Meet Monica Quintero Cedeno | Actress and Teaching Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Monica Quintero Cedeno and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Monica, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
At some point, when I started doing theater, my vocation and especially my need to act were what drove me to move and make decisions. Later, when I was more immersed in the craft, there was really no separation between my actress universe and my life as a person. I began to notice that life outside the craft was, if not more, almost equally important to nurture because at the end of rehearsals, filming days, and performances, I returned to real life, and if real life is not equally rich, there is a great void. I have also understood with migration that real life is an active school for acting growth.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I believe that any professional career we undertake will be full of obstacles along the way. I think having certainty about your vocation is a gift because it automatically guides you with joy towards a large part of your life purpose. In my case, knowing that I wanted to take this path gave me drive and intention. Another thing I notice when I look at my journey, and that brings me satisfaction, is knowing that I have been able to study and work with people and artists I admire and respect during my formative years and later as a performer. On the other hand, deciding to be an actress, doing theater, and dedicating oneself to the craft are all different decisions, even though they might seem the same. This is a career that often pushes you, shakes you, and questions you, making you doubt many times if you have chosen well. For someone who emigrates, this confrontation is more frequent and incisive. I have been away from my country for seven years. Knowing that I live from doing theater—acting, producing, and teaching—is not only an achievement but also something I never imagined possible. I still have much to grow and give, but it feels satisfying to tell the Monica from a few years ago that it is possible to grow and live from the small flame that was just an small born – and powerful- intuition. That flame has been fueled by the pleasure for what I do, by my curiosity about what I don’t know and still want to find out, and my gratitude for what I have experienced.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I have already started building my list of favorite places in the city, although I know there is still much to discover. Gastronomy is my main guide for experiencing and getting to know a city. I usually take the people I love to places that I also love and that, in turn, someone special has taken me to, because I feel that sharing them makes them better. Favorite restaurants: Mister O1, Lung Yai Tapas, Katana, Francisca, Doggie’s, Luna, Bodega, La Uchireña, Niu Kitchen. Places to have some drinks: The Cleat, Shukers. Places to stroll: Design District, Coconut Grove, Vizcaya Museum. My favorite beach is North Miami Beach; it’s peaceful, and there is good food nearby. Plus, parking is not expensive.

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?
Indeed, there are many people to whom I give credit for the satisfactions I have achieved in my life and profession: my parents and siblings for supporting and encouraging me, my teachers who have become companions and friends along the way, and my chosen family. The mutual respect among us, which I believe is a great source of inspiration, is also a gift that we can share with each other and with others.

Website: https://www.behance.net/monicaquintero5?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaaDfXf7Cz85n2gYlO25KLbi4D76GYNViICKPTgC_EtveJnYr8yBBG3AoBY_aem_Ab0DEY38WjO19m2NT77tmRc-UaL4KBfCEIS7NpZz4cmOFkbxO8DSz1MG6BQ1pr9tLMZlx1ay9uhvsEsntIOKkVlt

Instagram: monina_quintero

Image Credits
Andre Gabb
Omnipkproductions