Today we have a very special interview with a talent on the rise, and we're sure that her will give that extra boost in inspiration and confidence to those who need it most.

Isabella Ward is an amazing actress, singer, and dancer, for whom her Puertorican heritage isn't just a point of pride, but also one of the key reasons why you will see her as “Tere” in Steven Spielberg's "West Side Story" remake, thanks to his focus on an authentic representation of the peoples and cultures depicted.

Of course, you can't just simply be born to play a role in a Spielbergian musical, you need to have the skills to land such a crucial role in your career, and for Isabella, her Master’s degree in Musical Theatre from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland sure came in handy, alongside her experience in short films and her many stage performances on a wide range of musicals, including a Broadway National Tour of Cinderella.

Where do you think your love of stage performance comes from? Who helped you cultivate it the most?

I fell in love first and foremost with performance through the lens of being a ballet dancer. My mother always brought me to New York City to see the ballet growing up and encouraged me from a very young age to pursue to my dreams. As I got older, I realized I simply loved hearing stories and in turn telling them no matter what the medium (acting, singing, dancing, etc.) My mother always found a way to get me in lessons and make sure I was able to attend the highest level of training. Any moment I wanted to delve into a new craft, she was there to say , “YOU GO GIRL !”

If you could play any role in any musical right now, what would that be?

I would, without a thought, play Eva Perón, in Evita. She is a Latina powerhouse Dream Role!!!

What sort of film and TV roles are you most interested in right now?

I definitely lean towards drama when it comes to TV and Film. My end goal would be to be in a female-led action series! Girls very rarely get to get those big action sequences with things blowing up around them, and them coming out on top! I’d love to see more of it.

Aside from the obvious relevant skills, what do you feel like it's the most important quality you bring to a set or stage?

I believe in working hard and playing hard. When you’re in the midst of creating something, it’s long hours, different personalities, and just pressure to make it the best it can be. People can sometimes forget to have fun, so I love to just get everyone to have a smile on their face, crack a few jokes (you'll laugh cause they're terrible jokes) and just remember how lucky we are to do this kind of work for a living!

Tell us a bit about your involvement in Spielberg's upcoming "West Side Story" did you feel a lot of pressure because of the high-profile production?

At first, I felt an incredible amount of imposter syndrome! I was convinced I had booked this by mistake. However, Steven really made everyone on set, no matter how big or small your role was, feel like you were chosen for a reason. Once I could relax into that knowledge, I took the opportunity as a means of learning anything and everything I could. I had a front-row seat to a masterclass in Movie Making Magic!

In this movie, you got the chance to do some filming done in Puerto Rico, where your family is from. was this your first time in the country?

My family is from Puerto Rico, so I grew up spending four months, my entire Summer, living with Mis Abuelos in Vega Baja, PR. I also spent every Christmas and Easter there, so my connection to the island runs deep!

What did you enjoy the most out of the filming process?

Truly the relationships and friendships I made on this set are one’s I will have for the rest of my life. We had such a beautiful diverse ensemble cast! Everyone with their own strengths, I was constantly learning and being inspired by every person I worked alongside.

The 1961 original is a true classic that set the bar incredibly high. As far as you could tell from your time on set, what do you feel has been brought to the table in order to live up to it?

Every decision from lighting to dancing to the cinematography and beyond was so specific. If it didn’t feed the story, it wasn’t going to be used or done. This version has such a raw grounded aspect to it, that elevates the storyline beyond what I could have possibly imagined!

There's a bit of a story to your auditioning process for this film, something about getting hit in the face? Tell us the details!

YES !!! OH MAN!! So the first time I auditioned, It was an open call in NYC! I woke up at 3AM to head to Brooklyn from Washington Height (about an hour away) to start standing in line! It was a rainy day in NYC and the line was a block down the street by the time I got there! I didn’t get seen until 3PM! That day. By the time the girls started dancing, I’m sure everyone like me was exhausted and frustrated, but when it was my turn to dance ( we go in groups of four ) and this girl just kept getting so close, as if to cover me, and next thing you know her leg hits my face and I’m on the floor!

I obviously did not get a call back from that and I left feeling defeated. HOWEVER! My family being from Puerto Rico was like, “they’re holding auditions in San Juan, you have to come to a try again.” So I went to book, truly danced my heart out, got noticed, and the rest is history!

What other projects do you have coming up? can you give us any details?

I recently just filmed an action/thriller short film entitled “Collector” written/directed by Silas Dunn. It’ll be heading to the festival circuit this coming year. Other than that, I’m just excited to see what future opportunities and collaborations come my way!

At the end of some interviews, we like to do a short ping-pong round to get to know you a bit better. Short answers only! Here goes:

-A Snack you can't live without

Rice

-Cats or Dogs?

DOGS !!

-Favorite musician/band at the moment

Khruangbin

-One flaw you wish you didn't have

OVERTHINKING!!!

-Favorite TV show?

The Office

How Dreams Come True - An Interview with Isabella Ward

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