Meet Daisy Pareja | Actor, Writer and Filmmaker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Daisy Pareja and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Daisy, how do you think about risk?
“What if I Fall? Oh, but my Darling, what if you fly?” This quote by poet Erin Hanson touches me. Risk taking has always been my modus operandi. My younger self has always been very impulsive and spontaneous by nature, so I would go for it, then think my way thru it. It’s worked a lot of the time. For example, I asked the most handsome boy in Middle school out for the dance. He said yes to a nerdy girl who played chess. That was easy. Then it got harder.

I got my first job fresh out of the University of Portland (OR) by calling the Univision Network news director and asking for a job. He recommended their affiliate station in San Francisco, California. I bought a Greyhound ticket and headed to the Bay Area, after talking to the news director of the station, he hired me on the spot. I had requested an entry level job, assistant to the assistant kind of thing, He said the only opening they had was for a TV news reporter. Sure, why not, I’ll take it. A week after starting my reporting position and while I was still training, the Loma Prieta Earthquake hit, 7.1 for 15 seconds. Training stopped and ready or not, I was out on the field reporting on the disastrous and tragic quake aftermath. It was a huge challenge and responsibility, couldn’t sleep at night, not sure if it was the fear of failing or fear of the quake aftermaths. Fast forward eight years, I had heard they were opening CNN En Español 24-hour news in Atlanta, Georgia. I set my eyes on that. I quit my job with no back up, exactly what they tell you not to do. I was nervous but hopeful, so I took a Greyhound bus to Atlanta and managed to get an interview and two days later, I was hired as a news producer.

Then my risks had higher stakes.

I left my broadcasting news career in pursuit of acting. I like to say that’s when I got professionally trained to be rejected. While I was in Atlanta, I went to various acting agencies in person (at the time you could do that) and offered them a fully bilingual Latina talent for commercials, voiceovers and industrial videos. I got five agencies to represent me within days, you could have multiple agencies at the time.
Prior, I had sent them my photo and resume with a an envelope that read in big bold letters: LATINA/FULLY BILINGUAL. Little did I know, Atlanta would become the film mecca of the Southeast, so I jumped into catch up mode with the pros and started taking acting classes at all studios available. I still do to this day. My first film booking was Anchorman 2 with Will Ferrell and Christina Applegate. It was nerve wrecking to start off with the king of Improv. Well, at least, they didn’t cut my scenes. I knew then Improv classes were a must moving forward. My agents at Houghton Talent have been with me through thick and thin. So many auditions and rejections before booking, it takes a village, whole lot of perseverance, hard work, luck and plenty of blessings. This business is not for the faint of heart.

Regarding stage acting, I always had the utmost respect for theater actors, so when I got the offer (without auditioning) for the Carmen role in the play Real Women Have Curves at the Academy Theater (produced by Impact Theater) I said yes! I was stepping into the unknown: it was live, no second takes, major risk taking. Thanks to the brilliant direction of Brenda Porter and to my dialect coach Susan Shalhoub Larkin, the play was a success and my stage debut was much better than I expected.

During the pandemic, a fellow actor and friend, Andrea Fernandez and I founded Actors Army, a group of actors and filmmakers based out of Atlanta. We initially served as a support group, we quickly evolved into producing films, so far we produced four short films, organized two film festivals, have monthly prominent guest speakers and have members in WDC and NY. Our next goal is to produce a feature film, how? we don’t know, but we’ll go for it. Our group is ready and eager.

Even though I like to be private in my personal life, I have to share that my ultimate risk taking has been personal. I had only been dating this guy for three months, then we eloped and got married in Vegas. They said it wouldn’t last, and here we are more than 28 years together, we had our major hiccups, but still together. still going strong. I thank God for all of the above,

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Having been there and done that, sets me apart. I know the pain, I know failure. I know the rewards.

First advice: you have to have thick skin, period. Keep going.

I overcome challenges by moving forward, one step at a time. I get coaching or take classes or ask questions until I get better at it. My goal is not to look back. I also overcome challenges talking to others about it, support groups are essential for me, they are my compass in life. Therapy is also crucial, when needed. Best advice I got is keep learning, keep asking questions and find a mentor. No need to do it alone, the world is hard enough, we need to find our tribe.

