This month we meet the charming Rocío Belmont. Primarily trained in theater, she opens the doors of her studio and shares wonderful anecdotes with warmth and generosity. She is surrounded by a team of young, empathetic actors whose mission is to make this process as enjoyable as possible.
The Moment I Discovered Acting Was My Place
“At 12 years old, during middle school, I discovered my passion for acting in an art and theater class. From a very young age, I found a deep love there and knew that was what I wanted to dedicate myself to forever. Although my parents always thought I would lean toward science and did not fully agree with my decision. In school, I also realized my interest in directing. A teacher, noticing my shyness, suggested I work behind the scenes, and that’s where I discovered how much I enjoyed working with actors.
My most powerful artistic reference was the play De la calle by Julio Castillo—a performance that sparked such a profound collective catharsis that it marked my path. This communion between artists and audiences is what I always seek in my work: that essential human connection which, even in these times, will continue to be our primary goal. In theater, in that live moment, I experienced something unique that defined my artistic identity and my constant search for the symbiosis between actor and character.”
The Beginning in Casting
RB “I entered the world of casting thanks to an invitation from my friend Jaime Ramos for the film Temporada de Patos. I had no prior experience and started with complete naivety and enthusiasm, using traditional methods to find actors, such as newspaper ads, visits to schools, and radio announcements. What I initially thought would be a one-time experience became my professional path. After my first film, I began receiving invitations to work on other projects, and that’s how I discovered that each creative process is unique and different—it’s like filigree work, and it continues to fascinate me to this day.”
Lessons that inspire
RB “I firmly believe that artistic creation must be horizontal and collaborative work. For me, directors and actors build scenes together, based on trust and dialogue. I have had great teachers like Tavira, Mendoza, and José Caballero, but my greatest teacher has been failure. In those moments of rejection, we learn to reevaluate ourselves and decide whether to continue.”
The script as a compass
RB “I believe that the script chooses you. I remember a very challenging project called Los Parecidos by Isaac Ezban. I had my first meeting with them and saw a 20-year-old young man dressed in white who caught my attention and was completely the opposite of me: I always try to keep a low profile. But when I saw his passionate gaze about making films, that’s something I treasure because I saw the passion, desire, and need to make cinema—and that is contagious. Even with such an atypical script, I was thrilled. Although some people didn’t want to do it and thought it was too much work, I felt it was a film far ahead of its time, and I believe only he could direct it. It is one of the most vital and beautiful memories of my career.”
Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them
RB “The most common mistakes are the photos. For me, photos are the first impression, and sometimes people focus too much on looking ‘pretty’ or ‘handsome,’ so they don’t represent who we truly are. It’s important to approach a professional, save up, and get a very good portfolio. From your materials, you can tell what kind of actor someone is: whether they’re professional, amateur, etc. Casting has to do with both image and acting.”
What sets actors apart in casting
RB “The way you relate to truth. Speaking with humanity and acting with commitment. What makes an actor is their need to be one, regardless of their technique or training.
Recently, I took some classes with a wonderful director, María Novaro. She has tremendous experience behind the camera, and reconnecting with truth, simplicity, and humanity was marvelous. That is how I would like to be remembered, now that it sometimes feels as though humanity is fading”
