Meet Natalia Borja | Actor/Improviser

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

Hi Natalia, how do you think about risk?
Risk has taken my life and career to the highest of highs and lowest of lows. There are times where I feel I didn’t take the right amount of risks and achieve things by a certain point; however, looking back, I see that the risks I took helped me gain more life experience which in turn has helped me be a better actor. I took risks in moving and putting myself in new surroundings – that, in turn, has given me such a rich experience here in Dallas. I have enjoyed working on so many unique and wonderful works that hold a special place in my heart. I met my husband here in Dallas. He has taught me so much more about taking risks, being open and vulnerable. Risk is a necessary ally in this industry. I took a big risk by just sending off my materials last year to agencies and I heard back from one, and you couldn’t believe my excitement. I had become a signed actor and that for me was enough to keep me going for the next few weeks. The time I have had with my agent has been an incredibly educational experience that I would not trade for the world. We have taken risks together that either pay off or don’t but, at the end of it all, we continue to move forward and they stand by me which is so nice. It’s nice to have a team that supports you and your dreams. Honestly, I truly do believe that life is one big risk – every day something new can happen and you have to be ready to take it on.

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.
Well hi! In a nutshell (and a branding statement in progress), I’m a quirky goofball with a heart of gold. I’m an actor/improviser that has primarily worked around Texas. I started out doing theatre in my local community theatre then went on to college at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Tx (Axe ‘Em!). After that, I went to Houston and worked for a year before moving back home and then going off to travel around Europe. Eventually, I found my way to Dallas and have been here for eight years. It’s actually here that I got more serious about theatre and began to pursue it at a steadier pace. I have worked here with some amazing companies and have been fortunate to wear many hats, but I am ready to just focus on acting/improv/casting directing. I recently was honored with being part of Broadway for Racial Justice Casting Director Initiative where I spent nine amazing weeks learning from professional casting directors and spending time with ten another cohorts who are now outdoing the damn thing and being part of an amazing change that is necessary for this field. I want to see overall change happen in this industry and see the inclusivity preached put into practice. From more representation from BIPOC, AAPI, plus size, different abilities to being a decision-maker in the room. It’s not necessary, it is required.

The road I have been on was not easy. There were a lot of ‘no’s’ and having to just keep going and keep trying. I learned that you have to remain focused and not lose your love of it over time. You have to be early to things and not on time. You have to be someone people want to work with and that they want to keep working with. The past 8 years have been just an overall lesson in humanity – I learned how to be a better person. I continue to learn to be a better person. I’ve learned that it is so important to just be kind. In the acting industry, and others as well, it is so important to see your fellow person not as your competition but as someone who is going along their own path and career right alongside you. You have to be willing to cheer them on – not just willing but it is a requirement if you want to keep sane as an actor. I love seeing my friends just work and, after this year, I’m so excited to see that work is happening again! I’m excited to see people getting projects going and creating their art with their truth. What I get excited about is that we are in a huge moment of change within the Arts. We are seeing so much change happen from the institutional mindsets that unknowingly, or knowingly, were silent gatekeepers to the more intentional choices of casting to reflect the world we live in today. The work is not done by a long shot, we are just at the beginning of some new, awesome, dope art that is about to come out and I am just ready to sit back (or be a part of it) and take it all in.

I’m really excited about getting to experience the next phase of my career as someone who has finally grown into their own skin and feels comfortable as themselves. I’m starting online training for improv soon with The Groundlings and that has been a lifelong dream to get to do! I am so pumped that I don’t even care that I’ll be in front of a camera for it – the fact that I’m going to be taking a class is just so [expletive] exciting.

What do I want the world to know about me?
Oof, everything, but I don’t think we have enough time for that.

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.
For places, I’m a big fan of going outdoors so Klyde Warren Park, the Fort Worth Zoo, the arboretums in both Dallas & Fort Worth, Lake Ray Hubbard. Go find the park with the bear statues. We both love video games, so Cidercade or somewhere like that. Deep Ellum is a great neighborhood to hang out in and walk around. I’d take them to eat some really good food in Oak Cliff or up for dim sum at Kirin Court. We would go out and spend a few days in Fort Worth because you cannot take that city in on one day alone. Stockyards and drinks would be a fun night and ending it by going to a bar that I do not remember the name of but has a rooftop and is fantastic. 10/10 Recommend. She loves to take selfies so I’d take her to one of the pop-up selfie museums that happen here. Go to an Alamo Drafthouse. I personally like going to museums so I’d take her to a few of my favorites: The Perot, the Dallas Museum of Art. I live north of Dallas in a suburb called Plano so I would show her the downtown district we have here that’s so adorable, wonderful and has a blue piano at the end of it, I kid you not. Also plenty of pool time and lounging at home watching really bad tv that we both love.

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?
To Diane/Tiffani/Jacie: Thank you for being such amazing co-creators/writers for TGI Fin de Semana To my siblings, Terry/Ale: Thank you for being the best people to bounce ideas off of whenever I need to
To my mom: For always being my biggest fan and believing in me when I found it hard to believe in myself…also for getting my ass into gear in my early twenties when I needed it.
To my husband, Garrett: Everything I do, it is for you. For us. For our future. Thank you for everything you have done for us so far.

Also to every single teacher, mentor, professor that I have ever had. To the people that listened when I needed to hear the advice that was hardest to hear – thank you.

Image Credits
Headshots: Joanna Degeneres & Jonathan McGinnis