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Bringing the Energy Live: Get To Know Rising Actress Paola Rossi!

Paola Rossi is a film and theater actress in the entertainment industry. In 2023, she played the role of Mother in the International Rights Festival’s production of Ayepo’s Three Mothers and in 2024 as Dinah in Dead Game for Queens Short Play Festival. Paola recently confirmed her latest projects and more. Read below our exclusive Q & A with Rising Actress Paola Rossi!

Q: Where are you originally from and where are you located now on the map?

Paola Rossi i

Paola Rossi – A: I’m currently in the Dominican Republic, where I’m from. I came back last June 2024 after living in NY during my time in Neighborhood Playhouse. Definitely coming back next year.

Q:  As a rising actress, what motivates you and inspires you to be the best at your profession and what do you love most about acting?

Paola Rossi – A: One of my main motivations is to be able to connect with the audience through real emotions acquired during the character creation process. Being able to set personal and professional goals, such as landing leading roles and working with esteemed directors, definitely fuels my motivation. At the same time, reading new plays by well-known and new writers makes me feel like doors are opening for all kinds of actors and audiences, especially for emerging Latinx actors. One of my favorite activities is to go to The Drama Book Shop store and spend hours exploring what’s new. Writing is one of the areas I’m exploring right now.

Also, seeing the work of other actors is extremely inspiring for me. Attending plays, musicals, or movies for me is like taking notes from other actors because there’s always something new that helps you continue refining your craft. There were times when my spirits were low for one reason or another; I would go to Times Square, right in the middle, and sit there for a long time, just looking at the lights and the people and absorbing all that wonderful energy. 

I enjoy the challenge of creating a character and exploring deep within myself to be able to connect with it and find that electric bond that unites us. I love exploring the text and getting into it; that’s why I’ve always loved Shakespeare, ever since I started reading his plays. It’s a text that you have to devour and break into pieces to be able to understand it to its core. It’s a strong challenge, and I enjoy it a lot. Scene study is one of the parts of the process that I enjoy the most, as well as physicality. Just creating this person from paper is delightful to me, and then watching it is orgasmic.

Q: Do you have a top 3 favorite actors, filmmakers, or directors that you’ve been most inspired by and want to work with in the business?

Paola Rossi – A: Florence Pugh is one of my favorite actresses. I love the range of genres she has worked in. She is an inspiration to me every time I see a new project of hers and a motivation for me as she shows that an actress can apply her talent to period pieces (Little Women, Lady Macbeth), drama (A good person), action (Black Widow), fiction (Dune), or contemporary (We Live in Time). It’s how I see my career growing. It would be amazing to work with her. 

Jake Gyllenhaal is definitely on my list.  I love his dedication to each character, especially how he prepares his body physically. And the way he creates chemistry with his co-actors (Brokeback Mountain, Southpaw, Love and Other Drugs), I think it’s something difficult to achieve and getting it to look so organic and real at the same time. I admire how he takes on challenges like acting as Iago in Othello on Broadway.

Who doesn’t love Tim Burton and his directing style? His films are unique and quirky, with a completely different approach than other directors. It would be wonderful to be able to be under his direction someday. And also, Martin Scorsese, of course.

From the Dominican Republic, Lumy Lizardo has always been one of my favorites for her organic acting and creativity in the way she builds her characters. She definitely portrays a different person every time she’s on the screen or on stage. She’s so funny, and you can tell she loves what she does and the work she puts into it. You can find her recent movie where she portrays Fefita La Grande, who’s a well-known singer of DR, another huge challenge for Lumy. 

Q: What would you say is your fav genre in roles you play ?

Paola Rossi – A: I enjoy drama so much. I think the rawness of a good drama that can bring real emotions to you is priceless. You can cry and get mad at the same time; can’t get better than that! I love based-on-true-events drama, as an actor, there’s so much to find out about the story and about yourself. I think it can really push you to get into an emotional depth that you didn’t even know you could approach. It can be intellectually stimulating and rewarding to portray.

PAOLA ROSSI IN KING LEAR

Also, I love period pieces, from the language and costumes to the physical movements and the great adaptation that must be made to be a character from another time. Action is my future, I know, and comedy is in my blood! I remember while studying Meisner, I was always focusing on drama because I wanted to explore it more, and then for the last scene for class, I got a comedy, and the whole class, including my favorite actor and teacher, John Tyrell, was surprised that I could make them laugh so much. He told me, “I didn’t know you could do that,” and I said, “Of course I can, I’m an actor.”. 

Q: Can you share with us something people may not know about you? Any hobbies or other secret talents you have and or like to do in your spare time ?

Paola Rossi – A:: I enjoy acting, scene study, and reading Shakespeare, but I also have a Bachelor in Advertising with a minor in Films. I’m a graphic designer, and I’ve worked in production, so I’ve been behind the cameras, and I think that makes me a better actor. 

Q: What are some projects that you’ve just wrapped up recently or that you’re currently working on now? 

Paola Rossi – A:I worked on the short film Saint Vegas, written and directed by Samantha Herrera, recently selected as a Quarter Finalist for The Chimaera Project’s TO.GET.HER Finishing Funds Program.

During my recent time in the Dominican Republic, I was rehearsing for 3 projects at the same time, crazyyyy I know! I enjoyed it so much; I worked in a theater play and 2 musicals. “Apartamento 69” (October 2024), directed by Jose Manuel Rodriguez, where I performed as this poor soul who was crying the entire play, “Reescribiendo mi historia” (November 2024), as Alexciri, a fun combination of Alexa and Siri where I was not on stage but behind the mic for the voice of a digital character on a huge screen during the play, and lastly in El Sueño de la Tía Nancy” (November 2024) as Lucy’s mom in this beautiful Christmas musical for the whole family. 

And between all that, I got the chance to perform in the movie Del Olor de las Nubes with the amazing director Juan Jose Namnun next to the super talented Fausto Rojas. 

Q: What are your official social sites on the web we can follow ?

A: 

INSTAGRAM

 IMDB

DEMO REEL

Credits: Saint Vegas Main Title design ( Ian Dizon Sanchez ) and Poster Artwork (Saugan Shrestha). And for El Nogalar ( Sabira Mokhtar)