Lydia's Journey BEYOND Hollywood

I auditioned to play "uniformed cop" on Journeyman . It's funny how everyone up for that role showed up in all black! I guess we all had the same vision as to what a uniformed cop looked like! One girl even came in with a holster filled with handcuffs and her night stick. I was a little worried about this audition because I've been kinda sick all week, and yesterday was probably the worst I had felt. I wasn't sure how I would say "Up against the wall. NOW!" while sniffling and coughing. ;) But luckily I got it together and did a pretty decent job. It looked like Robert Ulrich (of UDK) really seemed to like me. He said something like "wonderful" and started jotting down notes on a post-it note on my headshot. I'm hoping he wrote "callback" or something! :) We'll see... Now, Monday I'm going straight to producers for Eli Stone . Small role. But I have to keep telling myself the victory is in the "straight...

I get these inspirational emails daily - and this one just really hit me: When do you give up, throw in the towel and stop trying? If your goal is right, consistent with your values and an accurate reflection of what you truly want, NEVER. Most failures occur because people give up too easily. Nearly everything of value comes at a cost and over time. It's easy to lose sight of that in the quick fix, instant gratification world of the 21st century. But those who persist will prevail. There will be times when you are at your wits end, beaten up, frustrated and feeling hopeless. Remember the words of Sir Winston Churchill "never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never-in nothing, great or small, large or petty - never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense." Harrow School, October 29, 1941. Still good advice.

I did another one of my famous juggling acts today! I had two auditions AND I was subbing a first grade class! Luckily for me, this school loves me :) so they preferred that I go to my audition and come back, than to get another sub for the whole day. Wow. So I went to my first audition at 10am. It was for The Sarah Connor Chronicles and I saw lots of different types there for the role of a tech who draws blood. I felt it went pretty well, and the casting directors didn't seem to remember my bad audition YEARS ago. Hmmm...at least they didn't act like they did! I headed back to school and finished off my day. I rushed over to Warner Brothers and I was 15 minutes late to my 2:30pm audition for The New Adventures of Old Christine . Not good. At all. My audition was ok, but I really wish I could've made it earlier. They initially wanted me at noon but since I had to go back to school after my first one, I was hoping they could see me at 11am and I could go to work a...

This week wasn't about being fearless - it was about doing things despite the fear. Doing what you normally wouldn't do. I have never stood up before a group of people and delivered a "speech" before. I was brought in as a special speaker for my alma mater Texas A&M University in Corpus Christi this week to speak about "Breaking Stereotypes in Hollywood". I basically covered my challenges as a Latina actress who has to face numerous stereotypical roles (such as "Maria the maid") constantly. It was an awesome day! I started off visiting a friend of mine at my old high school and talked to them quickly about being a professional actress in Hollywood. They had lots of questions, like do I make a lot of money and live ina big house! HA! Then I gave a workshop to the Acting majors for the Theater Department about "How to be a Working Actor". They had lots of questions also, but theirs were focusing more about the basics and start...

Wow. Just when we take two steps forward, we take 3 steps back. Just when I thought that the "media" would start to get more accepting of "regular women" - now with the success of Ugly Betty and with America Ferrera on the cover of Glamour! But then, we see the cover and compare it to a recent photo taken of her last month and we can't help but notice the differences. It frustrates me at their need to photoshop a perfectly beautiful normal woman and try and make her appear slimmer. WHY? Why does it matter? ok, I'm done ranting....for now! ;)

This is for my alma mater: Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi. They are bringing me in to speak to the school next Thursday. They made this flyer - I didn't. Like I would refer to myself as a tv and movie star! lol But it sounds nice! ;)

My episode (Heads Will Roll) on Medium will reair this weekend! Tune in on Saturday, September 15th, on NBC at 10pm, and Sunday, September 16th, at 11pm on Lifetime!

Had an audition today for Out of Jimmy's Head . It was for a role as a teacher who was judging a debate. Saw Howard's partner Carol there, and she commented on how busy they were keeping me since I had that audition for Hannah Montana yesterday! I'm just thankful that they like me that much to keep calling me in! I can't wait to book for them! :) I leave for New Mexico on Friday. I'm meeting my parents there and we are driving down to Corpus Christi, where I will speak at Texas A&M University for Hispanic Heritage Month. I feel very honored to be asked to do this! And very nervous! I have to get working on that speech!

I got a last minute phone call letting me know I had two auditions for this afternoon! Luckily what I wore to teach today, easily fit for the other two characters. :) The first audition was for Women's Murder Club , Megan Branman Casting. I went in for a Lamaze teacher. It went really well. I got to do it twice, and my redirected one went way better than my first. So we'll see... My second audition was playing a mom for Hannah Montana . I just can't wait to book this show since I know so many young people who would be extremely excited if I got to meet and work with Miss Hannah Montana herself! And I just love Carol (Goldwasser) and Howard (Meltzer) over at that office! They are so nice! SO nice...in fact, I have another audition for one of their other shows tomorrow!

Saw my friend, Bernardo's, one man show called "Wheels" at the Museum of Tolerance in LA today. It's a piece on immigration....very well done! :)

Audition for "Unhitched" at Valko/Miller Casting. I went in for a very funny scene as a mother to a little boy who has to wear protective headgear which was mistaken for a skateboard helmet. Pretty funny script - I think I did ok... :)

I saw my fellow castmate (from Graveyard Shift) Danny Bolero and my former tv husband (from the pilot in Vancouver) Mauricio Mendoza in the musical Cesar and Ruben! It was awesome to see a play again! I don't see enough! They did a great job! It was written and drected by Ed Begley Jr .