Meet MC De La Cruz | Actress, Writer & Independent Filmmaker

We had the good fortune of connecting with MC De La Cruz and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi MC, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I don’t think of risk as jumping without looking. I think of it as believing in something enough to take the first step, even when there’s no guarantee anyone else will follow.

One of the biggest risks I took was deciding to become an independent filmmaker. As an Afro-Latina actress, I wasn’t seeing enough opportunities that reflected the diversity of the world around us. Hollywood has made progress, but many talented artists, especially people of color, are still overlooked or underrepresented. Rather than waiting for those opportunities to appear, I chose to create them myself by writing and producing films with ethnically diverse casts.

That decision challenged me to step into roles I had never held before, but it also gave me a sense of purpose beyond my own career. If I can create opportunities not only for myself but for actors and storytellers whose voices aren’t always heard, then taking that risk is more than worth it.

That experience completely changed the way I think about risk. Sometimes the biggest risk isn’t walking through a door. It’s building one instead of waiting for someone else to open it.

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.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that the hardest role I ever had to step into wasn’t a character. It was believing in myself.

Getting here wasn’t easy. For a long time, I questioned whether my stories mattered, whether anyone would want to hear them, and whether I belonged in an industry that often didn’t seem to have a place for someone like me. I had to learn to trust that my talent would sustain me, that the stories I wanted to tell would connect with people, and that even if I didn’t fit the traditional mold, I still had something worth saying. And if those stories didn’t exist yet, then maybe it was my job to write them.

That leap changed everything.

The people I’ve been fortunate enough to have in my life encouraged me, believed in me, and sometimes pushed me forward when I was ready to give up. But they couldn’t take the first step for me. I had to decide that I believed in myself enough to take it. Once I did, I haven’t looked back.

What sets my work apart is that I’m drawn to stories about humanity. Whether they’re funny, heartbreaking, supernatural, or deeply personal, I want people to see themselves in them. I want audiences to feel represented, understood, and maybe even a little less alone when the credits roll. As an actress, writer, and independent filmmaker, I’m passionate about creating opportunities for voices that are often overlooked, because great stories don’t belong to one type of person. They belong to all of us.

One of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever been given was, “A bad script written is still better than an amazing one that isn’t.” I’ve carried that with me far beyond writing. It’s true for scripts, auditions, dreams, conversations, and opportunities. Perfection keeps us waiting. Progress moves us forward.

If I want people to know anything about me, it’s that I’m still learning, still growing, and still dreaming. I’m proud of the stories I’ve told, but I’m even more excited about the ones I haven’t written yet. Every project has taught me something new, every challenge has made me a better artist, and every “no” has brought me one step closer to the right “yes.”

So now, after taking that first leap of faith, I find myself asking the same question with excitement instead of fear:

What’s next?

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend came to visit for a week, I’d probably wear them out… but they’d leave with some great memories!

We’d start with New York City because you can’t visit without seeing the classics. We’d wander through Times Square, Central Park, the Brooklyn Bridge, maybe catch a Broadway show if we could, and spend hours just walking the city. New York is one of those places where you discover something new every time you turn a corner.

Of course, no trip is complete without amazing food. We’d definitely make a stop at Mamajuanas in the Bronx for the incredible food, and then head to Mickey Spillane’s in Midtown for the atmosphere, good laughs, and their legendary $5 margaritas. Great conversations always seem to happen over great food.

But here’s the thing people sometimes forget about New York: there’s so much more to it than the city.

At some point, I’d steal them away to the Hudson Valley. We’d visit a local winery like Sweet Clover Farm, enjoy live music, and slow the pace down for a while. We’d explore hiking trails, take in the mountains, maybe go kayaking, and just enjoy being surrounded by nature. The Hudson Valley has this incredible way of making you feel like you’ve escaped without ever leaving New York.

If there’s one thing I’d want them to experience, it’s the contrast. One day, you’re surrounded by the energy of millions of people, and the next, you’re listening to birds on a trail with mountains in the distance. I love that New York can be both.

And because I’m a bit of a nerd at heart, I’d probably convince them to go roller skating, explore neighborhoods we’d never been to before, stop whenever something looked interesting, and embrace the unexpected. Some of my favorite memories come from adventures that weren’t planned at all.

For me, the best trips aren’t about checking places off a list. They’re about laughing too much, discovering hidden gems, eating fantastic food, and ending each day thinking, “That was fun.” If my best friend went home with that feeling, then I’d know I’d done my job.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First, my cousin, Raquel “Rara” Chico. She has been one of my biggest cheerleaders, offering unconditional love, encouragement, and the kind of belief that keeps you going on the days when you’re questioning yourself. Having someone who never stops reminding you what you’re capable of is an incredible gift.

I’d also love to recognize my friend, Jasmyn Green. We met while working on a play, and what started as a creative collaboration became a genuine friendship. She’s been an amazing creative partner, a source of support, and someone who celebrates the wins while helping navigate the challenges of this industry.

I also want to acknowledge the many people whose names may not all fit on this page, but whose kindness has stayed with me. Every director who took a chance on me, every castmate who made rehearsal feel like home, every mentor who shared advice, every crew member who offered encouragement, every audience member who believed in my work, and every person who crossed my path with a kind word or an open door. If I’ve forgotten a name, please know I haven’t forgotten your impact. Every act of generosity, no matter how small it may have seemed at the time, helped shape the artist and the person I am today.

And above all, my greatest gratitude belongs to God. My faith has been the foundation beneath every step of my journey. In an industry built on uncertainty, He has been my constant. Whether a door opens, closes, or doesn’t seem to exist at all, my trust has always been that He is guiding my path. Every opportunity I’ve had, every lesson I’ve learned, and every story I’ve been blessed to tell ultimately traces back to Him.

No one succeeds alone. I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who has believed in me, walked beside me, encouraged me, challenged me, and helped me become the artist I continue to strive to be.

Website: https://www.mcdelacruz.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mcd3lacruz/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mc-de-la-cruz-58216926a/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557226959195

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MCDelaCruz77