On this episode of ActorSpeak, Austin Basis continues to speak with actor Goya Robles (Get Shorty, POWER Book III: Raising Kanan, 11:55, Brut Force, Rattled!) 

In Part 2, we discuss the crossroads of abuse and trauma, his mentor Ellen Burstyn, not being killed off on Get Shorty, working with director Adam Arkin, his self-critical nature, rehearsing more to reduce the "noise," working with Javier Molina, chemistry as a willingness to receive, experiencing truth, going towards the uncomfortable, LatinX buying power and representation, humanizing "villains," feeding his acting compulsion, and his dream of opening an acting school for inner city youth. 

A Stamford, CT native, Goya Robles is a Lifetime Member of The Actors Studio and holds an MFA from The Actors Studio Drama School at Pace University in New York. A Latino actor of Puerto Rican and Ecuadorian descent, his portrayal of heartbreaking, volatile, vulnerable characters have become a stamp in all of his work. Goya is most recognized for his breakout role as Yago in the critically acclaimed series Get Shorty on EPIX, working alongside Ray Romano and Chris O’Dowd. He has starred in numerous independent films, including a supporting lead role as Teyo in the film 11:55, starring John Leguizamo, David Zayas, and Julia Stiles. He's also executive produced the short film WONDER, which won over 20 national and international film festival awards, including the HBO Shorts Competition at the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival and the Audience Award at Urbanworld. Most recently, he produced and created the art film Who Am I? - a spoken word piece about race and responsibility. You can see him in the upcoming films Brut Force, Rattled! and High Ceilings, and the TV series POWER Book III: Raising Kanan on Starz. Goya’s theater credits include The Actors Studio West production of THE MOTHERF*CKER WITH THE HAT by Stephen Adly Guirgis in LA, EXTREMITIES by William Mastrosimone, and CRYSTAL CLEAR by Phil Young, both at Dance New Amsterdam Theater in NYC. He also starred in the LAByrinth Theater Barn Series of Mark Borkowski’s play, VALENTINO’S WING, starring Michael Shannon, Annabella Sciorra, and directed by Ellen Burstyn. Goya is also the creator of Paint The Mic, a performing and visual arts collaboration which brings attention to local organizations whose mission is to support under-served communities. As a spoken word artist himself, Goya created a way for artists of diverse disciplines to use their craft as a way to directly impact communities in need. Goya also taught slam poetry at The Lee Strasberg Institute in West Hollywood and his first compilation of poems was called Spit My Soul and released at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe. What strikes me most about Goya’s work besides his talent are his heart and authenticity. But it’s his artistry that really shines through in everything he does- whether on stage, on screen or as a poet and producer. As both an actor and an advocate he is able to speak the truth, taking his pain and perspective and channeling them into his art. That’s what The Actors Studio is all about, and Goya is one of the members that best exemplifies that. 

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