Representation is so important. Seeing characters that look like you in film and television can inspire people to believe in themselves and love themselves. Watching Paolo Montalban in the 1997 Cinderella with Brandy taught me that I could be the prince and that I could be the leading man. I had struggled with embracing my entire identity as a kid because I was constantly teased and bullied for what I looked like. Having these role models as a kid gave me hope for being an actor and for fully loving who I was. Having these role models and representation can inspire kids to believe they can do anything and be anything.
Actor, Director, and Producer Román Zaragoza has quickly become “one to watch” in the entertainment industry, bringing diverse stories to life on stage and screen. Zaragoza currently stars in CBS’ new comedy series “Ghosts.” Adapted from the hit 2019 BBC One series of the same name, “Ghosts” follows Samantha (Rose McIver) and Jay (Utkarsh Ambudkar), a couple who inherit a beautiful country home only to find it is falling apart and inhabited by spirits of previous residents. Zaragoza shines as Sasappis, a blunt troublemaker who tries to fill eternity by having a little fun and creating some drama. “Ghosts” debuted on CBS in October 2021 and airs new episodes weekly.
On the film front, Zaragoza serves as a producer on the upcoming short film “This Is Their Land,” which is currently in post-production. The film, which takes place during the Modoc War of 1872–73, follows the brave Modoc Civic Leader Captain Jack as he negotiates for peace in his homeland against the U.S. army, and the sacrifices he makes for the sake of his people. “This Is Their Land” is slated to hit the festival circuit in 2022. As a director, Zaragoza most recently co directed a music video entitled “Change Your Name” for artist Raye Zaragoza, one of his two sisters, which was inspired by their mother’s life and the intersectionality of changing names during the immigration process.
Born in New York City, Zaragoza was raised in a melting pot of culture. He identifies as mixed race, being of Akimel O’otham and Mexican descent on his father’s side and Japanese and Taiwanese descent on his mother’s side. His father, acclaimed actor Gregory Zaragoza and mother, college business professor Shirley supported Zaragoza’s love for the arts from a very young age, with one of his earliest childhood memories spending time backstage watching his father star in the 1999 Broadway revival of Annie Get Your Gun, alongside the legendary Bernadette Peters. Zaragoza and his family moved to Hells Kitchen when he was nine, where he would take the subway to school and pass by all of the major Broadway shows, which would become a huge influence on his future career. By the time Zaragoza turned eleven, his parents moved the family to the west coast, settling in southern California where he continued taking acting, dance, singing, and improv lessons. When Zaragoza was fifteen he began working with Native Voices at the Autry, the only Equity Native American Theatre company. It was there that he met his mentor, Randy Reinholz, who made an influential impact on Zaragoza’s life as well his show “Off the Rails” at Native Voices which was later selected to go to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.
Zaragoza attended California State University Northridge where he graduated with a degree in Film Production. He is a proud member of CSUN’s American Indian Student Association and continues his involvement post-graduation. While in college, he took time to go work with the prestigious Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF — 2017, 2018, 2019) where he was able to further hone his craft. Zaragoza notes that his time working with the company aided in discovering more about his identity, specifically his racial identity, bringing characters to life that were a vessel for Native, Asian, and mixed identities. Upon graduation and finishing his time with OSF, Zaragoza landed his biggest role to date, starring on CBS’ “Ghosts.” Additional credits for Zaragoza include appearing on ABC’s “Stumptown” (where he worked alongside his dad for the first time), “Those Who Can’t,” and “Austin & Ally.”
When he isn’t on set, you can find Zaragoza writing essays and poetry focusing on mixed representation in film, television, and theatre. He also recently started rock climbing, has a history training in martial arts and boxing, and has played soccer since he was little. On the charity front, Zaragoza has supported a handful of organizations over the years including Seeding Sovereignty, Black Lives Matter, Return to the Heart Foundation, and IllumiNative, an initiative created and led by Natives to challenge the negative narrative that surrounds Native communities and ensure accurate and authentic portrayals of Native communities are present in pop culture and media.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Can you tell us the story of how you grew up?
I grew up in Greenwich Village in New York City in a studio apartment with my 2 older sisters and extremely hard-working parents. My parents played a big role in supporting my love of the arts. I first fell in love with theatre when I was three, watching my father play Chief Sitting Bull in the 1999 Broadway Revival of Annie Get Your Gun with Bernadette Peters. Watching that made me feel like I was born to entertain. My two older sisters were a major influence on me as well. They’re the reason I decided to take dance, singing, and acting classes at such a young age. It also helped my parents, so they didn’t have to go to multiple locations after school.
Can you share a story with us about what brought you to this specific career path?
