A Conversation with NYFA One Year Acting for Film Alum Dayana Espinoza

NYFA One Year Acting for Film Alum Dayana Espinoza is an actor based in Los Angeles. Dayana has starred in several projects, including an ALDI commercial currently broadcasted on television, and a national campaign for First5 California. 

Dayana spoke with NYFA about her passion for the arts, her acting career, and upcoming projects.

Dayana Espinoza

Headshot by: Steph Girard Photography

NYFA: Can you tell us a bit about yourself, where you're from, and what brought you to New York Film Academy? 

D.E: I was born in Tacna, south of Peru, and grew up in Lima, our capital. From a very young age, I always had a great curiosity for two different worlds: art and business. Over time that curiosity for acting turned into a hobby and the hobby into a passion. However, I also understood how challenging the business is and that requires many sacrifices, so I decided to study two careers: Industrial Engineering and Acting. I graduated in 2015 from “Diez Talentos” Cultural Association as a Theater Actress and in 2016 as an Industrial Engineer at the University of Lima.

I owe my inclination to the arts to my maternal grandfather, an extraordinary painter and poet. Despite his health issues, I have cherished childhood memories of spending time with him in his studio, where he would welcome me with a blank canvas and a paintbrush. He always knew that as I was done with school, I would rush to his side to paint alongside him.

From the start, I knew that my journey in acting would take a different path than most. It would be a gradual process, but looking back, both my engineering and acting careers molded me into the person I am today and helped me achieve my aspirations. Thanks to my background in engineering, I had the flexibility to leave everything behind and pursue my passion for film acting at the New York Film Academy in Los Angeles, which was always my dream.

Since then, I have been continuously learning and advancing my career as an artist. I take pleasure in the process and always strive to add a personal touch to every audition, just as my grandfather used to advise me.

NYFA: What projects have you worked on since graduating? Have you won any awards or been showcased in any festivals or competitions?

D.E: I was part of the cast for “I Can’t Run Away” directed by Dongzhe Cai. This film has been selected and awarded at various prestigious events, which is a great achievement for my career as an actor. It was selected at the Worldfest- Houston International Film Fest, the Chinese American Film Festival (C.A.F.F.), and was recently screened at the Cinemark theater during the Marina Del Rey Film Festival on June 10th. Additionally, we received the Best Audience Choice award at the Los Angeles Asian Film Awards.

I was also part of “The Golden Teacher” directed by Di Thomas and produced by Aryka Randall. The project was officially selected to be showcased at the Kaleidoscope LGBTQ+ Film Festival and the Bitesize Film Festival. Additionally, it was a truly special moment to see it projected on the big screen at the Regal Cinemas LA for The Micheaux Film Festival.

I had the pleasure of booking a commercial for ALDI, a renowned retail chain that offers a diverse array of grocery, meat, and dairy products. The shoot took place last year and is currently being broadcasted on television. Raul B. Hernandez directed the commercial and provided me with the chance to portray the hero talent in this campaign.

 I made another booking for a national campaign for First5 California which is a system of education that works to improve the lives of children and families throughout California. The campaign is currently being broadcasted on television and online platforms. We filmed it towards the end of last year, under the direction of Carla Dauden, who has previously directed an episode of the TV series "Good Trouble" (distributed by Disney-ABC Domestic Television).

I had the privilege of being in the cast of "Loulou", a heartwarming coming-of-age tale that follows the journey of a 17-year-old transgender teen who grapples with her desire to live as a woman. I share credits with the talented actor Desean Terry, who is currently starring in "The Morning Show" alongside Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon.

 NYFA: Tell us more about your latest project & how you got involved in the project?

D.E: My latest project was the campaign for First5 California, which was an incredible experience. The audition process was a bit long, starting from the self-tapes and then meeting the director/producer. They took some time to make a final decision, and once I booked it, the team was always welcoming and professional. 

We had a day for fittings and photoshoots, followed by another day to shoot all the scenes. We have three spots in total currently running on TV and online. 

NYFA:  What did you learn at NYFA that you applied directly to this project and others?

D.E: Upon graduating from NYFA, my understanding of the industry significantly improved. Despite not having any previous experience, I gained confidence in pursuing my dream due to the exposure to various techniques and a better grasp of the business aspect.

Additionally, I had the opportunity to connect with talented artists from all over the world who are now some of my closest friends. Building a community is crucial in such a vast industry, and I am grateful to the NYFA for providing me with that opportunity. 

To learn more about Dayana check out these articles: 

https://shoutoutla.com/meet-dayana-espinoza-entrepreneur-actor/

http://voyagela.com/interview/check-out-dayana-espinozas-story/

https://hubpages.com/entertainment/actress-dayana-espinoza-channels-familial-creativity-into-empathetic-portrayals