Meet Marco Guerrero | Actor

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

Hi Marco, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
Art was one of the first things I was introduced to as a child. I fondly remember being 4, maybe 5 years old, dancing to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” every time it came on. I would get so into it- mimicking the choreography as best as a child could at that age! My grandmother was the first to mention the potential I had, and strived adamantly to have me signed up for dance classes. Thanks to her and my mother’s efforts, I started off in Tap and Ballet. What one would think as being a productive start to an early childhood unfortunately ended shortly thereafter when my father opposed the decision and had me removed from class because he thought dance would’ve emasculated me. It wasn’t until my early twenties when I was re introduced to a world of artistic endeavors- when I happened to audition for a short film. At the time, I did it for giggles as I had no clue of what it meant to be an actor. However, I do remember the freedom I felt in playing pretend, and I wanted more of it. So, it wasn’t so much of a pursuit as it was a ‘calling back to’ from what had once been an early (and wasted) childhood that I’ve simply tried to make right again. Movies have always provided us a means of escape, and I feel we overlook the importance of that. If I can succeed in convincing the audience to escape from their mundane lives by living through my work, just as I have lived through the works of those I’ve looked up to, then I would confidently feel my role as an actor is being fulfilled.

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’m proud for simply showing up. That’s already half of the battle. When I started acting, I had nothing to lose. But when I got picked up by an agent, auditions piled in, work was being booked, and the pressure built up , I then felt as if I had an entire world I could potentially lose- a world that I so desperately wanted to be a part of. I suffered from severe anxiety, depression, and self conscious related issues that impeded both my confidence and my performances, which eventually had caused me to think of myself as some sort of fraud. I felt this way because I was a perfectionist. Sometimes it got so bad I would be scared to start anything new in fear of messing it up. Though I care a lot less now about how others perceive me (or how I perceive my own work), I wouldn’t say I’ve completely overcome the dilemma that’s tied in with being a perfectionist. To some degree, I will always be one. I’ve come to the concluding realization that performing is easy. But what’s difficult is loving yourself while recognizing (and appreciating) the artist inside of you. For good or worse, always show up. This is what separated me from the others. Showing up is also a great determining factor regarding who makes it and who doesn’t. But most importantly, enjoy the journey. Don’t be so caught up with achieving results. Simply enjoy the experience, and the results will come. If there is one thing I hope the world remembers me by, it is that I’m never satisfied. I don’t want to just do a good job. I want to do the best job.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
During the evening, we usually go to a pool hall, arcade, or a movie theatre. If it’s earlier in the day, you can find us in a museum, admiring and discussing the many works of art that are on display, or walking one of the many beautiful scenic trails that Georgia has to offer. As far as food goes- nothing beats a delicious slice of pizza, baby! And you don’t even want to witness what we are like after one drink- Talk about a “good time!” You’ll have stories to tell for years to come!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My mother, for never ending a conversation without reminding me to not give up, and for always sacrificing the little she has to make sure I’m not starting my day without gas or food. My grandparents, for always giving more than they received. Both of my uncles, my aunt, and my cousin for comforting my heart and mind, and for providing me with invaluable wisdom and advice. My siblings, for being a daily reminder that giving up is not an option, as a dream of mine would be to have the means of providing them a proper financial and emotional support structure. My step mother, for making me feel validated and loved, for saving me when things got tough, never judging me and always keeping me in her best wishes. My step father, for always striving to have me see the funny side of life. My mentor, a genius actor and my forever brother, whose faith in me meant absolutely everything during my journey- spending countless hours teaching me how to let go of being self conscious, showing me tips on how to get into character, and working with me for hours to prep me for an audition. And finally, to my best friends who have accepted me since day one, and who have expressed their love, support and friendship along the years through a variety of ways that I will always remember- my forever brothers and sisters- Tevin, Devon, Cami, Luis and Tatiany.