Gabriela Garcia, Actor, Writer

Born in Mexico, Gabriela García was nominated for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance as Nina in 'In The Heights' (King’s Cross Theatre), and Best Actress for her performance as Gracie in 'Lunatic 19s: A Deportational Road Trip'. She was cast as the lead role, Maria, in The Royal Exchange’s 'West Side Story' and played Mimi in 'Rent' (Hopemill Theatre). During her pregnancy, she starred in 'A Streetcar Named Desire' in the West End and created a role from scratch in David West Read’s new musical 'In Dreams', leaving her DNA in the now pregnant character.

by Amaranta Wright. Interview by Hannah Davis. Photos by Manuel Vasquez.

Gabriela came to the UK with a fierce drive to play the big roles in musical theatre. Playing the trio of iconic Latina musical roles in the UK, she says, "was the full circle moment, as these roles inspired me to be an actress. All of them gave me something amazing at the perfect time in my life."

None of them were a given, however, and are a testament not only to Gabriela's talent and dedication, but also her determination, sometimes crashing auditions. "The first time I auditioned for Nina, I was told I wasn’t Latina enough. I had to fight hard to be seen again." Gabriela's break came as an understudy, when "I was asked to step in at the eleventh hour." The performance that started as an accident earned her a nomination from Broadwayworld.com Awards

When the audition for West Side Story arose, initially Gabriela wanted to be seen for Anita and not the leading role Maria, who she remembered watching Natalie Wood play in the 1961 film, and not being impressed. "Playing Maria was a dream I didn’t know I had. The greatest gift ever. I never knew I had that soprano voice in me and the stamina to do eight shows a week - I got thrown into the role without having time to over think it and it showed me so many sides to myself I didn’t know I had."

The confidence of getting lead roles, critical acclaim and being a mother has given Gabriela new tools to cope with the ups and downs of life as an actor. In the downs, “I have a bath, I have a cry, I call my sister.” But, more assured of her worth: “I always question when I am being seen for roles that are stereotypical and not interesting. I’m tired of the narrative of being a drug lord’s wife.”

Despite this, "theatre has given me even more than I imagined,” Gabriela declares, and writing is her way of giving back. Frustrated with the lack of Latina roles, her new play, based on the life of Frida Khalo is about creating the parts she wants to play - and in doing so, opportunities for a new generation.