May 20, 2022
In 2015, writer Dan Fogelman began developing This is Us as an 80-page movie script for ABC Studios. In 2016, This is Us premiered as a series on NBC, focused on the lives of siblings as they combat personal struggles of body image, race, addiction and more while also dealing with the death of their father. The show and its cast have received great praise, winning multiple awards including, an Emmy award, NAACP Image Award, a Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Performances.
NYFA Acting for Film alum Adlih Torres is a Puerto Rican actress who spent some time in Spain before moving to Los Angeles to pursue acting. Torres graduated in December 2021, a month later she booked her very first role on national TV, Beatriz on NBC’s This is Us. She spoke with NYFA about the work that inspires her and the pursuit of more Latinx representation.
I wanted to study acting and go to Los Angeles. The New York Film Academy popped up as an ad while I was watching a movie on my phone. Once I looked into it, I was convinced it was destiny and I had to go to LA to NYFA.
What made you fall in love with film and TV?
Alot! Starting with Barney and Friends, everything on Disney Channel and Nickelodeon. As well as anything Angelina Jolie was in, anything Johnny Depp was in. They made me want to be like them and be a part of their world.
What are some of your artistic inspirations?
Everyday life actually. I find inspiration in everyday life, the people I’ve met around the world, the situations I’ve been in and situations my friends have been in, all of it ties together.
What do you hope people take with them after watching your performance in This is Us?
I want people to know that this is only the beginning and that more representation of Latinx people is on the way.
What was the audition process like for This is Us? How did you prepare?
I believe I had like less than 72 hours before the deadline. I got the audition while I was at work at night and I freaked out. I reached out to my coaches and we got to film the next day late at night but I didn’t get my footage until the next morning when it was submitted. I didn’t hear back until the next day at my other job and I freaked! The process itself, it was fun. I blasted Bad Bunny on my way to coaching and during the self tape, I just had fun. I brought a lot of my own personal experiences to the character.
What did you learn at NYFA that you applied directly to your work and to your work on This is Us?
I used what I had learned about on-set etiquette. While at NYFA, I learned how a set works, what goes on while shooting and the preparation for a take. Those things definitely helped me feel more at ease, more at home when I got to the set of This Is Us.
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What was your favorite part of working on This is Us?
Meeting the rest of the cast in the scene with me, meeting the director Zetna Fuentes and the writer of the episode, Jonny Gomez. They are all amazing people and I felt right at home. 12 hours on set felt like 3 hours!
What other projects are you working on or do you plan to work on? Do you have any projects coming up?
As of now, I’m just auditioning and working on my craft. I’m in the pre-production stage of my short film Where The Fish Swim and we’re getting ready for filming.
What advice would you give to students just starting out at NYFA?
The advice I would give is, don’t worry about other people and what they’re doing. Focus on yourself and your craft. Put in double the work. Go above and beyond, don’t just do the bare minimum. Plan out the props for the wardrobe, trust me it will help! And also, a lot of people will tell you different things, including teachers. Just take it in, see what resonated with you and give it a go! And most importantly, it’s okay to fail. I have failed multiple times in life as well as academically, but I never gave up.
The New York Film Academy is proud of all Adlih has accomplished in such a short time. We look forward to seeing her performance on This is Us on Tuesday, May 24th at 9pm on NBC.