My 90 year-old mother keeps reading and studying to this day, so I have it in my genes to be a perpetual learner. Whenever I fail , whenever I experience rejection or failure of some sort, I rely on my faith and in my supportive group of friends and family to get back on my feet. I try hard to learn from my mistakes. I don’t always succeed, but when I do is when it shows in my work. I got to where I am by being persistent, not giving up when times got hard and constantly asking for feedback, even if it hurts. And it hurts a lot of the time…it’s a friendly reminder that I still have a lot to learn.

I am extremely passionate about what I do. Acting and filmmaking has become my ultimate passion. Being bilingual and bi-cultural gives me a perspective that’s different from conventional views. Having grown up in a third world country, Bolivia, I’d like to think I bring a sense of uniqueness to the table, plus being resourceful is one of my superpowers. It helps that I have a neutral accent in Spanish, so most people can’t identify it. I give all I do my best and when that’s not enough, I go learn and get better, keep asking, keep trying and in the process keep mentoring others.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
First, Atlanta grew on me. It took many years, and now I wouldn’t trade it for any other city. When my friends or family are in town, I take them…

– East side of the Beltline – the walk starts on the Monroe Dr. entrance and go all the way past Krog Street Market.

– Ponce City Market – So much to see and eat. We grab delicious empanadas to go from the Cuban place El Super Pan.

– I also take them in the historic walk: We start at the Jimmy Carter Center, then head to the belt line, then proceed to go to Martin Luther King Jr neighborhood and then to the bridge where we can get a spectacular skyline view of Atlanta.

– Another stop is Avalon in Alpharetta. We love the walk, the vibe, the people watching and all the shops and eateries. You can’t go wrong eating at True Food Kitchen, filled with ONLY healthy choices.

– My friends also enjoy a recent casual restaurant I discovered: Arepa Grill in Doraville, great delicious choices at affordable prices.

– My favorite restaurant is Le Bilboquet at the Buckhead Village. The whole surrounding area is Parisian style, amazing people watching and everything in the menu is absolutely delicious. Note, there’s a strict dress code. It’s pricey, but you can always go there to celebrate a special occasion. This area is also great for taking glamorous photos.

– I love taking my out of town guests to Mary Mac’s Tea Room, traditional southern food where anybody who is anybody goes, be ready to see walls full of photos of celebrities and politicians who have dined there.

– Surprise your out of town guests with the Dekalb Farmers Market, endless variety of produce, meats, seafood and spices from all over the world. They always leave with their baskets full.

– Of course, a visit to the Fox Theater. If there’s a show going on, it’s the place to go, if not, they can always take a tour inside, it’s historic and breathtaking.

– Last but not least, if you’re in Atlanta close to Christmas, check out the Governor’s mansion. Entrance is free of charge for all who register online (check the dates for availability) You’ll see beautiful Christmas decorations and you might catch Carols and some cookies.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Too many to name, I couldn’t do any of it alone. As a woman of faith, God has always opened and closed doors for me. So my faith keeps me focused and strong.

I thank my hubby, putting up with an artist’s lifestyle is extremely challenging, vulnerability, ups and downs, rejections can take a toll on someone’s mood. You need a human sounding board that will not falter or break, just someone who’ll hold you when you fall and celebrate your wins.

Shout out to my agents at Houghton Talent who cried with me when I experienced personal losses and who stood by me for more than 20 years, even in my driest casting/booking periods. They are the best and one of the largest talent agencies in the Southeast, but that’s secondary, most importantly. they are great humans beings.

Huge shout out to my group Actors Army. They keep me going, they inspire me, they motivate me and they’re fierce when it comes to getting things done. We all support one another. It’s a creative community filled with talent and love.

Enormous gratitude to my dialect coach, mentor and friend Susan Shalhoub Larkin. As an actress herself, she has been preparing me steadfastly for all the roles I booked since I’ve been training with her five years ago.

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