Meet Denice Rivera | Actor/Producer, Nomad, Adventurer

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

Hi Denice, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
This has always been an interesting question for me to answer. I come from a military family, and although I was born in a fort in Kansas, I was raised between two states; Texas and California and one territory; Puerto Rico. My early days are rooted in Puerto Rico, where Spanish was my first language. I had a brief stint in Texas and spent my adolescent years in Southern California, before joining the military after high school.

I attended a lot of schools and constantly felt like the new kid on the block. It wasn’t easy at the time, always having to leave friends behind, but in hindsight, it built something in me: resilience, adaptability, and a deep ability to connect with people from all walks of life. That foundation has served me in every chapter of life since.

Georgia is actually the 8th state I’ve lived in, along with three other countries and one U.S. territory. Each place has added a new layer to who I am expanding my worldview, allowing me to hone in on my instincts, and deepening my appreciation for the power of storytelling across cultures.

My background gave me the tools to adapt, the empathy to relate to others, and the courage to follow my heart.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
What sets my journey apart is that I didn’t come into this industry with a roadmap or a traditional timeline. I found acting in my 40s, not because I was chasing fame or a career, but because I was simply saying YES to life.

Three years before I discovered acting, everything in my world shifted. My marriage ended. My only son went off to college in another state—Georgia actually, while I was living in Maryland. Days before I dropped him off, my father passed away in Hawaii. And a week later, my grandfather passed, too in Puerto Rico. I took time to grieve all of it. Then I reached a point where I knew I had a decision to make: I could curl up in a ball of pain and let life pass me by, or I could say yes. Yes to new experiences. Yes to healing. Yes to whatever was next or whatever I found interest in, without judgment. That yes led me to acting.

What began as “just an experience”, something interesting and different than anything I had ever done before, woke up something I didn’t know existed inside me. My creativity. My imagination. It surprised me, inspired me, and moved me. It felt cathartic… even familiar, as if I’d done it before in another life. I fell in love with it. It lit me up from the inside out, and once that spark was lit, I couldn’t let it go.

My art is deeply rooted in truth. As someone who’s lived a few different lives in one: military, federal contractor, entrepreneur, I bring the full weight of that lived experience into every role. I listen, remember, and relate. That connection is what I aim to bring to the screen: something grounded, human, and honest. For most of my early adult life, I held a Top Secret security clearance from the time I was 18 years old until I was 33. I worked in high-stakes environments, navigating worlds where presence, awareness, attention to detail and integrity weren’t optional, they were required. That background gives me a different lens and discipline I carry into my work as an artist.

I discovered acting in Hawaii, and once I decided to pursue it seriously, I didn’t hold back. Everything I set out to do there, I did within a year and a half, to include booking my first network TV co-star role. When something feels aligned with my spirit I don’t hesitate, I commit fully.

What I want the world to know about me and my story is this: I believe there’s an art to knowing when to pivot, and more importantly, the courage to do it. My journey isn’t about one straight line to success, it’s about the willingness to evolve, to start fresh, and to chase fulfillment over fear. You’re allowed to reinvent yourself. You’re allowed to chase joy, healing, and creativity, especially after loss. You’re allowed to rise like a Phoenix from the ashes. Acting wasn’t part of my “plan,” but it helped me come back to myself even more authentically. My brand is rooted in transformation, emotional truth, and the power of saying YES to a new chapter—even when the old one nearly broke you.

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.
If my best friend was visiting for a week, I’d curate the trip around soulful connection, great food, art, nature, and meaningful conversations.

We’d start most mornings slow, with coffee and intention. One day we’d hit Golden Drops Café for the best signature coffee in town (the new Emory campus location is a hidden gem right across from the Michael C. Carlos Museum), and another day we’d cozy up at The Reading Room—it’s more than coffee, it’s a vibe. For something peaceful and scenic, Chattahoochee Coffee Company is perfect with great views of the river and a sense of stillness you don’t often get in the city.

For breakfast or brunch, Omni Coffee & Eggs in Downtown Atlanta is a must with its renaissance flair that makes it feel like an experience. Then we’d rotate through some of my favorite restaurants: Desta Ethiopian Kitchen, Delbar for flavorful Middle Eastern dishes, Buena Gente Cuban Bakery for best empanadas, Barcelona Wine Bar in Inman Park, Alon’s Bakery & Market—one of the oldest and best bakeries in town, The Iberian Pig in Downtown Decatur for great tapas, and Canoe, perfect for when you want the full ambiance moment overlooking the Chattahoochee river.

We’d definitely take a day trip to Château Élan Winery & Resort for wine, charcuterie, and gorgeous views. It’s a little escape from the city that feels indulgent and grounding all at once.

As for activities, we’d walk the Beltline, check out murals and small galleries, and stop by Piedmont Park if there’s a festival or live music. We’d get in a morning hike at Stone Mountain with views and energy that are always worth it. I’d take them to East Atlanta Village to wander through unique shops and discover local art—it’s got this creative, unpolished charm that feels authentic. For nightlife, we’d catch some live music at Kat’s Café, a true Atlanta staple, and then on a Friday we’d checkout Eclipse di Luna for tapas and live salsa.

These days, I don’t go out as much, but when I do, I gravitate toward spaces that offer something real—great energy, creativity, connection. So this trip wouldn’t just be about checking off tourist spots, but more about feeling Atlanta’… its culture, its rhythm, its people.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’ve been incredibly fortunate to cross paths with people and communities who have helped shape my journey, not just as an actor, but as a person.

First, I want to give a heartfelt shoutout to the Atlanta acting community. There’s something truly special here, a sense of collaboration, encouragement, and shared growth. When I first arrived, I was welcomed by Drama Inc, where Alex Collins became my very first acting instructor in Atlanta. His guidance helped ground me in the fundamentals and gave me the confidence to begin building from there.

Some of the instructors who have truly been game-changers for me include Tim Phillips of Tim Phillips Studio, and Diana Castle and Faline England from The Imagined Life. Each of them brought a different layer of depth to my work and helped me tap into the emotional truth of storytelling in ways that continue to impact how I show up in every audition and scene.

I also want to recognize Nova House, a beautiful creative space and community here in Atlanta that, while no longer around due to the pandemic, allowed me to find and build community with other creatives. They created a space where I felt seen, welcomed, and inspired, and I’m still grateful for the connections I made there.

Lastly, I’d like to mention a book that truly shifted my approach to the work—“Audition for Your Career, Not the Job” by Tim Phillips. That book became my bible for auditioning. It reminded me that the work is about more than just booking, it’s about building a lasting, fulfilling career rooted in truth and artistry.

I’m so thankful for the mentors, communities, and resources that have poured into me along the way.

Instagram: MyAwesomeAdventurousLife

Facebook: ActorDeniceRivera

Youtube: Coming soon!

Other: http://imdb.me/denicerivera
http://about.me/DeniceRivera

Image Credits
Robbie Glen Photography

Bob Mackey Photography