"When you decide to do something, the universe conspires to help you."

Most Latino parents coming to the States expect better living conditions and opportunities for themselves and their children. They believe it is the price they pay for leaving their beloved country, family, and friends behind. That belief puts much pressure on their kids, who must at least become lawyers, doctors, or engineers to make their parents' sacrifice worth it. But what happens when that child chooses a different path? 

In this episode, I'm delighted to be joined by the amazing Marlene Forte, the Cuban-American actress that changed how Hollywood sees and represent Hispanics in movies and TV. She played Ana de Armas' mom in Knives Out, Gail at The Way Back with Ben Affleck, Judge Medina on Netflix's The Lincoln Lawyer, and Carla Juarez on ABC's The Rookie, among many others like Real Women Have Curves, A Haunted House, and Star Trek Reboot. 

Tune in to Episode 128 of Amiga, Handle Your Shit, and hear about Marlene's upbringing and her "late" start in acting, her parent's desire and pressure for her to become a lawyer, and their support when she decided to pursue her dreams in Hollywood. We also talk about her presence as an actress and producer in the Hispanic community in Hollywood, the challenges she faced as a Latina single mom, and more. 

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• A bit about Marlene's story and background before moving to Hollywood (1:47)
• The struggles of a Latina single mom chasing her dreams (11:12)
• How to get a role without looking like Sofia Vergara or Jay Lo (15:15)
• Marlene talks a bit about her role at The Lincoln Lawyer (20:53)
• The business of any business is hideous (26:09)
• Art's mission is to be uncomfortable (30:28)
• The importance of listening carefully and giving back (36:52)

Connect with Marlene:

• Website
• Instagram
• Twitter
• Facebook
• IMDb

Let's Connect!

• Website
• Facebook
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Jackie Tapia Arbonne website

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