Gloria Garayua is best known for her recurring work on Gray’s Anatomy and How to Get Away with Murder. Recently, she did a guest on the hit Netflix series Maid. Gloria has now launched an educational program, Acting For True Beginners.
When did you know that you wanted to act?
When I was four years old. I just wanted to entertain. But that never went away. So I started just for fun doing plays in school. Then when I was in high school, and it was time to pick a major in college, I knew that I wanted to study acting. I knew that by studying, I would get the confidence I needed to really pursue this career. I’m so glad that I did. ‘Til this day, as I continue to teach my acting students, I always tell them that I am a proponent of going to college. Some people think going to college for the arts is not worth the money, but I disagree. It’s a safe place to explore, and learn the craft over four years. There is no pressure to go out there and get a job, the focus is purely on the craft. Plus, I know that I grew up in college. It’s really where I learned my independence. It also taught me about the world. Meeting students from other places allowed me to see how other people see things. It expanded my perspectives.
You are well-known for recurring work on Gray’s Anatomy and How to Get Away with Murder. What does it take to be a great actor?
In order to be a great actor, you must be a great observer of human behavior. You must be curious about life and want to investigate relationships and the psychology of what motivates people to do things. I think that some people become actors for fame and glory, and who knows, maybe they will find some success, but I think actors that act purely for the love of exploring the craft, have fun and longevity to their careers. Whether or not these actors make money, their souls are fulfilled. And when we see people out there who are really happy, there is a certain something to them we all want, shall we say… a “glow”. To me, that comes from happiness. And pursuing what I love, brings me happiness, no matter how much or little success I find.
You have been teaching acting classes for 20 years. You have launched an educational program, Acting For True Beginners. Tell us about the online video series.
My online video series for actors is currently targeting true beginners. People who don’t know the first thing about Acting but want to get started. Perhaps they are just curious about whether or not they want to pursue a life as an actor, or perhaps they already know but are just a little intimidated to start group acting classes and performing in front of complete strangers, or perhaps they are too scared to commit to private one-on-one acting sessions with an acting coach. My online course mirrors what my private lessons would be like. It is essentially my current lessons, but pre-recorded, and focusing on the vocabulary that I would normally teach in a scene study class. Often, when I am teaching private acting lessons or coaching actors for their auditions, I use vocabulary words that to me are essential for communicating what I need the actor to explore in that moment, and sometimes I find myself obstructed by the fact that they may not know the vocabulary that I am using. I then have to stop and explain. If this is a private acting lesson, that is OK because that is the point of lessons, but if this is an audition coaching, stopping to explain basic acting vocabulary is actually impeding the audition coaching process. If actors were consistently in an acting class learning these tools, they would be better equipped to handle their auditions.
When I am teaching private acting lessons and these vocabulary words pop up, I often find that students forget and I need to repeat. This is why I thought of pre-recording my lessons. This way, students of the craft of acting, can replay these videos as often as they need until these basic principles are ingrained in their subconscious. It will make acting classes more efficient, whether one-on-one or in group format.
Who is the program perfect for? Tell us about the format.
The format is perfect for anyone who is brand-spanking new at Acting, but I truly believe it is a magnificent refresher for anyone that just wants to review the basics, or, anyone who is new to me as a student because they may not be familiar with my style of teaching, and the words that I used to teach the craft. I wanted to reach a broad audience so I kept that in mind when I was talking into the lens. I wanted to make sure that I spoke slowly and clearly, with patience but not sounding condescending. And I wanted to make sure that my examples were appropriate for all ages. I believe that I accomplished that and this video series serves anyone as young as a preteen, all the way up to an adult. There are 17 videos. Each video ranges between a minute and a half and seven minutes depending on how much I had to say on that subject for this beginner platform. At the end of the video series there is a video quiz. I also created a guide book to accompany the course. This way, I am teaching anyone who is a visual learner, auditory learner, or a physical tactile learner.
