Miriam Morales is bringing new light to the stage and giving a fresh face to Latinos in the theatre.
With her roles in several community advocacy projects, Morales, a former Astoria resident, hopes to bring awareness of many issues that affect the youth through her role as Lily in “I Want You By My Side,” a play dealing with the youth population affected by HIV, presented by Teatro IATI (International Theater Arts Institute) in Manhattan.
A graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Morales first recognized her passion for acting at the age of five, when she performed at church.
Originally on a path towards medicine or law, Morales initially faced criticism from family members who did not fully understand her dedication to acting.
“It was something that I always wanted to do, but it’s not a field that people encourage,” Morales said of the difficulties she faced when choosing her career in high school. “I decided I didn’t want to be a doctor anymore. People should pursue what they love and what makes them happy.”
She earned her degree in communications from Fordham University, but still felt drawn to acting. Her journey, however, hasn’t been the smoothest, as she has had to overcome several obstacles, such as the social stigma that comes with the territory.
“There’s a perception that actors only care about the spotlight, that you can’t have a family or a normal life,” she said. “People aren’t fully accepting of this which is definitely something put out there in a negative light by the media with Hollywood celebrities. There are so many actors that do it just because they love it.”
As a method actor, Morales is devoted to her craft, with a deep appreciation for the ability to affect an audience and raise a new consciousness.
“I love being able to affect someone,” she said. “Just knowing that you, in some way, touched somebody or made them think about a situation differently, or encouraged them to pursue whatever they love.”
Her inspirations are often drawn from herself, her family, and different people in her life. She idolizes old Hollywood, and actors such as Priscilla Lopez and Salma Hayek.
For the future, she hopes to “give a different face to the Latino actor.” Morales hopes to be challenged by different materials presented to her, and aspires to create a theater company for the youth, encouraging them to develop their creative talents, talents that are often inhibited.
“I Want You By My Side,” originally written and produced in Spain by Pati Doménech, premiered in the United States and runs through April 3. For tickets, visit www.teatroiati.org or call 212-505-6757.
