, so I try to avoid those when I can.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?

I’s like to shoutout the support group I have that brings the light back to my wyes on the hardest days: my family, my partner, all the incredible professors and directors I’ve had over the years, and my fellow LGBT+ creatives! We lift each other up, and without that support the pillar would’ve crumbled by now.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gardenrxse?igsh=NWY5ZmhlNDk0cWdt&utm_source=qr

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amalia-gonzalez-cidre

Image Credits
Headshot: @luismorenophoto
Shakespeare photo: Keith Furguson
Curious Incident photo: Brian Bates Photography