“Learn how to ‘act smart’ by embracing the artist within you, and learn to make strong choices that have your unique signature on it!” Explain.
When I tell actors to act smart, what I mean by that is to really think through all the elements of what creates a character before they submit auditions. Some actors think it is enough to just memorize their lines and say the words that the writer wrote. That is not enough. That is called reciting. But when an actor puts their own heart, experiences, and knowledge into a role, that is called interpretation. And that is their unique signature on that character. No two actors will view a character the same way. That is why many actors audition for the same role and yet just one person gets it. Obviously just one person can get it, but several people had to agree that that one person brought something so special to the role that they decided that they would be the one to bring this role to the world. Being an actor is truly a special thing and I believe that it is a big responsibility and that if someone wants to call themselves an artist, they need to have a very crystal clear idea of what it is about their work that makes them worthy of being selected.
What excites you the most about teaching?
Several things excite me about teaching. The one on one collaboration with another artist is very cool. But also, by teaching Acting, I become a better actor myself. It is amazing how much I have grown as an artist by constantly breaking down Scripts, and consistently talking about the building of a character. I have gotten great at human observation and being able to articulate what I am seeing and how it can be applied to a writer’s work. It takes a certain skill to be able to look at someone, see what they are contributing, comment on it, and help them grow as an artist. I don’t know how other coaches do it, but I feel 100% confident that what I bring to the table as a coach is unique. I am very good at allowing an artist to blossom in front of me, while helping them specify their work and not stepping on their toes.
How does Acting For True Beginners build the foundation for actors?
Acting for true beginners builds the foundation for actors in that it teaches them the exact words that most acting teachers will be repeating over and over and all acting classes for all levels. The basics never go away. And how wonderful for an actor to join either a group acting class or a one on one private Acting Lesson not feeling lost or confused, or too scared to ask for clarification, because they have watched my series and are already familiar with key terminology used in acting. Plus, they know they are learning from an established working actress with 20 years plus experience teaching in theatre, Film, tv, commercials, print, and voiceover, and holds a BFA in acting.
What do you know now that you wish you had known when you started your acting career?
I wish I knew that this was a marathon and not a sprint. For a career that has longevity, it is important not to burn out. It is important to maintain balance in life, and a healthy perspective mentally, emotionally, and physically. I believe that when I was very young, including my 20s and 30s, I stressed about everything. Though I still have a great work ethic, I am learning to calm down and take things slowly. This has allowed me to enjoy the process more, worry less, and maintain stronger faith in that things do work out.
Tell us about Amy Hughes and working with her daughters.
Amy Hughes, her husband Paul, and their three daughters have been students of mine for many years. It has been a joy to teach them and watch them grow not only as artists but as people. Occasionally, I create a friendship with clients and I certainly believe that is what has happened in this case. It is a joy to see my students book work and share that happiness with their families. They say it takes a village to raise a child, and I truly believe it also takes a village to create an actor. I am proud to be part of that village for them and so many of my other students.
Can you share a few success stories?
I really believe that no acting teacher or coach should take credit for their student’s success because that success has come as a result of so many factors including multiple teachers and mentors who have influenced that actor along the way. However, I am proud to say that I have coached certain people along the way who have reached Heights in this industry. I do not in anyway claim that I am the reason for the success but it does feel nice to be a small stepping stone along their journey. For example, I remember coaching Sadie Stanley for her auditions for “Kim Possible” which she booked. Also, I helped coach Deric McCabe for his audition for “A Wrinkle In Time”. I was one of the coaches in the team of coaches that coached Jacob Perez when he auditioned for his role in “The Marksman”. There are numerous other students of mine who have obtained callbacks, chemistries, and avails for many of our collaborated auditions. This industry can be difficult for so many people to get work, that it is such a joy when anyone books anything. And I am proud of all my students because every little thing they do is part of their training and will make them the artists that they will become.