Meet Alfonso Aguirre | Actor & Acting Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Alfonso Aguirre and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alfonso, how do you think about risk?
I understand why people avoid taking risks – I was there for a long time. Making safe choices is comfortable. You minimize the chances of losing something. It’s a way of self preservation.

However, the most exciting things that have happened in my life were the result of taking risks. Learning a new language and moving to a new country. Working a bunch of ‘regular’ jobs and then leaving the traditional workplace to become a full time actor, when I was in my late 30s.

When you pursue a career in the arts, there’s no safety net, so you must take calculated risks. So you get training, then representation. Then more training. Then you start doing auditions – and before 2020, in Texas this meant driving constantly across the State, just to be seen. Agreeing to do an audition posed the risk of anything happening on the road to get to it, underperforming at the audition, and then hitting the road to get back home. Sometimes I did terrible, and sometimes I did ok. I would have to do this several times a week, so eventually, I got better at it.

It seemed like a crazy thing to do, until I booked my first commercial. Then the second. Then a third one. Taking risks was paying off. So I stuck with it and eventually landed a short film, then another. Then my first co-star on a television show. Then auditions for bigger roles. There were so many auditions in between that I did not book, but I kept at it, and I keep at it to this day.

Working on some of these projects has provided me of great joy and unforgettable memories. They would not have been possible if I hadn’t taken all these risks.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I truly believe that having an attitude of gratitude has worked for me. I try to teach my students to use this approach. It has to be genuine.

Being an actor is hard. It’s a very competitive industry, so being given the chance to audition for a project is a true gift itself. I try make my students understand that they should not take an audition request for granted. I like to think of it as being invited to dinner at someone’s house – you don’t invite just anyone.

So take that invitation and do your best work. It may not get you the job, but it might get you noticed. And this may result in another invitation for a different project, and then another, and so on. Eventually, if you put out consistently solid work, someone will take a chance on you.

I truly believe that this career teaches us that with consistency and patience, good things can happen. But you need both. Consistent training and patience.

It all hit me when I was in New Mexico, on the set of Better Call Saul, season 6, sitting next to and talking to Giancarlo Esposito between takes (I couldn’t believe I was there, filming with and talking to ‘Gus Fring’, from the Breaking Bad universe!). Not only did he not kill me (haha), he was the coolest, nicest man on set. 3 years prior to that day, I had seriously considered quitting acting. I would’ve missed this experience!

I think the most important lesson I’ve learned is that you have to believe that you are capable of achieving whatever you want. You have to go for what makes you happy. Life is short. Start crossing items off your bucket list now rather than later.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’d say have them do some kayaking in The Woodlands, maybe check out some restaurants there, or in Pearland for brunch. Perhaps go indoor skydiving (or real skydiving!), checking out some good restaurants in The Heights and then taking an improv class with me at Page Parkes 🙂

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Oh I will need like ten pages to include all the people who have helped me along the way!

I will start with my wife, of course, Ofon, who has been there for me from the very beginning and every step of the way; my career advisor and now best friend Kaitlin, who believed in me from the moment we met and to this day; my agent Addie and everyone at Page Parkes for their incredible support; my LA agents at Evolve Artists Agency, my manager Victoria at Monroe Talent Management in LA and my new agent Candace at DDO Artists Agency in Atlanta and the South East.

They are my team and they all play an important part in my life and career. I am grateful and very fortunate to have them by my side.

Website: https://www.thealfonsoaguirre.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thealfonsoaguirre

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thealfonsoaguirre

Twitter: https://x.com/alfonso_aguirre

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thealfonsoaguirreg/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thealfonsoaguirre

Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm10692217/

Image Credits
Cathryn Farnsworth, Michael Morris, Christian Kozowyk, Arizona Filmmakers, Elko Espino, Jean Paul Fuentes