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

Hi Noel, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I was born in Queens, New York, but my family was from Bauta, Cuba. My family decided to come over to the United States during “El Mariel”, boatlift, which was this mass migration of Cubans, who traveled from Cuba’s Mariel Harbor to the United States, particularly Miami, Florida in the 1980’s. We had some relatives already living in New York, so after a short period in Miami, my family decided to move up there. Come 1985, I was born, and a few years later, My grandparents, my mom, and her two sisters decided to move back down to Miami, because they didn’t like the cold. My biological father was sporadically in and out of my life, so a lot of my influential upbringing came from my Grandparents, my aunts, and obviously my mom. So, to make a very long story short before I get to emotional just saying this. Who I am today, whether it be how I am as a father, husband, etcetera, all comes from my grandfather. My grandfather Ernesto “Pipo” Mirabal, always worked hard, and provided not only for his wife and daughters’, but he also raised and provided for his grandchildren. My grandfather worked until the very last month before his passing, and to take his sacrifice and just sit on it, is not an option for me. In the end, If he could he do it with nothing, then I have no excuse.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’ve been acting for a few years now, and acting was never anything that I had ever had interest in, not even while growing up. I mean, I had always loved watching movies, yet I never thought about actually acting. I didn’t even know where to begin. So back in 2014, I had just got out of Active Duty service with the United States Coast Guard. I was going to college for Criminal Justice, which I did graduate from, but one morning around 3 a.m. I found myself awake just pondering life and playing on my phone, and I stumbled across a “casting notice” for a syfy film, which was looking for actors with “military experience”. So out of curiosity, I submitted a selfie, and my professional resume, and didn’t think anything of it. That was a Monday by the way at 3 a.m.The following Monday, around 5 p.m, I get an email saying that I had an audition Tuesday at 7 a.m., in Atlanta, Georgia. I don’t know what came over me, but I grabbed a book bag, through some shirts and under wear in it, got into this huge fight with my wife, jumped into my car, and drove 12 hours straight to make my audition at 7 a.m. I spent three days sleeping in my car, and bathed and brushed my teeth at the local gym. On the third day I got the part, and from then on out, I never looked back. I went back to college and studied drama, which I graduated from. So the take away from this is that, you should always follow your dreams, and know that its not going to be easy, and that you’re going to have to make sacrifices along the way. Never loose sight of where you’re going no matter how much you fall into self doubt, because it does happen, and should you ever find yourself alone crying because it feels like its “never going to happen”, finish crying, stand up, say “Fuck You!”, and get back at it, because I would rather die trying, then live in fear of failing.

Any great local spots you’d like to shoutout?
Definitely the beach. Everyone loves the beach. I’d also take them to the Everglades, which is wear you can do the Air Boat rides, see some alligators, and other animals that you probably don’t want to be around on a daily basis. To eat, definitely at “Nusr Et”, which is “Salt Baes” restaurant. It’s a little pricey, but the food and service are amazing. “Cine bistro” is another great place to go. Its a movie theater were you can eat and watch a movie at the same time. I mean Miami has everything you could possibly want to do. The Wynwood area is also a really fun place to go and visit. The buildings are covered in art, and there’s great locally owned places to eat at.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My wife first and foremost Yeisel Mirabal, and my children Ariana, Damian, and Leandra. For not only telling me I “sucked” when I did, but for also holding my down, and greatly motiving me to succeed.

Website: https://www.furtherbeyondentertainment.com/
IMDB: https://m.imdb.com/name/nm7681454/?ref_=tt_rv_t72
Demo Reels: https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCQflxzXJkpLSeKf1wbJceOg
Hialeah Series: https://www.facebook.com/HialeahSeries/videos/296596980938740/

Image Credits
David Noles (Head Shot Photographer)