Today we’d like to introduce you to Marta Gonzalez.
Marta González is a Feature film and Television actress, with a background in Hispanic soap operas (Telenovelas). Most recently, she crossed into the Anglo feature film market portraying the role of “Dora” opposite actors John Travolta and Davon Sawa in the thriller “The Fanatic,” directed by Fred Durst.
Marta was born in Bonao, Dominican Republic to Feliberto González, a mechanical engineer, and Marta Liriano, a dedicated school teacher along with older brothers, Fernando and Eddy. Raised with a talent and passion for the culture and arts, she speaks fluent Spanish and English and can affect Colombian, Venezuelan, Puerto Rican, Cuban and Mexican accents. After graduating high school, she studied medicine for three years before earning a degree in Journalism from Universidad Católica de Santo Domingo along with a Master’s Degree from the University of Miami and a Certificate from Centro de Educación Artística de Televisa (CEA).
At the age of twenty-two, she became the third runner-up in the “Miss Dominican Republic” national beauty pageant, which led to on-camera hosting and live presenter opportunities and acting. She first enrolled in acting classes in Miami, studying with Oscar-nominated Adriana Barraza at Adriana Barraza’s Black Box, and Lori Wyman CSA and Marjorie Morhaim at The Organic Actor. As well as Ivana Chubbuck and Frantz Turner at Ivana Chubbuck Studio in Los Angeles.
Television: Her appearances and credits include: “Notiespectáculos”, “Salud, Dinero y Amor” and “Fashion TV Mexico”, which led to numerous supporting appearances and feature roles in Telenovelas for Televisa, Univisión, Telemundo and Nickelodeon including: “Mi Corazón es Tuyo”, “La Mujer del Vendabal”, “Que Bonito Amor”, “Eva Luna”, “Amores Verdaderos”, “Alguien te Mira”, “Más Sabe el Diablo”, “Miss XV”, and “Hasta el Fin del Mundo” among others.
Brand Spokesperson: She has built a solid presence in her home country as well as Mexico and the United States and has been enlisted as a brand spokesperson for brands like Volkswagen and Hertz.
Feature Film: In 2012, she was cast as the lead in the horror movie “El Hoyo del Diablo,” directed by Francisco Disla and shot in the Dominican Republic. The film was nominated in five categories in Premios Soberano. Most recently, she crossed into the Anglo feature film market portraying the role of “Dora” opposite actors John Travolta and Davon Sawa in the thriller “The Fanatic,” directed by Fred Durst. She earned positive reviews in The Washington Post, Variety, Chicago Daily Herald, and CNN.
Fun Facts about Marta: Marta is a proud third-generation Dominican. She survived a serious car accident as a child that left her with more than 80 stitches on her face and a Corneal tattoo on her left eye. An outstanding Dominican, the President and Government of the Dominican Republic, have presented her with three prestigious awards for her accomplishments in the arts. Dedicated to causes and charity, she supports “Hogar de Niñas de Bonao” (orphanage).
Crazy about movies and documentaries, when she has time off, she goes to the theater alone and watches two-three movies in an afternoon. She loves animals and has a pet dog named ‘Sophia.’ Her mother was her History teacher in Middle School. She is one of the first Dominican actresses cast in Mexican Telenovelas.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
A lot of challenges and obstacles. I was first moving from the Dominican Republic to Miami, for example, without my family by myself, a totally new start. I was already an established talent in the Dominican Republic. I was already working in TV and Radio. But I wanted to prepare myself as an actress and achieve more. I was already bilingual which helped a little but I do have an accent. People judge you sometimes… they don’t want to give you an opportunity, thinking that you, coming from another country may not be a fit into their “standards”.
Every time I finish a project is a new start. From zero again. Well, not from cero because the experiences and the projects completed are part of the road. But is like a ladder that you are escalating. We go up. We can maybe stay in a step for a while…Sometimes we go down again… then up, etc.
I have to miss family celebrations, special occasions sometimes. No matter what happens, good news or bad news, the show must go on.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
I’m an actress and a spokesperson. I’ve been working in the TV business for the last 17 years.
What were you like growing up?
I was always a dreamer. Acting from home since was a little girl. Started acting for friends and family. I was very extroverted. I took ballet, contemporary dance, painting classes, but always wanted to be in Film and TV. I would wear my mom’s clothes and high heels and create characters.
At the age of nine, I had a really bad car accident, more than 80 stitches in my face, so I was homeschool for half a year, my mom was a teacher so I was in good hands. I spent all my summers in NYC at my Aunt’s House. I babysat, went to summer camp in Canada when I was 14th and started buying modeling and acting books when I was 17.
Back in the days in the Dominican Republic, I “needed” to have a “real” career, go to a colleague, get a degree. So I went to medical school for 2 1/2 years, that’s my other passion, always serving and taking care of others. I felt that I needed to give and help the same way they helped my parents and I with our accident. After that, I decided to go to Communication School and got my Bachelor’s Degree in Communication and Arts.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @martagonzalezoffficial
Image Credit:
Images from the film “The Fanatic” with actor John Travolta or director Fred Durst. Credits belong to Brian Douglas.
Simon Espinal for the other pictures, the ones in Teatro Nacional(our national theatre in the Dominican Republic)
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