Brooklyn born actor.
I grew up in Williamsburg, Brooklyn when it was less trendy, more scary. That’s where I obtained the nickname “DEE DEE.” An easy solution to my immigrant parents’ creativity with the name Darlenis. Special shoutout to my Dominican lineage for gifting me with one of its many unique names. My childhood consisted of: lots of rice and beans, Nancy Drew, Pippi Longstocking, itchy catholic school uniforms, summers upstate, bike rides, fire hydrant fun, throwing eggs at people stealing from the payphone across the street, community rallies, home videos with my sisters, and an underlying desire to perform.
That drive was discovered early on when I was eager to be a part of the annual cultural performances at the local daycare center. My first mentor was the principal at my elementary school. She directed our Christmas show and casted me as the angel Gabriel. You know the one that tells Mary she’s pregnant and stuff. She told me that this was the perfect role for me because of my drive. I had to keep my arms open wide for the entire show. I prepped for it by having my mom time how long I can keep my arms up. Day of the show I was ready and held those arms wide and didn’t lower them once. The first time I had any formal training was at the Abrons Art Center. After my first summer there I auditioned and landed the female lead as Mary Stone in the Urban Arts Center production of The Devil and Daniel Webster. There I learned how to work as an ensemble and how to receive a meh review and not let that affect the work.
I graduated from St. John’s University with a Bachelor of Science in Communication Arts. It has taken me time to see the gain in not attending a performing arts school. I did it to appease my folks. As many first generation children know the pressure of pursuing an education in this country is immense. When my parents decided to come to the USA it was only because they knew, here we would have an incomparable opportunity to learn. What truly matters is that none of this altered my passion for pursuing the craft and the universe has never failed in reminding me where I’m supposed to be.
To support myself through college I worked in my community as a peer educator with Teatro El Puente. This organization's mission was to educate the community about sexual health through improv/short plays accompanied by workshops. After some years of educating the youth through the arts I regained my love for acting and learned that I can use it to bring something of value to share with the world.
Credits
Theatre: January (dir. Lorca Peress), Our Lady Of The Six Train (dir. Dominic Colon), La Gringa (dir. Renee Buch), En El Tiempo De Las Mariposas (Repertorio Espanol), In The Name of Salome (dir. Jose Zayas), Comida De Puta (dir. Lorca Peress)
Film: Lorenzo (dir. Carla Franchesca), An Unwelcomed Guest (dir. Alain Alfaro), Dark Asset (dir. Michael Winnick)
Television: Talk 30 To Me (VH1), Guy Code vs. Girl Code (MTV), Ladylike (MTV)
Training: Deena Levy Theatre Studio, Upright Citizens Brigade (Improv), JoAnna Beckson, Colleen Gleason (Vocal), Heidi Marshall (Audition) The Working Actors Studio w/ Geoff Blake
Press
