Isadora Ortega, the Afro-Latina Actress and Producer challenging the industry’s stereotypes

Isadora Ortega, born in Caracas, Venezuela of Dominican, Haitian, and Cuban descent, is an actress, filmmaker, writer, and producer, who, after relocating to the United States, settled in New York. She identifies as Afro-Latina, knowing all too well that that title would imply double the challenges in the industry.

Isadora studied acting, voice-over, improv, and body movement at the Conservatory for Dramatic Arts and Susan Batson Studios. While in New York, she starred in off-Broadway productions such as Eating Out and hosted TV shows such as Cook-Up on Tempo. She then moved to Los Angeles, where she produced and starred in several projects, including web series, short films, and shows such as Laff Mob on Tru TV, while growing her social media presence. Isadora has recently published her first graphic novel called “The Curse of the Flower,” or in Spanish “La Maldición De La Flor,” based on the legend of Anacaona, which is currently available on Amazon, iBooks, and Barnes and Noble stores.

Her new movie, Hope Street Holiday, revolves around a lawyer named Galia García who returns to the American town where she was born to reconnect “with the past, her family, culture, roots, with the people who really mean something important to her” and to recover her passion for law. It is now available on platforms like Amazon Prime, iTunes, AppleTV, Google Play, Hoopla, DirecTV, Sling, AT&T U-Verse, Vudu, and YouTube.

What does a day in the life of what you do look like?

Every day is very different. I don’t know what I do daily, but throughout the week I take acting classes, I have meetings about productions and projects that are already out or that we wanna write, ideas that we have. We write every idea so that when we have to pitch it we already have the outline.

What is it like being a woman in the entertainment industry?

It is challenging being a woman in most industries. This one has been led mostly by men, realistically. I am very much blessed. Two of my business partners are men and we have a very good relationship. We communicate very well, we respect each other’s ideas. But that doesn’t always happen, when a man is so open to listening to your inputs.

What are any challenges that you have faced in the industry?

I feel that, now, the topic of being Afro-Latina is so known, but when I moved to L.A. that was very unspoken. Nobody knew what it was, they wondered how come I wasn’t one or the other, and it doesn’t work like that. Now they call castings asking for “Afro-Latina,” “Latinx,” or “Black Latinas” roles. But when I started they were like “where did you get your Spanish from?, and I was like “my mom, I grew up speaking Spanish.” They couldn’t see it. I didn’t get many jobs because I didn’t look Latina enough, and they gave them to girls who weren’t even Latinas but they pleaded to the stereotypical look.

What would you like to see change in the industry towards equality?

I feel that when we are having a conversation about diversity, I really would like it to be diverse. I don’t want to see just one Latino, I wanna see every shade of Latinos. When we talked about Hope Street Holiday, I really wanted my three aunties to be of different Latina nationalities, they are of every shade. So it is important to bring to the conversation that we want that diversity for us too.

What are three tips you would give Afro-Latina women in the film industry?

Be free of talking to people about what you are doing. I would do a job as an “asistente” and I told the man who owned the lights, which were super expensive, about my first project, and he basically lended us all the lights. So speak, talk to people about your work, tell them what you do, show how passionate you are. If you are not passionate about it, they are not gonna be interested in it either. Speak in your power and let them know how important it is to talk about your views, about diversity. People will find resources to help you and if you don’t have, there are so many out there. Just get on a computer and search.

What is a common misconception that people have about the film industry?

I think a lot of people want to put a face to a project, and I believe so strongly in putting the right person on a role. That is how a project comes to life. I don’t care who you are. We had a bigger name for a role  in “Hope Street,” but I don’t think he would have done a better job than Rodney did. I strongly believe in talent and, when you lead a project with talent, that matters. 

What does being a woman in charge mean to you?

I feel like I am putting the energy out there that I would like to be returned to us. The only thing I can do is lead by example. If I wanna see diversity, I have to do that. The only thing I am in control of is what I do and how I lead, and hopefully, it will bring people into the energy and it will come back to us. 

Have you ever been treated differently or experienced “machismo” in your career?

Yes, many times. But what more can I do? I can’t fight every single battle. In the field they call me “Anacaona,” because in my work I have to have a little more masculine energy to be able to move around. Then when I come back home I’m back to my femininity. But you have to have a certain attitude so that you can be heard. And I will speak, and I will be heard.

Isadora Ortega discovered that being Afro-Latina limited her access to the projects that she was interested in. Therefore, she decided to create her own productions that would honor her roots.

I’m a “Mujer in Charge” because I am able to bring my visions to life.

Check out more stories from LATV’s Women’s History Campaign ‘Mujeres In Charge.’