I have considered myself an actor since I could remember, but when I was 18 I found myself in a quarter-life crisis asking myself if I really wanted to pursue acting as a career after not getting into my dream school, UCLA, for theatre. After high school, I got really involved with Native Voices at The Autry. In 2015, I worked on a reading of They Don’t Talk Back, a play we would produce a year later. At one of our performances of the reading at The La Jolla Playhouse, I broke down sobbing at the end of the performance when the amazing actor, Duane Minard (who was playing my grandfather) locked eyes with me as my character was leaving. We embraced and I felt such safety and connection. When I exited the sold-out room, I noticed the audience was crying with me. They felt it too. It was one of the most beautiful and cathartic moments of my life and really affirmed the fact that I want to do this for a living.
Can you tell us the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?
I had a very interesting moment in 2019 when I was booked as a guest star on the show Stumptown. This was the first time my father and I worked together professionally and it came at a crazy moment in my life since I was playing Orlando in As You Like It and working on the
1491’s new play, Between Two Knees, at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. I flew down to LA, shot 1 day for Stumptown, then flew back to Oregon and had a few performances, then back to LA and then back to Oregon to finish the season. I am grateful for my amazing understudy, Derek Garza, for covering me in one show and for Delta Airlines for running their flights on schedule.
Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
I have made many mistakes. And making mistakes on stage in a play or musical is never fun. With Film and TV, you can just ask for another take. In my first season at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, I was in a wonderful play called Off The Rails. At the end of one performance, I completely spaced on my line. It was a beautifully written line but never felt great in my mouth because of the complexity of the language since the show was a Shakespeare adaptation. I completely spaced and felt an immediate feeling of “HELP ME.” I just buried my head into my costar’s leg and hoped the scene would just carry on. And it did because I was working with such pros. However, I felt terrible and was so embarrassed that I didn’t even try to fix the situation. I froze. I learned that it is okay to make mistakes. We’re human. It’s inevitable. But that show taught me that freezing is never the right answer. If you mess up, try to fix it.
What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now?
Right now, I am playing Sasappis on Ghosts on CBS. I have a feeling you already know that. I am also producing a film called This Is Their Land which is about the Modoc War of 1872. I am very excited about this project because I have found such a passion for lifting the voices of the oppressed through art and I am hoping this project does just that.
You have been blessed with success in a career path that can be challenging. Do you have any words of advice for others who may want to embark on this career path, but seem daunted by the prospect of failure?
There are so many things I can say, but at the end of the day, most of the lessons I’ve learned have been from my mentors. I have been blessed with amazing mentors who have guided me and assisted me on my journey, including my dad, Randy Reinholz, Shaun Taylor-Corbett, Brent Florendo, Cedric Lamar, Chris Salazar, Trent O’Donnell, and many more. Get mentors! And listen and ask questions.
We are very interested in diversity in the entertainment industry. Can you share three reasons with our readers about why you think it’s important to have diversity represented in film and television? How can that potentially affect our culture?
Representation is so important. Seeing characters that look like you in film and television can inspire people to believe in themselves and love themselves. Watching Paolo Montalban in the 1997 Cinderella with Brandy taught me that I could be the prince and that I could be the leading man. I had struggled with embracing my entire identity as a kid because I was constantly teased and bullied for what I looked like. Having these role models as a kid gave me hope for being an actor and for fully loving who I was. Having these role models and representation can inspire kids to believe they can do anything and be anything.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why? Please share a story or example for each.
1. Don’t take it so seriously. You are literally playing. So play and have fun. 2. Do your best and forget the rest.
3. It is not about what you look like. Focus on what it feels like.
4. Listen to your intuition. It will guide you.
5. Do Yoga. Just do it.
Which tips would you recommend to your colleagues in your industry to help them to thrive and not “burn out”?
Travel and enjoy life. It’s okay to take time off and whenever you book that vacation is when you will book, so go plan that big trip.
You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
I would like to inspire people to embrace their entire identity; to learn about their ancestors and the people who made it possible for them to be here today; to love themselves fully.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
My parents. I am so grateful for all they have done and continue to do for me. They have supported me with whatever I wanted to do from acting classes to soccer teams to ballroom dance lessons. They really believed in me and gave me that confidence and drive.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
“Do your best and forget the rest.” When it comes to acting and specifically auditioning, an actor strives for perfection, even though there is no such thing. At the end of the day, you must simply do your best and forget the outcome. Enjoy the process and get rid of the destination.
Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. 🙂
I am a huge fan of Simu Liu and feel like he and I are destined to be brothers. I am hoping to one day work with and learn from him. What’s up, Simu!
How can our readers follow you online?
Instagram @romanzaragoza
Twitter @romanzara_goza
Tik Tok @theromanzaragoza
Thank you for these really excellent insights.
Rising Star Román Zaragoza On The Five Things You Need To Shine In The Entertainment Industry was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.